Pubdate: Fri, 11 Mar 2016
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Dalson Chen
Page: A3

ONT. CHANGES THREATEN CANNABIS LOUNGE

Businesses see more harm than good as consumption areas are
restricted

There could be big trouble in the future for Windsor's first cannabis
vaping lounge - and it's coming direct from the provincial government.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced Thursday it will
propose legislative changes meant to "strengthen (Ontario) smoking
laws to better protect people from second-hand smoke, whether from a
tobacco product or medical marijuana."

Among the suggested revisions to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act: prohibiting 
the use of e-cigarettes and smoking and vaping of medical marijuana in 
all enclosed public places, enclosed workplaces and "other specified 
outdoor areas."

That means it would become illegal for medical marijuana users to
smoke or vape at downtown Windsor's Higher Limits. The lounge at 251
Ouellette Ave. opened less than two months ago for the explicit
purpose of offering medical marijuana licence holders a safe place to
partake of their prescribed medication.

Jon Liedtke, co-owner of Higher Limits, said he was disappointed by
how the ministry's announcement conflates medical marijuana with
tobacco products. "I think that's lack of education. I think that the
people who are writing the laws don't know anything about the
substance," Liedtke said.

Liedtke pointed out that tobacco products are not allowed at Higher
Limits, and the establishment's vaporizers are approved by Health
Canada as medical equipment. "They can't tell people where and when to
take medication," Liedtke said. As an example, Liedtke said one of his
patrons lives in public housing. "Under the proposed changes, he
wouldn't be able to take his medical marijuana at home. He wouldn't be
able to take it at my place of business. He wouldn't be able to take
it at a patio, on a sidewalk, in a park. Where is he supposed to
consume his medication?"

The changes would put even further restrictions on e-cigarettes. The
list of places where the devices can't be sold would be expanded,
rules would be set on how e-cigarettes can be displayed and
advertised, and there would be no testing of e-cigarettes where
they're sold.

But Don Carom, owner of e-cigarette store VapeVine at 2184 Howard
Ave., said he was expecting such measures. He considers VapeVine to be
a retail shop rather than a lounge, and his main concern is that the
proposed changes would make it harder for walk-in customers to make
informed choices.
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MAP posted-by: Matt