Pubdate: Thu, 17 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: A4

SECOND CANNABIS VAPING LOUNGE TO OPEN IN DOWNTOWN CORE

Downtown Windsor will have another place where people can vape or 
smoke medical marijuana - if Leo Lucier can pull off plans for his 
Vapelated Vapor Lounge.

"I want to set it up like a European cafe," said Lucier, 46, 
proprietor of the new business at 26 Chatham St. E.

Lucier said he intended for the lounge to open on Thursday, but he 
admitted there's a lot of work to be done. "We're winging it," he said.

Although mostly stripped of decor, the address still bears the bar, 
tables and chairs of its former business, Fidel's Havana Lounge. 
Instead of alcohol, the shelves now carry an assortment of bongs and 
candy bars.

Lucier and his staff tested out a Volcano brand vaporizer for the 
first time on Wednesday afternoon. "I'd rather smoke a joint," 
confessed Lucier, himself a medical marijuana license holder. "I'm 
conventional. I'm old school."

Similar to Higher Limits - Windsor's first cannabis vaping lounge, 
which opened at 251 Ouellette Ave. in January - Lucier's place will 
offer medical marijuana licence holders a spot to gather and partake 
of their prescribed cannabis.

Lucier's permit from the health unit describes his business as a food 
store, but his Ontario business licence describes it as a "compassion 
club for medical use of pot."

However, unlike the "Marijuana Compassion Club of Windsor" that 
police busted for trafficking in 2005, Lucier assured that Vapelated 
Vapor Lounge won't be selling or dispensing marijuana.

"Everybody automatically thinks a 'compassion club' is all about 
selling marijuana. I'm not about that," he said. "I'm not going 
there." Lucier said he will have similar rules as Higher Limits: No 
alcohol, no tobacco, no minors, and customers bring their own pot.

The "compassion" part of the business has to do with Lucier's 
philosophy. He describes himself as a Christian and intends to hold 
charitable events at the lounge.

He's also hiring friends who need employment. Lucier said he's 
brought in three people so far as staff.

Kerry Clinansmith, 44, has been living on disability support and is a 
medical marijuana licence holder.

"We ( licence holders) have nowhere to go right now. It's kind of a 
grey area," Clinansmith said. "We have kids, we can't smoke at home 
in the dwelling. We go outside, I don't think it's very good."

Sean McLellan, 55, will be helping with the lounge's day-to-day 
affairs. "I'm getting an opportunity to get back to work."

Lucier - who works in tool and die - said he has invested about $ 
30,000 into Vapelated Vapor Lounge so far.

Last week, the province's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care 
announced it will propose changes to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act that 
would make medical marijuana vaping lounges illegal.

But Lucier said he's not concerned. "I don't see the Ontario 
government changing this law very soon. It's not going to happen overnight."

Just a block away, Higher Limits co-owner Jon Liedtke said he wishes 
Lucier well.

"It's not really competition," Liedtke said.

"The more cannabis-friendly establishments that open up in 
Windsor-Essex, the better."

On Tuesday, Liedtke went to Toronto to meet with members of the 
Cannabis Friendly Business Association to discuss how they will deal 
with the impending provincial legislation against medical marijuana 
vaping lounges.

"It's always encouraging to find allies in a David and Goliath 
situation," Liedtke said. "I came away from it happy that there's 
going to be some kind of organized response."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom