Pubdate: Tue, 27 Sep 2016
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Eric MacKenzie
Page: 4

SMELL OF POT AT HOTEL SPARKS HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal may be tasked with deciding whether a
medical marijuana user was discriminated against by a hotel that
wouldn't let him check in due to concerns over the smell of weed.

A tribunal member ruled it can only be determined in a full hearing
whether the Howard Johnson Hotel & Suites in Victoria violated Saeed
Abu-Sharife's rights by denying him a room.

None of the submissions made by the hotel or Abu-Sharife have been
proven as fact, but both sides acknowledge that Abu-Sharife was a
frequent guest until September 2015.

Abu-Sharife claims to smoke pot and consume it in edible and oil forms
to treat back pain and stomach-related issues, and that he made his
use of marijuana known to hotel staff during previous visits. After
issues with marijuana odour arose, the hotel put Abu-Sharife in a room
detached from its main building.

He claims he never smoked in his room, only in the parking lot or on
the street, and was not made aware of any concerns following his final
stay.

The hotel confirmed in its submission that it refused to rent
Abu-Sharife a room because of his marijuana use, as its staff believed
he was smoking in or near his room. It claims to have warned
Abu-Sharife about its non-smoking policy that covers the entire
premises, including the parking lot, before moving him to a more
isolated room.

According to the hotel's submission, it did not bar him from returning
simply because he uses marijuana, but because he did so in a fashion
that raised health concerns to other guests and staff, and resulted in
extra cleaning work and potential refunds to other guests.
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MAP posted-by: Matt