Ontarians...
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ttystikk
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HOOT HOOT!
WHATFG
Well-Known Member
The exemption includes everything from movie theatres to restaurants, offices, stadiums, playgrounds full of children and more – even the legislature said Dipika Damerla, Ontario’s associate health minister.
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KEVIN FRAYER / The Canadian Press file photo
Under new regulations, medical marijuana users can now smoke a joint where smoking is otherwise banned. But employers, restaurant owners and other proprietors have the right to overrule it.
By: Rob Ferguson Queen's Park Bureau, Published on Wed Nov 25 2015
It’s okay, I have doctor’s note.
Under new Ontario regulations, that’s what people puffing on medical marijuana — in a joint or an e-cigarette — can now say in any public place where smoking is otherwise banned.
The exemption includes everything from movie theatres to restaurants, offices, stadiums, playgrounds full of children and more – even the legislature, Dipika Damerla, Ontario’s associate health minister, acknowledged Wednesday.
She was peppered with questions about the new rules, which leave gray areas in which bystanders – particularly kids – could be exposed to potentially dangerous second-hand pot smoke and how to prove the smoking is a legitimate medical use for cancer, severe epilepsy or other conditions.
But employers, restaurant owners and other proprietors have the right to overrule any medical marijuana smoking, Damerla said.
“As an employer or a restaurant owner you can say ‘there’s no vaping, no smoking of medical marijuana here,” she told reporters. If a person were to continue smoking “they are breaking the law.”
A restaurant owner “could ask for some kind of verification,” Damerla added when pressed on what constitutes proof the pot is medically prescribed.
“This is about the fact that somebody who’s very ill, maybe in a lot of pain, wants to use. There are many ways to take marijuana. This is one way.”
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she’s concerned about people being exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke or vapour, although she wants to take a closer look at the regulations.
“That’s something we need to keep in mind…we need to take a closer look,” she said, joking that if someone was smoking medical pot beside her in a restaurant that “I’ll probably eat more.”
Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown didn’t quarrel with the regulations and said he wouldn’t make “political hay” of the issue.
“If it’s for medical purposes, it’s for medical purposes,” he said. “There’s not going to be an overwhelming amount of people in Ontario running out to parks to have their medical marijuana.”
The Canadian Cancer Society warns on its website that “people exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke may have many of the same health problems as people exposed to cigarette smoke, including an increased risk of cancer.”
Other studies have found medical marijuana significantly improves quality of life and pain control for patients who need it.
Damerla tried to downplay any controversy, saying there are a “very, very limited” number of people in Ontario taking medical marijuana and that allowing them to do so in public is an issue of “balancing” rights.
The government consulted “very broadly with the medical community” before approving the new regulations, she said.
A group called Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana called the policy an “important milestone in the recognition of the legitimacy of the use of cannabis as a medicine.”
“Ontario has taken a huge step forward,” executive director Jonathan Zaid said in a statement.
“Many patients, including myself, choose to vaporize their medicine, and any prohibition on vaporizer use would have severely limited the ability of patients to use their medication as prescribed.”
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KEVIN FRAYER / The Canadian Press file photo
Under new regulations, medical marijuana users can now smoke a joint where smoking is otherwise banned. But employers, restaurant owners and other proprietors have the right to overrule it.
By: Rob Ferguson Queen's Park Bureau, Published on Wed Nov 25 2015
It’s okay, I have doctor’s note.
Under new Ontario regulations, that’s what people puffing on medical marijuana — in a joint or an e-cigarette — can now say in any public place where smoking is otherwise banned.
The exemption includes everything from movie theatres to restaurants, offices, stadiums, playgrounds full of children and more – even the legislature, Dipika Damerla, Ontario’s associate health minister, acknowledged Wednesday.
She was peppered with questions about the new rules, which leave gray areas in which bystanders – particularly kids – could be exposed to potentially dangerous second-hand pot smoke and how to prove the smoking is a legitimate medical use for cancer, severe epilepsy or other conditions.
But employers, restaurant owners and other proprietors have the right to overrule any medical marijuana smoking, Damerla said.
“As an employer or a restaurant owner you can say ‘there’s no vaping, no smoking of medical marijuana here,” she told reporters. If a person were to continue smoking “they are breaking the law.”
A restaurant owner “could ask for some kind of verification,” Damerla added when pressed on what constitutes proof the pot is medically prescribed.
“This is about the fact that somebody who’s very ill, maybe in a lot of pain, wants to use. There are many ways to take marijuana. This is one way.”
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she’s concerned about people being exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke or vapour, although she wants to take a closer look at the regulations.
“That’s something we need to keep in mind…we need to take a closer look,” she said, joking that if someone was smoking medical pot beside her in a restaurant that “I’ll probably eat more.”
Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown didn’t quarrel with the regulations and said he wouldn’t make “political hay” of the issue.
“If it’s for medical purposes, it’s for medical purposes,” he said. “There’s not going to be an overwhelming amount of people in Ontario running out to parks to have their medical marijuana.”
The Canadian Cancer Society warns on its website that “people exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke may have many of the same health problems as people exposed to cigarette smoke, including an increased risk of cancer.”
Other studies have found medical marijuana significantly improves quality of life and pain control for patients who need it.
Damerla tried to downplay any controversy, saying there are a “very, very limited” number of people in Ontario taking medical marijuana and that allowing them to do so in public is an issue of “balancing” rights.
The government consulted “very broadly with the medical community” before approving the new regulations, she said.
A group called Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana called the policy an “important milestone in the recognition of the legitimacy of the use of cannabis as a medicine.”
“Ontario has taken a huge step forward,” executive director Jonathan Zaid said in a statement.
“Many patients, including myself, choose to vaporize their medicine, and any prohibition on vaporizer use would have severely limited the ability of patients to use their medication as prescribed.”
Joint Monster
Well-Known Member
Just to be clear, its vaporize or smoke (joint) correct? Since the news headline on tv only stated vaporize, however all the articles seem to state both!
Anyways about time. Support the movement! (=
Anyways about time. Support the movement! (=
martyg
Well-Known Member
It's bound to happen there's always a few of those kind of people everywhere.
martyg
Well-Known Member
Lol all good buddy. It's exciting news lol
oddish
Well-Known Member
I've seen a few people upset about this, but (for those that are not us) it's really a non-issue. Even if there was 100,000 legal patients in Canada (I think it's closer to 75,000) that would be like 0.2% of the population - chances of you running into someone who invades your space with their joint is so slim. The issue will be when the "patients" who are "legal" congregate on subways or public areas and create clouds of ditch weed smoke.
Not even I want to see your ditch weed clouds.
Not even I want to see your ditch weed clouds.
VIANARCHRIS
Well-Known Member
Why are there restrictions on where one can vape? I can see wanting to be considerate of others if you are smoking, but what risk is there from 'second hand vapor'? I would suggest about the same as someone using an asthma inhaler. Its moving in the right direction, but we are still being discriminated against as there is no such restrictions on any other medicine.I think most resistance to mmj is a result of stigma / optics and ignorance. I tend to push the envelope ever so slightly on a regular basis in order to break down stigma. I don't frequent playgrounds or schools or places kids gather, but I regularly smoke a joint while I'm walking the dog through the nieghbourhood. I went to lunch with my son and his girlfriend yesterday at White Spot, while they were smoking a cigarette outside after our meal, i sparked a joint. No one said boo.I've medicated in the smoking area outside Walmart, got some funny looks, but no one stopped me.BC ferries tried to make me put it out one time...I refused and they left me alone. I am also curious on what the cops will do if they pull my wife over while I am medicating in the passenger seat as I do every time I am in the car? Times, they are a changin'!
WHATFG
Well-Known Member
I hear ya Chris on pushing the envelope...I think I have finally reached that place where I don't give a fuck anymore about using it...I'm not in anybody's face that doesn't want to be present and I'm respectful of my surroundings...I'm not going to feel weird anymore when I come back in the building smelling like the herb...done with that shit...
The Hippy
Well-Known Member
Me that kind of asshole.
Commycharb
Active Member
I personally don't like it. First of all people have the right to not inhale THC fumes. Second of all were only going to encourage nicotine vape-heads to try to blend in, there already a nuisance. this could be very discouraging to people who recently quit cigarettes. Not everyone likes or wants THC or nicotine fumes in there lungs. Also its discriminating against us recreational users. Sure we could go to the right doctors and get a prescription for a multitude of reasons, however I'm stoned and cant be bothered with that right now.
bigmanc
Well-Known Member
Aslong as thats the case you have NO rights.
People smoking cigarettes have NO rights.
Medical patients DO have rights.
martyg
Well-Known Member
Me too joints anyways just recently got a pax though