Introduction of Cannabis Lounges: Good for Users? Posted onMarch 8, 2018June 16, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Cannabis Consumption in Ontario Under the current proposed regulations, the Ontario Government intends to control and operate the sale of marijuana. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario will operate approximately 150 stores and sell the product to people aged 19 and older. But what will the rules be for consumption of cannibas? At present, we know that there will be a ban on consumption in public spaces or workplaces. The rules proposed by the Ontario government restrict recreational consumption to private residences, while medical users will be subject to the same use rules as those governing tobacco and electronic cigarettes. Cannabis Lounges Now, Ontario is considering the possibility of allowing cannabis lounges and has requested the public’s opinion on the matter. It is unclear whether these lounges would be owned privately or whether they would also be owned and run by the Province. Many activists and politicians are in favour of these lounges, believing the current approach to consumption to be too restrictive. These lounges already exist in Toronto and other cities across Ontario. One such café in Toronto’s Kensington neighbourhood provides a communal space for customers to consume marijuana with equipment provided by the café. Though the lounge permits the recreational consumption marijuana, they do not sell the drug. Marijuana and Leases Landlords have also spoken up and they are seeking to be allowed to modify existing lease agreements once marijuana is legalized. For more information on this matter please refer to our previous blog by clicking here. With recreational consumption forbiden in rental units, recreational users may have no location to consume marijuana legally. To address this concern, a proposal for the creation of outdoor common smoking space on a building’s grounds has been presented, benefitting those with restrictions in their lease agreements. The advantages of doing this include: Limiting disruption to other tenants (no permeating smell if consumed indoors) Providing a social setting for tenants with restrictions in their lease Helping change the general perception of legal marijuana use Devry Smith Frank LLP‘s Cannabis Law Group is well versed in Cannabis law and is capable of providing advice on a host of matters relating to cannabis law. For more information, please contact a lawyer from our Cannabis Group or contact our office directly at (416) 449-1400. “This article is intended to inform. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.” Related Posts Posted onFebruary 6, 2018June 16, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Concerns with Canada’s Plan for Marijuana Regulation Canada’s approach to cannabis regulation has some people worrying. The federal government’s resources for guidance in developing the existing regulations including those regarding control by the federal and provincial governments, may not have been the best. The federal government looked to tobacco and alcohol for guidance in drafting the cannabis regulations. The problem is that [...] Read more Posted onJanuary 9, 2018July 5, 2023/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Personal Growth and Use Limitations The Cannabis Act, once in force, prescribes a number of limitations regarding the personal cultivation and consumption of marijuana in Canada. For example, the Act permits anyone over the age of 18 to consume cannabis and permits each household to grow up to 4 cannabis plants for personal use. However, the legislation also permits each [...] Read more Posted onDecember 13, 2017June 17, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Facts about Bill C-45, Canada’s Proposed New Cannabis Act – Still More Questions than Answers? Bill C-45 (An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts), also known as Canada’s proposed Cannabis Act, recently passed third reading in Canada’s House of Commons and has been forwarded to Canada’s Senate for approval. Although Bill C-45 in its current form answers many [...] Read more Posted onSeptember 21, 2017June 18, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Ontario’s First Post-Secondary Marijuana Production Certificate Niagara College will become the first college to offer a post-secondary certificate in marijuana production, which will launch in the fall of 2018. The program has been approved by the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development and will be available to those with a diploma or degree in agribusiness, agriculture science, environmental science/resource studies, [...] Read more Posted onSeptember 15, 2017June 18, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP 15 Arrested in Another Canna Clinic Raid Toronto police have raided another Canna Clinic just days after the government unveiled a sales plan for legal marijuana, making private dispensaries such as the Canna Clinic in Kensington Market that was raided, illegal. 15 suspects were arrested, and hail from Toronto, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, and Guelph, and range in age from 20 to 46. [...] Read more