AM800 – RUSTY THOMSON – September 27 2018

Ontario residents will be able to smoke recreational cannabis wherever the smoking of tobacco is permitted.

The Ontario government made the announcement Wednesday, loosening rules established by the previous Liberal regime.

Under previous consumption rules, those over 19 would have only been able to smoke cannabis in a private Ontario residence when pot becomes legal Oct. 17.

The proposed legislation eases the regulations to allow marijuana to be smoked in the same places as cigarettes.

“We’re aligning with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act,” Ontario Attorney General Caroline Mulroney said, referencing the provincial set of rules on tobacco use. “If you’re able to smoke tobacco in your home then you’ll be able to use cannabis as well.”

Speaking on AM800’s the Lynn Martin Show, Owner of Higher Limits Jon Liedtke was very surprised by the announcement and believes it may be short-lived.

“Quite frankly I don’t know how long it is going to last for,” he says.  “I think for the same reason why the Liberal government decided not to have it happen, the Ford government will decide to push back on it, I don’t think there are going to be restaurants that are gonna want to have people that are smoking cannabis on the sidewalk, walking onto their patios.”

“I think too pf the WFCU Centre, for example,” he adds.  “Where they have dedicated smoking areas and now if you are taking your kids to go to a hockey game, they are going to have to walk by a big area where there is going to have cannabis smoke coming through.”

Smoking pot in vehicles or boats that are being operated will be prohibited. Breaking the rules would see people subjected to fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 upon conviction.

— with files from AM800’s Lynn Martin

https://www.iheartradio.ca/am800/news/video-province-details-the-places-you-can-smoke-pot-1.8464008