Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
The clock strikes 4:20 p.m. on a sun-baked Friday afternoon in the capital, and the patrons of Ottawa's most buzzworthy new establishment take notice.
A lighter flickers into service as a heavily-tattooed gentleman, idly flipping through a magazine, sparks a half-spent roach hanging from his lips.
A vaporizer whirs to life at nearby table while three puffy-eyed dudes await their turn to take a pull. The unmistakable aroma of bongwater hangs heavy in the air.
It's high time here at Vanier's BuzzOn - the city's first so-called vapour lounge - for a small congregation of Ottawa pot enthusiasts to either engage in civil disobedience, heal what ails them with prescription medication, or knowingly break the law, depending who you ask.
"I don't think there's any legal risk," said local pot activist David-George Oldham, who said the BuzzOn lounge "is in full compliance" with current Canadian law. He adds: Mayor Jim Watson was "misinformed" when he called for police to shut the place down and start handing out charges.
"Right now, this is just a place where medical patients can come to a judgment-free environment to use their medicine safely," said Oldham.
Police showed up to chat briefly with BuzzOn partner Wayne Robillard, and have said they're keeping an eye on the place.
But while police have yet to lay a single charge, Ottawa Police Association president Matt Skof said the force's frontline officers are in a tough spot between politics, the public and the law.
"(Police) are being put in a difficult position if we're in contrary to the public's expression of beliefs as to whether marijuana is even illegal anymore," said Skof, who likened the Mayor's call for police enforcement to something of a political hot potato.
"When it comes to marijuana in cases like this, when it becomes socially - and politically-charged, we turn back to the public," said Skof.
"If it's being tasked to officers to enforce the law, when it's clear this has become a public debate and a social issue, then we're going to need some clear direction from both the (OPS) executive and some very strong support from our politicians."
Police "have to be wary," said Chris Goodwin, manager of Toronto's bustling Vapor Central.
"Of course there's some civil disobedience, and of course there's a grey area, but there are a lot of medical marijuana users that need this medicine and we're providing a safe place."
Goodwin estimates an average of nearly 500 patrons walk through his doors each day - 12,000 unique visits per month - and he's had no issues with Toronto police.
And he's not exactly hidden away, either, with his trendy "smoke-easy" opening in 2007 near the corner of Yonge and Bloor.
"Ten years ago, vapour lounges opened with a lot more scrutiny than they do today," said Goodwin. "When I opened the Up in Smoke cafe in Hamilton (in 2006) it got raided within the first week. But vape lounges have opened up pretty quietly lately. And we don't really see (police) presence any more. Ignoring us is the tactic they use now."
And while BuzzOn might just be a blip on the local constabulary's radar, in Vancouver, police have already turned their attention to bigger, more sophisticated, and more lucrative enterprises.
Police there have already begun their crackdown on an estimated 80 marijuana dispensaries cropping up across the city, and while most are strictly in the business of selling bud, those that allow on-site consumption "will show up on our radar," said Vancouver Police Department spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham, adding the VPD takes a "priority-based" approach to drug enforcement.
"Our response would be proportionate to what's taking place (inside)," he said.
Goodwin, himself the subject of three police raids, was skeptical police enforcement would achieve the result Watson desires.
"Even if BuzzOn gets raided and they arrest everybody, all they have to do is just reopen the place, and as long as the owners are okay with a bit of activism, maybe a few court appearances over the next year-and-a-half or so, then more often than not, charges end up getting dismissed, or they get probation or a small fine.
"So then it comes back to Ottawa and the city police. That raid, and the court process and the disclosure is going to cost a lot of money and resources. Do they want to go through it all again only to have dismissals and probation?"
Oldham hopes it doesn't come to that.
"This is a concept that can do a lot of good, and any parties that might be misinformed, the best thing would be for everyone to come to the table and have the best options come out," he said. "I would hope we can coexist. I want to get along."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Plenty of buzz over vapour lounge | Ottawa & Region | News | Ottawa Sun
Author: Aedan Helmer
Contact: Contact us | Ottawa Sun
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Ottawa Sun
A lighter flickers into service as a heavily-tattooed gentleman, idly flipping through a magazine, sparks a half-spent roach hanging from his lips.
A vaporizer whirs to life at nearby table while three puffy-eyed dudes await their turn to take a pull. The unmistakable aroma of bongwater hangs heavy in the air.
It's high time here at Vanier's BuzzOn - the city's first so-called vapour lounge - for a small congregation of Ottawa pot enthusiasts to either engage in civil disobedience, heal what ails them with prescription medication, or knowingly break the law, depending who you ask.
"I don't think there's any legal risk," said local pot activist David-George Oldham, who said the BuzzOn lounge "is in full compliance" with current Canadian law. He adds: Mayor Jim Watson was "misinformed" when he called for police to shut the place down and start handing out charges.
"Right now, this is just a place where medical patients can come to a judgment-free environment to use their medicine safely," said Oldham.
Police showed up to chat briefly with BuzzOn partner Wayne Robillard, and have said they're keeping an eye on the place.
But while police have yet to lay a single charge, Ottawa Police Association president Matt Skof said the force's frontline officers are in a tough spot between politics, the public and the law.
"(Police) are being put in a difficult position if we're in contrary to the public's expression of beliefs as to whether marijuana is even illegal anymore," said Skof, who likened the Mayor's call for police enforcement to something of a political hot potato.
"When it comes to marijuana in cases like this, when it becomes socially - and politically-charged, we turn back to the public," said Skof.
"If it's being tasked to officers to enforce the law, when it's clear this has become a public debate and a social issue, then we're going to need some clear direction from both the (OPS) executive and some very strong support from our politicians."
Police "have to be wary," said Chris Goodwin, manager of Toronto's bustling Vapor Central.
"Of course there's some civil disobedience, and of course there's a grey area, but there are a lot of medical marijuana users that need this medicine and we're providing a safe place."
Goodwin estimates an average of nearly 500 patrons walk through his doors each day - 12,000 unique visits per month - and he's had no issues with Toronto police.
And he's not exactly hidden away, either, with his trendy "smoke-easy" opening in 2007 near the corner of Yonge and Bloor.
"Ten years ago, vapour lounges opened with a lot more scrutiny than they do today," said Goodwin. "When I opened the Up in Smoke cafe in Hamilton (in 2006) it got raided within the first week. But vape lounges have opened up pretty quietly lately. And we don't really see (police) presence any more. Ignoring us is the tactic they use now."
And while BuzzOn might just be a blip on the local constabulary's radar, in Vancouver, police have already turned their attention to bigger, more sophisticated, and more lucrative enterprises.
Police there have already begun their crackdown on an estimated 80 marijuana dispensaries cropping up across the city, and while most are strictly in the business of selling bud, those that allow on-site consumption "will show up on our radar," said Vancouver Police Department spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham, adding the VPD takes a "priority-based" approach to drug enforcement.
"Our response would be proportionate to what's taking place (inside)," he said.
Goodwin, himself the subject of three police raids, was skeptical police enforcement would achieve the result Watson desires.
"Even if BuzzOn gets raided and they arrest everybody, all they have to do is just reopen the place, and as long as the owners are okay with a bit of activism, maybe a few court appearances over the next year-and-a-half or so, then more often than not, charges end up getting dismissed, or they get probation or a small fine.
"So then it comes back to Ottawa and the city police. That raid, and the court process and the disclosure is going to cost a lot of money and resources. Do they want to go through it all again only to have dismissals and probation?"
Oldham hopes it doesn't come to that.
"This is a concept that can do a lot of good, and any parties that might be misinformed, the best thing would be for everyone to come to the table and have the best options come out," he said. "I would hope we can coexist. I want to get along."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Plenty of buzz over vapour lounge | Ottawa & Region | News | Ottawa Sun
Author: Aedan Helmer
Contact: Contact us | Ottawa Sun
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Ottawa Sun
