Ontario Government: Don't allow smoking of medical marijuana in public indoor spaces

The Government of Ontario has announced that medical marijuana users will be legally allowed to smoke or vape anywhere they wish, even in places where tobacco smoking is banned, such as restaurants and movie theatres. While we support the right of medical marijuana users to be able to smoke freely in public outdoor spaces, allowing the smoking of ANY substance indoors for ANY reason affects the health of others in the area.

I personally have asthma, and am severely allergic to smoke of any kind. If I was in a restaurant or movie theatre and a person inside decided to light up, I would be forced to leave. Even if the venue asked the person to put out the joint, the smoke would already be in the air and I would have no choice but to leave. The same problem applies for people who have heart or lung diseases, or children who should not be exposed to second-hand smoke.

Also, many people are required to take drug tests for their employment such as truck driving, and second-hand marijuana smoke could result in them getting a positive drug test result. Athletes are also frequently tested for drug use, and could be excluded from competition because of exposure to second-hand marijuana smoke. If marijuana is smoked in a very enclosed area such as a public restroom, the smoke will take a very long time to dissipate, and other people in the room at the time could possibly become altered by the drug and be unable or unsafe to drive.

I request that the Ontario Government change its stance on medical marijuana, and allow its use only in places where tobacco smoking is allowed. People do have the right to use their medicine, but as it is the only medicine that affects people in the direct vicinity of the user, rules need to reflect the need to protect others from inadvertently consuming the drug.