Recreational pot use banned at some P.E.I. public housing buildings

Some public housing residents say they were shocked to see signs posted intheir buildings last week,warning that "Housing Services will not permit smoking or vaping of recreational cannabis."

"I was surprised because you're allowed tosmoke cigarettes in your own apartment,"said BevGardiner, who lives at Duvar Court in Charlottetown. "I can't see any difference with the smoking of cigarettes or the smoking of cannabis."

Victor Arnold lives next door to Gardiner at Queens Court.

"If they want to ban them both, okay," he said. "But, I don't think they should ban either one."

Decision driven by tenant feedback, says government

The signs went up last Tuesday, the day before recreational pot became legal in Canada.

The Department of Family and Human Services,which oversees government-runhousing on the Island,initially toldCBCthe rule applied to all public housing buildings, but later clarified that it only applies to multi-unit housing.

"Any single or duplexes where smoking is permitted, recreational and medicinal cannabis would be allowed," it said in an email to CBC.

How many ways can you spell hypocrites? Wendy Budgeon, Duvar Court resident

The department said in the multi-unit buildings that allow smoking, only tobacco and medicinal cannabis are permitted.

"Feedback received from current tenants was predominantly against smoking cannabis in apartments, due to second-hand smoke and odour concerns, as well as concern over unknown side-effects for tenants, visitors and staff."

Cannabis use could lead to eviction

Under P.E.I.legislation, Islandersare only permitted to usepot in private residences.Landlords, including the provincial government in this case,are allowedto ban it through their rental agreements.

The governmentsays if a complaint is made against atenant for using cannabis, and they continue to use it after verbal and written warnings, they could be evicted.

Wendy Budgeon, another resident of DuvarCourt, questions the province's logic.

"How many ways can you spell hypocrites? This government plans to cash in big time on cannabis and [public]seniors' residences allow smoking of tobacco.If no smoking is the rule then it has to be everything," she said.

No one from the departmentwas available for an interview Tuesday, to further explain the rationale for banning recreationalcannabis in its buildings.

Meanwhile,Health PEIis taking a different approach with recreationalcannabis at its long-term care facilities.

While residents aren't permitted to smoke anything inside, some facilities have designated smoking areas. Health PEIsays residents are allowed to smoke cannabis in those areas.

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