Ontario medical marijuana exemption under review just 1 day after it was announced

Ontario's Liberal government says it will re-examineits recent move to allow medical marijuana users to smoke and vape the drug anywhere in the province, just one day after announcing the change.

"We've heard the concerns around this regulation, and we're going to take this feedback and see if this regulation is the best way to move forward,"Associate Health MinisterDipikaDamerlasaid Thursday.

• Medical marijuana users get OK from Ontario government to vaporize anywhere
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Medical marijuana users were quietly exemptedthis week from a law banning the use of e-cigarettes anywhere smoking is prohibited, meaning they could smoke or vapejust about anywhere, including at work or in restaurants. Restrictions on e-cigarettes take effect Jan. 1.

"Weprovided a very narrow exemption for medical marijuana," Damerla.

However, under the exemption, employers or restaurant owners could still ban medical marijuana users from smoking on the premises,shesaid.

"There could be a situation where somebody needs it for pain management, so it's about accommodating their interest but also making sure that Ontarians are protected from any harm of second-hand smoke or vapour," she said.

The minister was asked whether the province should have conducted consultations over the regulation.

"I know we consulted very broadly," she said. "As you know, all of these things go through the committee process, and everybody is welcome to come and give their presentations, so everyone would have had that opportunity to present."

Damerla said the exemptions were drafted with the advice of legalcounsel, but wouldn't say what considerations were made about theonus put on business owners to ensure anyone vaporizing marijuanahad a legitimate prescription.

The legal advice was that there is no scientific evidence thatsecond-hand marijuana vapour produced from an electronic cigarettehas any health effects on bystanders, Damerla said. Not providing anexemption for medical marijuana users could raise constitutionalissues, she said she was told.

She wouldn't say if the second look at the exemptions wouldbe completed before Jan. 1.

'Government has failed again'

Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown said "itsounds like they need to do a little bit more homework."

"We do want to accommodate medical needs that exist in Ontario. I'm going to be hopeful that the governmentwill get this right," he said.

The government has failed again.- NDP MPPJagmeetSingh

NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh said theLiberals failed to consult properly with the public.

"The government needs to be doing their job. One, of letting people know of the decision they've made, and two, making sure that people have input on those decisions," Singh said.

"These are things we expect from the government and the government has failed again."

He said his party recognizes "medical marijuana use for very legitimate purposes," but the interests of the broader public must be considered also.