Another survey - this one is on a values issue: think in terms of opium dens

News 100 redBy Staff

February 14th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The City of Burlington is asking residents to share their thoughts about whether cafes and lounges serving and allowing the consumption of cannabis should be allowed to operate in the city.

This survey will help inform the discussion at Burlington City Council on February 24th, to respond to the Ontario Government’s online consultation for potential cannabis business opportunity additions.

The City’s survey will also ask residents their feedback on potential extension of Special Occasion Permits (SOPs) identified in the Ontario Government’s online consultation. SOPs would allow cannabis to be served and consumed at festivals and events in public places and spaces.

To help gather the community’s input, the City has also launched an online survey at www.getinvolvedburlington.ca open to Burlington residents until Sunday, Feb. 23.

To complete the brief survey, residents must first register or be a member of Get Involved Burlington.

cannabis yes no logo

Your opinion on lounges where cannabis flavored products can be sold.

The city of Burlington city council voted to permit the sale of cannabis in locations that were not close to schools.  It was a split vote with Councillors Stolte and Bentivegna opposed and Mayor Meed Ward, Councillors Galbraith, Kearns, Nisan, Sharman voting to approve.

There are currently at least five retail cannabis locations operating in Burlington.

The Ontario Government’s public consultation was announced on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 and the province will accept feedback until Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

Visit www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/cannabissurvey to register and take the survey about cannabis lounges and at events in Burlington. CLICK HERE to start.

The registration process is a little tricky – pay attention; the city will be using the Get Involved site as its primary way of gathering information.

Quick Facts
• On Oct. 17, 2018, recreational cannabis was legalized by the federal government of Canada.

• On Jan. 14, 2019, Burlington City Council voted to allow the operation of retail cannabis stores in Burlington

• On Apr. 1, 2019, the first round of brick and mortar, privately-operated retail cannabis stores opened across the province

• The AGCO is licensing and enforcing regulations related to retail cannabis stores in Ontario

• On June 26, 2019, Health Canada published regulations for the production and sale of three new classes of cannabis products:

o cannabis edibles – cannabis products that can be consumed in the same manner as food (e.g. food or beverage)

o cannabis extracts – cannabis products that are produced using extraction processing methods or by synthesizing phytocannabinoids (e.g., oils, capsules, hash, wax)

o cannabis topicals – cannabis products that can be used on a body surface (e.g. lotion)

• These new federal regulations came into force on Oct. 17, 2019 and the new classes of cannabis products became available for sale in Ontario on Jan. 6, 2020.

• The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) and the regulations under that Act prohibit the smoking of cannabis and the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to vape any substance (including cannabis) in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places, as well as other prescribed places (e.g., restaurant and bar patios or within nine metres of these patios).

Links and Resources
• Provincial online consultation – comments due March 10

• For more information about legal cannabis and the City of Burlington, visit www.burlington.ca/cannabis.

• Visit Halton Region for more information about Smoke Free Ontario

• For more information about legal cannabis in Ontario, visit Ontario.ca/cannabis

• For more information, on an open market for retail cannabis sales in Ontario please visit https://news.ontario.ca/mag/en/2019/12/ontario-opening-cannabis-retail-market.html

• Visit, Health Canada for their rules for edibles, extracts and topicals

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3 comments to Another survey – this one is on a values issue: think in terms of opium dens.

  • Jim Young

    I’m agnostic on pot. I don’t use it but don’t object to it. On cannabis lounges however, i recall smoking lounges in local bars. These were kaiboshed due to 2nd smoke health impact on staff. What are health impacts of 2nd hand pot smoke or potential contact high on staff?

  • Penny Hersh

    Burlington is “Surveying the Residents to Death”. How valid are survey’s? how many people actually answer them honestly? How many people in total actually answer them?

    In a day and age when we get survey’s from the bank asking how they are doing, from dentists who ask how the appointment went ( who loves going to the dentist?), surveys have lost any meaning.

    However, surveys are the easiest way to get residents to answer questions that the city poses to justify what they planned to do anyway.

    • Elan

      Hi Penny. A bit dark, slightly cynical. Anyway, no one really knew what Cannabis retail meant in Burlington until it has happened. Some said wait to see the impact elsewhere. Majority said go for it. We are here now. That said, to Jim’s point, I thought workplaces were legislated smoke free? Enter the Houkah bars. As I understand it, these are the worst, health-wise. Is having pot smoking bars any better? I am not a physician. However I am sure those who hope to make a profit off this don’t care about health / citizen concerns. Much like the Developers. Shall we commission a survey?