October 2017
For condo communities without a smoking policy, the anticipated relaxation of restrictions on smoking of marijuana is likely to complicate matters. These communities may soon have to deal with more complaints about indoor smoking, odours, risk of fire and health concerns resulting from an increasing number of smokers.
Smoking may be unhealthy and addictive. Yet there are those who enjoy a smoke when relaxing with friends. This creates a challenge for condo communities.
Some condo communities do not allow smoking. Most likely ignore the issue and hope it never becomes a problem.
Without a documented smoking policy condo communities may be challenged to deal with, or defend their approach to, smoking complaints or problems.
Regulating smoking in a condo community can disrupt that delicate balance between individual right of a smoker and collective good of the community.
Implementation of a no smoking policy does not have to impact on the use of marijuana for medical purposes. A no smoking policy reflecting the use of marijuana can recognize it is intended to help address a medically documented problem, and that a delivery system of burning/smoking is not necessarily ideal.
To ensure the use of marijuana, when smoked, is for medical purposes a smoking policy may want to require the user to present a letter from a medical doctor who is treating them stating that its use is for medical purposes.
A smoking policy does not conflict with the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Marijuana can be vaporized which is more effective than burning/smoking a joint. This delivery system allows an individual to inhale the active ingredients without having neighbours risk the harmful effects of smoking or distasteful odours. Marijuana can also be ingested in an alcohol solution – a tincture – taken under the tongue or mixed with water or other beverages. It can also be taken as a suppository.
