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“If somebody doesn’t want to get evicted from their (no-smoking) apartment, they might smoke in their car, and you don’t want them smoking in their car. But they are going to feel like, ‘I’ve got no choice. I’ve got no other place to go where I can use cannabis.’ That’s an issue.”

However, cannabis lounges would not spring up as soon as recreational pot is made legal by the federal government — expected in July. The regulations published Thursday say the province is considering the idea of both lounges and designated cannabis consumption spaces outside multi-unit buildings, but more consultation is required.

“This is great news,” said Gustavo Natotschiev, owner of Vaper Town, a store in the ByWard Market that sells e-juices and vaping devices. He opened the chic store on Clarence Street two years ago with the intention of turning it into a vape lounge and coffee shop if that became legal. He said he dreams of a place where people can grab a latte and vape marijuana in a “friendly, safe environment.” Both recreational and medical cannabis users would welcome a lounge, he said.

“It’s very important to have these places, for a wide demographic.”

Natotschiev said he supports strong regulations on vape lounges, but the government should also make sure that small businesspeople have a chance to operate them.

Ontario’s proposed regulations would also relax consumption rules in other areas. Tourists would find it easier to check out Ontario’s legal pot, for instance. People would be allowed to smoke or vape in any hotel room where cigarette smoking is allowed. And there would be no restriction on consuming other forms of cannabis in hotel rooms, so sharing a few pot candy bars, when edible cannabis products are eventually legalized by the federal government, would be OK.