Article content

Ontario has abruptly put a hold on new regulations that would have snuffed out smoking or vaping in medical marijuana lounges, giving the incoming Doug Ford government time to sort through the contentious rules.

Jon Liedtke, co-owner of Windsor’s Higher Limits cannabis lounge, was happy Tuesday to hear the news. Faced with changes to the Smoke Free Ontario Act that would have threatened his business, he was planning to flout the new rules.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Province pauses new rules outlawing cannabis lounges for medical users Back to video

“I had expected that it wouldn’t be enforced and the fact that the ministry is saying now that it’s all on pause, that’s some of the best relief that I’ve heard in a while,” he said.

Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care told the Star Tuesday it is pausing new rules banning cannabis smoking or vaping in a wide range of places, after they took effect July 1.

“The changes to the Smoke Free Ontario Act that were set to come into effect on July 1, 2018, are being paused to give the new government the opportunity to carefully review the new regulations related to vaping,” a ministry spokesperson said in an email.