If The Man’s plan becomes reality next summer, recreational pot use will really only be legal for homeowners. The province has already said that public consumption of the soon-to-be-legal plant will be banned. Where will we smoke in the Big Smoke?

In September, Toronto’s Municipal Licensing and Standards Committee voted 4-1 to ban cannabis-friendly businesses. Scarborough-area Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker was particularly flip. “If you want to smoke marijuana, smoke it in the privacy of your own house.”

But what about people who don’t own their home, live in a condo or a non-smoking building? What about parents who need a place to light up away from the kids? Or the inevitable tourists who will come to Toronto looking for safe places to smoke legal grass?

The good news is that this situation has a built-in solution: there are many lounges and cannabis-friendly businesses already operating that allow customers to consume weed. Whether they double as a comedy club, head shop or yoga studio, they each have their niche and take pride in serving the community in more ways than one. They do have some things in common, like ID-ing and prohibiting tobacco use, alcohol use and cannabis sales. They even go a step further and facilitate their customers’ weed needs through education and the use of harm-reducing vaporizers and accessories. All the city has to do is let them be.

Vapor Central

667 Yonge, $5 cover

Crowd Chill

Vibe Busy after dark

Special rules No mooching – and it will cost you a loonie if you want to bring in your own food

Manager Kayla Baptiste has upped Vapor’s event-planning game in recent months, offering “Karatokee” nights, drag shows, jazz speakeasies and a DJ night featuring Ian Campeau, formerly of A Tribe Called Red. It’s also home to one of the city’s most popular comedy shows, Mike Rita’s Stoner Sundays.

Baptiste will proudly tell you proceeds from many events at Vapor Central go straight to local women’s shelters and other causes. They also host a food drive every Christmas with an average of 100 customers a day, it makes an impact.

Vapor Central recently hosted the NORML Canada conference, which featured two days of speakers, including Beaches-East York Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who gave concerned customers his support.

“As far as rules governing cannabis dispensaries, vapour lounges, etc., while it’s ultimately a municipal and provincial issue,” says Erskine-Smith, “I don’t see any problem with such facilities where they have buy-in from the local community, they are applying rules to protect kids, and they are not causing any problems in the surrounding area.”

Samuel Engelking

Hotbox Café

204 Augusta, $5 cover

Crowd Young, relaxed

Vibe Warm (especially in the morning sun), community-conscious

Special rules Only vaporizing is allowed in the lounge area smoking joints is restricted to the outdoor “potio”

The Hotbox has knowledgeable, friendly staff to answer any questions you may have and a range of events, including Nintendo competitions, live music and comedy shows. Board games, refreshments, books and art materials are also on offer. Highly recommended: a game of pool or chess.

Owner and long-time cannabis activist Abi Roach, who spoke at the Municipal Licensing and Standards committee last month, isn’t nervous about the future – she believes councillors are actually beginning to come around on weed lounges. She may be right.

On October 2, Ward 20 Councillor Joe Cressy was able to push a motion through the Board of Health to re-open the issue of cannabis lounges, albeit through a back door. The motion requests that the city’s Medical Officer of Health report to council “on the public health implications of places of consumption (i.e., cannabis lounges)” before council makes its final decision on the matter. That’s a step in the right direction for a council that was adamantly against cannabis-friendly businesses a few weeks ago.

Either way, Roach says Hot Box isn’t going anywhere. “I haven’t survived almost 20 years without effective positive solutions.”

Samuel Engelking

Planet Paradise

51 Winchester, $5 cover

Crowd Young, hip, cannabis enthusiasts

Vibe Luxurious

Special rules Available for private rentals

Offering a full menu and a variety of snacks and drinks (think Yoo-hoo and Peach Crush), Planet ensures your first trip will be out of this world. Walk into the single-level high-ceilinged space and appreciate the kitschy artwork above the deep banquettes.

With six “hemployees” on staff, Planet Paradise provides a haven for seasoned smokers while emphasizing education for newbies on the different methods of consuming cannabis. People who want to learn more about cannabis concentrates and dabbing can do so here with the proper accessories.

The business recently added a painting class.

Samuel Engelking

The Underground Comedy Club

670 Queen East, $5-$15

Crowd 30 and older, some tourists

Vibe Family-oriented locals looking for a fun night out – minus the hangover

Special rules Check showtimes before attending

Owner Joanne Baker is adamant about putting comedy at the forefront of her business and keeps a fresh lineup of big names coming through her doors.

Baker is concerned about De Baeremaeker’s “just smoke at home” stance. “Many of my customers get a babysitter and come here because their kids are at an age of curiosity, so [parents] don’t want cannabis use in the house,” says Baker.

She’s well respected in the neighbourhood and says cops don’t bat an eye when they walk by her place any more. After operating in Riverdale for 11 years, Baker is proud to say that there has never once been an incident at the Underground. “Not one cop or ambulance has ever been called. Not one time.”

How many bars in Toronto can say that?

Samuel Engelking

House of Yoga

714 Bloor West, single classes $30, one month unlimited $170

Crowd Ready for the ultimate shavasana

Vibe Intimate, community-driven

Special rules Bring your own bud for the class offering be quiet and respectful

Before students at this airy space get down to downward dog, they can take cannabis-infused tea or puff on cannabis using a top-of-the-line vaporizer that creates an environment with nearly no haze or smell.

Students are asked to donate sativa or more uplifting strains of cannabis for a communal puff before class to help stimulate focus and energy. Heavier indica-dominant strains are consumed to cool down at the end.

Ganja Yoga student Antuanette-Gomez says she got hooked after her first class – but not to the cannabis she was already used to consuming. “The atmosphere was so welcoming,” she says.

Other ganja yogis concur, adding that a few puffs before practising the ancient exercise can really help eliminate any mental hang-ups about relaxing and exercising in a public space.

Owner Lu Pancini has been teaching yoga for 12 years and tells NOW she is proud of her family-run business, which also offers Thai Yoga Massage, Thai Massage School and Yoga School.

Ganja Yoga, she says, “has been the gateway to fitness for many people.”

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