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“We do not want to create an environment that normalizes it,” said Connelly. “There’s a risk that people will think this is a benign substance. It’s not. There are health risks associated with consuming.”

About half of Grade 12 students in Ottawa and about 15 per cent of adults have used marijuana in the past year, according to surveys.

The December 2017 federal task force report on cannabis legalization and regulation argued that no matter what the source, second-hand smoke is a health hazard and an imposition. The report also expressed concern that smoking or vaping cannabis in public places can “renormalise” tobacco use and turn back the clock on progress in decreasing tobacco consumption rates.

The report urged that the same restrictions that apply to tobacco and vaping products should also apply to cannabis. But it also noted that there had been discussions about permitting the use of cannabis in designated venues such as lounges, tasting rooms and social clubs. There was also concern about the lack of private spaces for people such as renters and homeless people.

The task force recommended that jurisdictions could, if they wished, designate places for the consumption of cannabis. The task force added there should be safeguards that prevented the consumption of marijuana alongside alcohol, as well as preventing underage use.