{"id":197,"date":"2015-11-17T21:14:09","date_gmt":"2015-11-17T21:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/thejunction\/?p=197"},"modified":"2015-11-24T17:04:33","modified_gmt":"2015-11-24T22:04:33","slug":"buzzon-has-high-hopes-for-vapour-lounges-in-ottawa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/thejunction\/2015\/11\/17\/buzzon-has-high-hopes-for-vapour-lounges-in-ottawa\/","title":{"rendered":"BuzzOn has high hopes for vapour lounges in Ottawa"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Entrance<\/a>

Entrance to BuzzOn, Ottawa’s first vapour lounge. The lounge aims to provide a safe, social environment for cannabis users in the city. THE JUNCTION\/Darren Major.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re like Cheers<\/em> here,\u201d owner Wayne Robillard says of Ottawa\u2019s first marijuana vapour lounge. \u201cIf you walk in, we probably know your name.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Robillard sits on a black leather couch in the back lounge area of BuzzOn, he socializes with some middle-aged patrons as they use the lounge\u2019s array of vaporizers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in Toronto and my friend asked me to go to a bar. I told him I didn\u2019t drink, so he took me to Vapor Central, and since then, I knew we needed a vaporizer lounge in Ottawa,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The lounge, which is ostensibly for medical marijuana users, shut down a month after it opened last spring due to building code violations. It reopened just days before the election of a Liberal government that promised to legalize marijuana.<\/p>\n

\"Owner<\/a>

Owner Wayne Robillard poses in the BuzzOn vaporizer lounge. Robillard says he is not worried about recent legislation banning vaporizer lounges. THE JUNCTION\/Darren Major.<\/p><\/div>\n

Like vapour lounges in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Kingston, Ont., BuzzOn\u2019s goal is to provide a safe, social environment for cannabis users to consume the substance.<\/p>\n

Robillard says BuzzOn opens its doors to people stigmatized by their use of cannabis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very chill, very relaxed,\u201d he says. \u201cWe never have a fight here; we never have an issue here; we don\u2019t worry about theft \u2014 not to say that it would never happen, but these are issues you typically don\u2019t deal with at a lounge that you would at a bar.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, even if cannabis is legalized at a federal level, legislation passed by the Ontario government may snuff out new lounges, like BuzzOn. Ontario\u2019s Electronic Cigarettes Act<\/a> will eventually ban the use of electronic cigarettes \u2014 including vaporizers \u2014 in all places where smoking is banned.<\/p>\n

While there\u2019s no set date<\/a> for the legislation to come into effect, Rideau-Vanier Counc. Mathieu Fleury doubts that lounges like BuzzOn will be able to operate once the act is enforced.<\/p>\n

Robillard says he isn\u2019t worried, though, because it is unclear how the legislation will be enforced. \u201cI don\u2019t see the lounges in Toronto panicking, so I\u2019m not panicking,\u201d he says.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inclusive space for cannabis enthusiasts<\/h3>\n

Besides offering board games and a VIP video game area, the lounge hosts a variety musical and comedy shows. \u201cWe have everything from 18-year-olds who come in because it\u2019s Friday night and they\u2019re looking to socialize or to play our PlayStation 4s, right up to 65-year-olds who come in to medicate,\u201d Robillard says. \u201cWe aren\u2019t looking for a specific demographic.\u201d<\/p>\n