CORNWALL Ontario – Ottawa Medical Marijuana user and advocate Russell Barth issued a release today after his complaint about comments made by Mayor Jim Watson were made public last April. The Mayor refused to apologize for a comment that Mr. Barth feels was discriminatory.
In the release below Mr. Barth is asking for $10,000,000.00 ($250 per user in Canada) for the Mayor’s comment.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OTTAWA MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER’S $10 MILLION HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT AGAINST OTTAWA MAYOR AND CITY MOVES FORWARD
On May 20, 2015, medical marijuana user and long-time advocate Russell Barth filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal against Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and the city. The complaint comes after Watson made no response to Barth’s May 11th request for an apology for his April 29th comments, which Barth and his wife Christine Lowe consider discriminatory.
On the 29th of April, when asked his opinion about medical marijuana users having a place to congregate, the mayor said:
“If someone has a medical licence for marijuana, then please go and use that product on your property in your own house, but please don’t bring it in an establishment where other people can be affected by the second-hand smoke.”
“To us, the Mayor basically told over 40,000 Canadians – many of the veterans – to just stay home.” said Barth.
“That they are not welcome in polite society or in this city. This ads to the stigma that marijuana users face daily in this country. For the Mayor of the nation’s capital to stigmatize people like this is beyond unacceptable.” Barth emailed the Mayor’s office on May 11th, and followed up with a call on May 12th, giving Watson until May 15th to issue a public apology.
“He didn’t have to name anyone specific,” said Barth. “He just needed to issue a public statement retracting the comments and apologizing for them.” Barth has named the Mayor and the City Of Ottawa in the complaint, and is seeking $10 million as a remedy, which would be split up amongst the approximately 40,000 licensed medical marijuana users across Canada – about $250 per person. The Mayor and city are ordered to respond to the complaint by Sept. 23, 2015.
CFN contacted City Hall in Ottawa today and the Mayor’s spokesperson, Brook Simpson issued a statement of “No Comment”.
Ironically Mayor Watson is identified as a Liberal and Justin Trudeau has stated the party would legalize Marijuana.
This incident stems from when the BUZZ ON Vape Lounge opened in Ottawa.
Ottawa Citizen LINK
“So if we’re cracking down on people smoking illegally on a patio — which I support — you shouldn’t allow it in a restaurant,” said Watson, although Buzz On does not appear to be a restaurant. “If someone has a medical licence for marijuana, then please go and use that product on your property in your own house, but please don’t bring it in an establishment where other people can be affected by the second-hand smoke.”
What do you think dear CFN users? Will the Mayor & Ottawa have to cough up the cash to Medical Marijuana users across Canada? You can post your comment below.