'MEDICAL' POT SMOKER WINS DISPUTE WITH BAR

A former city resident who was injured on the job in Mississauga in
1989 and smokes "medical" marijuana to relieve his pain has emerged
victorious in an unusual human rights dispute with a Burlington bar
owner.

Steve Gibson, a longtime customer at the bar, suffered a neck injury
nearly two decades ago when he was hit on the head by a box of heavy
vinyl siding while working at his job in Mississauga.

He's allowed to smoke marijuana to relieve the debilitating pain in
his neck that has prevented him from working for long periods.

Bar owner Ted Kindos refused to allow Gibson to smoke marijuana in the
smoking room of his restaurant, called Gator Teds. Gibson then began
smoking in front of the restaurant and patrons complained of the smell.

When Gibson was also asked to stop smoking in front of the doors, he
filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission nearly
three years ago.

Kindos said yesterday that he gave up the fight on the eve of a
planned hearing and reached an undisclosed settlement with Gibson
because he could not afford to continue the battle. He faced a legal
bill of about $60,000, he said.

Gibson, a father of two, said he got close to what he had originally
sought. He was believed to have originally asked for compensation in
the range of $20,000.

"The principle I was fighting for was to be able to have quality of
life and to be able to go out without being stuck at home because I
need my medical marijuana," said Gibson.

Ontario Human Rights Commission spokesperson Jeff Poirier said, "this
case is about being treated the same as the other smokers. This is a
smoker with a disability who uses medicinal marijuana that's legally
prescribed to him, so he's seeking access to the designated smoking
area."