CLARIFY RULES ON MEDICAL POT, RESTAURANT OWNER ASKS OTTAWA

A restaurant owner facing a discrimination complaint for asking a
medical marijuana smoker not to light up outside his business says
Ottawa must step in and clarify its regulations on where permit
holders can smoke.

Ted Kindos, owner of Gator Ted's Tap and Grill in Burlington, Ont.,
says he will ask the federal court to require Health Canada to
expressly condition any medical marijuana permits upon compliance with
provincial liquor licensing laws.

The court challenge comes as the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal plans
hearings this summer to determine whether Kindos discriminated against
Steve Gibson when he asked him not to smoke marijuana outside his
restaurant.

"We're really looking to the court for assistance in resolving the
tension between the liquor laws that apply to Mr. Kindos, which he is
obligated to comply with, and the rights granted to the holder of a
permit for the medicinal use of marijuana," said his lawyer, Gary Graham.

Gibson's case is one of three dealing with medical marijuana working
its way through the human rights complaint process in Ontario. Two
other men have filed complaints against the province claiming its
liquor laws--prohibiting controlled substances where alcohol is
served--are discriminatory and should be amended.

Last spring, Kindos refused to sign a settlement requiring, among
other things, he pay Gibson $2,000 and post a sign out front alerting
patrons his grill accommodates medical marijuana smokers.