Let lounges sell pot like bars sell alcohol, forum told Group has already designed training course for ‘bud tenders’

Some marijuana advocates want cannabis bars legalized in Toronto. Currently, seven lounges exist for medical marijuana users, but it’s strictly BYOB – “bring your own bud.” (Waubgeshig Rice/CBC)

Marijuana bars that sell pot rather than alcohol should be licensed to operate in Toronto, a city councillor’s forum on marijuana distribution heard Monday.

Coun. Jim Karygiannis, who represents Ward 39 Scarborough-Agincourt, called the meeting to give frustrated medical marijuana distributors and their supporters a chance to air their thoughts, after controversial police raids in May led to hundreds of charges against owners and employees at 43 Toronto marijuana dispensaries.

A handful of marijuana lounges operate legally in Toronto, but they’re only allowed to cater to people who are users of medical marijuana and who get their product through the mail from government-authorized distributors. The lounges...