Summaries of decisions

Cannabis

The Tribunal makes summaries of decisions on various topics available to you.

That tool could be useful to prepare your application or as part of a conciliation session. For example, it could help you estimate the amount of damages to which you are entitled or the nature of the orders likely to be issued by the Tribunal.

Warning

The following examples of judgements are provided for information purposes only.

Several factors can influence an administrative judge’s decision. For example, a clause provided for in the lease, the relevance and quality of the evidence provided, etc. In summary, each case is different and each decision depends on the evidence submitted to the Tribunal.

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Summary of the application

Application under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Outcome

The current lease cannot be amended to include a clause prohibiting smoking cannabis in the dwelling.

Reasons

The lessee has proved that her refusal to amend the lease is justified on medical grounds.

The production of a medical prescription certifying that cannabis is an appropriate treatment for a lessee's conditioin is not required by the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Respect for privacy.

Balance between the right to remain in the premises and the objectives covered by the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Full judgment

Gestion immobilière Langlois inc. c. Brodeur (March 7, 2019)

 

Issue

Cannabis odours

Summary of the application

Lessee seeks:

  • 20% rent reduction
  • $1,000 in moral damages
  • that the lessor provides him with the peaceful enjoyment of his dwelling

(subsidized monthly rent is $210)

Outcome

Application is dismissed.

Reasons

The odours of cannabis were not so persistent, unpleasant or unbearable as to permanently inconvenience the lessee (no proof of excessive and unreasonable disturbance).

Full judgment

Moula c. Habitations communautaires Loggia (December 19, 2018)

 

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Summary of the application

Application under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Outcome

The current lease cannot be amended to include a clause prohibiting smoking cannabis in the dwelling.

Reasons

The lessee has an order authorizing her to use cannabis for medical purposes.

The lessee may have her lease resiliated if this use causes serious prejudice.

Cannabis use by a lessee is not protected by privacy rights.

Full judgment

Immeubles Yelena inc. c. Windsor* (January 10, 2019)

* Application for review

 

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Summary of the application

Application under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Outcome

The current lease is amended to add the following clause:

"It is strictly forbidden to consume cannabis by inhalation (to smoke cannabis). The definition of smoking also includes the use of a pipe, bong, electronic cigarette or any other such device. This prohibition applies to the internal and external areas of the property, the land, balconies, patios and common areas."

Reasons

The Cannabis Regulation Act prohibits smoking cannabis in several places.

A lessor may or may not prohibit smoking cannabis in the dwelling rented by his or her lessees.

Before making this decision, the lessor must take into accout:

  • the respective enjoyment of the other lessees with regard to their dwelling
  • the possibility that there may be children in the vicinity
  • any other personal reason
Full judgment

Aguilar c. Hébert (December 21, 2018)

 

Issue

Use of marijuana (cannabis) prescribed for therapeutic purposes

Excessive noise

Summary of the application

The lessor seeks:

  • resiliation of the lease
Outcome

The lease is resiliated.

Reasons

Cannabis odours from the lessee's dwelling are persistent and disturbing.

Even though the lessee's use of cannabis is legal, the occupants of the building suffer serious inconvenience.

The lessee receives many people in her dwelling, which causes constant comings and goings and a lot of noise.

Full judgment

Mauro c. Lord (December 6, 2018)

 

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Summary of the application

Application under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Outcome

The lessee's two leases were modified to add a clause prohibiting the smoking of cannabis in the dwelling, which includes the building's backyard.

Reasons

The lessee has not proved that his refusal to modify the lease is justified on medical reasons.

The lessee has access to the use of the building's backyard, which is closely connected to the dwelling.

This yard is an accessory to the dwelling.

Full judgment

Ricard c. Drolet (March 15, 2019)

 

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Notion of “medical reasons”

Summary of the application

Application under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Outcome

The lease is modified to prohibit the smoking of cannabis in the dwelling.

Reasons

The lessee may refuse the modification for medical reasons.

The lessee smokes cannabis for pain after physical effort, in addition to using anti-inflammatory drugs and cold applications.

This is self-medication.

The lessee’s state of health must be confirmed in a document issued by a health practitioner.

The lessee has not provided any medical opinion, prescription, or other document from a health professional. Article 12 of the Cannabis Regulation Act already prohibits smoking in the common areas of residential buildings comprising two or more dwellings.

The lease may not be modified to prohibit the growing of cannabis because art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act refers only to the smoking prohibition.

Full judgment

Vertus c. Robinson (April 17, 2019)

 

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Summary of the application

Application under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Outcome

The lease is modified to prohibit the lessee from smoking cannabis in the dwelling.

Reasons

The lessee may not rely on the medical condition of her spouse, whose name is not on the lease, to refuse the modification proposed by the lessor.

Full judgment

R&H Management 2011 Inc. c. Lemieux (March 25, 2019)

 

Issue

A by-law prohibits smoking marijuana (cannabis) in rented premises and in the building.

The dwelling is occupied by the son of the lessee, who received a copy of the by-law.

Several times a day, alone or with friends, the occupant of the dwelling smokes cannabis.

This creates an odour of cannabis.

Summary of the application

The lessor applies for:

  • resiliation of the lease
Outcome

The lease is resiliated.

Reasons

Even if the consumption of cannabis is permitted by the Cannabis Regulation Act, or even if it is medically prescribed, the consumer must not cause harm to his or her neighbours (art. 976 C.C.Q.).

The occupant of the dwelling smokes cannabis, and this characteristic odour, which many consider nauseating, invades the dwelling and then enters the corridors and neighbouring dwellings.

By refusing any other form of cannabis consumption, the lessee’s son is disturbing the normal enjoyment of the premises to which the other lessees are entitled.

The inconvenience suffered by the lessee’s neighbours are significant, persistent and recurring.

Full judgment

Résidence de la Tour Westmount ltée c. Goldenblatt (May 23, 2019)

 

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Summary of the application

Application under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Outcome

The lease is modified.

Reasons

The tribunal does not have to rule on the legitimacy of the modification or on the impact or disturbance caused to other occupants of the building by the use of cannabis.

The lessee’s state of health must be confirmed in a document issued by a health practitioner.

The lessee did not file a medical opinion, a prescription, an order, or any other document prepared by a health professional.

Full judgment

Vertus c. Robinson (April 17, 2019)

 

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Lease for the rental of land intended for the installation of a mobile home

Summary of the application

Application under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act.

Outcome

The current lease cannot be modified to add a clause prohibiting the smoking of cannabis in the dwelling.

Reasons

Under art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act, only a lessor of the lease of a dwelling can modify the conditions of the lease by adding a prohibition against smoking cannabis, which excludes the lessor of land intended for the installation of a mobile home.

Full judgment

9179-0212 Québec inc. c. Légaré* (July 25, 2019)

* Application for review is dismissed

 

Issue

Legalization of cannabis

Interpretation of the notion of “medical reasons”

Summary of the application

Application to review the decision of the Régie du logement dismissing the lessor’s application to modify the current lease by adding a clause prohibiting the smoking of cannabis.

Outcome

The application for review is dismissed.

Reasons

To review the impugned decision, it must be established that the trial judge erred in fact or in law.

It is wrong to claim that there is uncertainty in the case law as to the notion of “medical reasons” set out in art. 107 of the Cannabis Regulation Act. The disputes were decided by taking into account the particular circumstances of each case, the evidence adduced, and the arguments presented.

Article 107 of the Act does not provide for the filing of any particular medical document.

The lessee consulted a physician for health problems, and the physician acknowledges that his patient is using cannabis as treatment to help relieve her pain.

Therefore, the trial judge did not err in not requiring more explicit medical evidence.

Full judgment

Gestion Immobilière Langlois inc. c. Brodeur (November 12, 2019)

 

Issue

Cigarette and cannabis odours

Clause in a lease prohibiting smoking in the building

Summary of the application

The lessee applies for:

  • a rent reduction
  • $1,382 in material damages (moving expenses)
  • $10,000 in moral damages
  • $5,000 in punitive damages

(monthly rent is $600)

Outcome

The Tribunal awards the lessee:

  • a 50% rent reduction as of the date of the formal notice
  • $1,000 in moral damages
  • $1,382 $ for moving expenses
Reasons

The lessee informed the lessor of the constant and recurring presence of smoke and the smell of cigarettes and cannabis coming from the unit below hers. When she saw the lessor’s inaction and her health deteriorating, she left the unit at the end of the lease.

The lessor was required to enforce the clause in the lease prohibiting lessees from smoking cigarettes, cannabis, or any other substance in their unit. The lessor was negligent in failing to take steps to remedy the situation, thereby interfering with the lessee's right to enjoy the leased premises and causing her serious harm.

Full judgment

Bastien c. Cantin (September 2, 2022)

Note to reader: The above examples of decisions were selected and summarized by SOQUIJ. In rare instances, they may have been appealed from before a higher court. If you wish to cite one of those judgments before a tribunal, it is recommended that you check the plumitif of the courthouse in question.

Continue searching

If need be, you can consult other decisions with regard to dwelling leases by using the search engine (in French only) available free of charge on the SOQUIJ website. For best results, simply select a tribunal (e.g. Tribunal administratif du logement), and enter French key words such as “bruit” (noise), “moisissure” (mould), “zoothérapie” (animal therapy), “résiliation” (resiliation), “expulsion” (eviction), etc.