Pot allergies a public health concern, says Yukon man

Now that recreational marijuana use is legal in Canada, a Yukonman says he's worried about being more exposed to wafts of pot smoke becausehe's allergic.

"It's a human right to be able to breathe airand to walk around in the city of Whitehorse," said AnthonyGucciardo, who works as a nurse in the city.

"People are looking at this as a fun drug, something to take just when you're relaxing.But now it's serious it's become a legalized product."

Gucciardo said he's had allergic reactions to cannabis before, at home and on the job. He said his breathing is seriously affected so much so that he has requested not to work with patients who use pot.

"These patients who smoke it will go outside but when they come back, even after half an hour or so, the scent still lingers and the entire unit is filled with that scent. And I get adversely affected by that."

Gucciardo's also had problems at his condo building, when neighbourshave smoked pot inside their unitsandthe smell has driftedinto common areas.

"All of the areas are blanketed by this smell," he said. "I'm not the only one who's brought this forward."

Gucciardo said he's also planning to join his condo board to see if he can address this issue for himself and others.

Under Yukon law, condominium owners could be banned from using pot at home if a majority of owners in the building passa prohibition bylaw.

In Ontario, a condo board recentlybanned the smoking and growing of marijuana in the building's units and common spaces after finding out one residenthas a potentially lethal allergy to it. The board went ahead with the bandespite residents voting against the rule.

No firm numbers on pot allergies

Cannabis allergies are believed to be rare, but Yukon's chief medical officer of health said that's currently hard to quantify.

"There aren't any firm numbers," said Dr. Brendan Hanley. "I think we need more experience with legal cannabis to be able to have some numbers of allergy [sufferers]."

"If we see changing patterns of use, it may become something that's more visible and maybe something that we hear more about."

Some doctors have warned that the first months of legalization could see more people try the substance and discover they're allergic.

Experts say cannabis is a relatively mild allergen, but in some cases especially if a person has underlying allergies and regular exposure to pot symptoms can be more severe, affectingeyes, noses, lungs and skin.

"Those allergies are starting to come out of the woodwork," Gucciardo said.

Gucciardosaid he's written to the premier, his MP, andthe city to voice his concerns. He said it's about ensuring that cannabis allergies are recognized as a public health issue.

With files from Claudiane Samson