Pubdate: Sun, 12 Sep 2004
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Matthew Ramsey, The Vancouver Province
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

MARIJUANA CAFE RESTOCKS, REOPENS AFTER POLICE SEIZE STASH

VANCOUVER - The business of selling marijuana buds at a Vancouver cafe
remained brisk yesterday, three days after the store was raided and
its hefty stash confiscated by police.

The Da Kine Cafe was able to restock after the Thursday raid, but ran
out of marijuana to sell late Friday night. Staff promised the weed
sales would resume today. Defiant management has vowed the
controversial shop will not bow to police pressure and cease marijuana
sales, despite advice to the contrary from their lawyer.

"We're not going away. We plan to stay open," manager Lorne McLeod
said outside Da Kine. "We are not doing anything wrong here."

He said the cafe is contemplating legal action against police for
damages to the premises during the raid. Dozens of officers, some
wearing balaclavas to conceal their identities, stormed the cafe.

During the raid, police seized $63,000 in cash, 9.5 kilograms of
marijuana and 450 grams of hashish. Officers also carted away boxes
containing 300 edible marijuana products.

Marijuana sales at Da Kine are co-ordinated by the Canadian Sanctuary
Society, Mr. McLeod said. Buyers must be over 18 and must either
present a federal exemption or register with the society and fill out
an exemption application.

Mr. McLeod said approximately 10,000 such applications have been
filled out in the four months since Da Kine opened.
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MAP posted-by: Derek