Pubdate: Tue, 14 Sep 2004
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2004 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Krisendra Bisetty, CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

VANCOUVER POT CAFE 'POKING A STICK AT POLICE'

Tax It For Health Care: Mayor

VANCOUVER - People were lined up 20-deep for marijuana outside the Da
Kine Food and Beverage shop within minutes of its opening over the
weekend, while across the street Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell said
the drug should be legalized.

"I support legalization of marijuana but at the same time that doesn't
mean they get to flout the law until the law is changed," Mr. Campbell
said.

While Da Kine's selling of marijuana was illegal and a police issue,
Mr. Campbell said his earlier comments that it was not a "big deal"
was made from the point of view that it was open for four months with
no complaints.

"Certainly there is a big deal from the point of legality. It's
illegal and there's nothing the city can do to change that. It's a
federal law and this idea that we can pass a by-law that says coffee
shops can sell marijuana is craziness. We can't do it, it's not a
municipal responsibility."

While Da Kine continues to sell marijuana -- "poking a stick at the
police" -- Mr. Campbell said there would obviously be repercussions,
referring to Thursday's police raid at the pot shop. In addition to a
haul of marijuana and cash, Da Kine owner Carol Gwilt and seven
employees were arrested.

"My answer is you legalize it and tax the living hell out of it. And
every bit of the tax should go straight to health care, not the
general fund," Mr. Campbell said.

Ms. Gwilt and others linked to her shop have said selling marijuana
over the counter for medicinal purposes helped get rid of street
peddlers. But the Mayor dismissed that argument, saying the cafe's
staff "are peddlers themselves."

"The fact of the matter is that it is against the law, it is illegal,
they are trafficking in a drug. Would it make any sense if they opened
up and started selling heroin?"

As customers squeezed inside her store, Ms. Gwilt -- who was possibly
contravening a condition of her release from custody that she stay
away from marijuana or any location or person where it is present --
said in an interview that if Mr. Campbell can approve of a safe
injection site for heroin users, he should do the same for those who
smoke marijuana.

She said the police raid was a waste of taxpayers' money. "If they
come again it's just absolutely absurd and if they got the balls
enough to do that, I got the balls enough to open up again. This is
war."

Ms. Gwilt said she smokes pot every day for relief from a chronic
"vertigo" condition. "I'm able to live each day and get out of my bed
because of marijuana."

A customer leaving her shop after buying an undisclosed amount of
marijuana said he has smoked it daily for the past 24 years to "get
high" because his job as a driver in Vancouver is stressful.

Ms. Gwilt and her seven employees are scheduled to appear in Vancouver
provincial court on Oct. 6 on charges of possessing marijuana for the
purpose of trafficking. Ms. Gwilt is also charged with possessing
proceeds from a crime.

The city says Da Kine was granted a business licence this year to
offer a limited food service and to sell publications, gifts and
clothing. Da Kine, however, claims its intention to sell marijuana for
medicinal purposes was indicated on its application.
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MAP posted-by: Derek