Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jan 2003
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Ajay Bhardwaj
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

STORE COULD BE ONE SMOKIN' JOINT!

Pot shops where smokers could buy and toke marijuana might be set up in 
major Canadian cities within six months, says a cannabis advocate in Vancouver.

"We're trying to open a marijuana-selling operation in the city, and the 
reason for that is that there's so many people from out of town who come to 
Vancouver and there isn't a respectable retail outlet to send an 
out-of-towner to," said Marc Emery, president of the Marijuana Party of B.C.

"We end up having to send them to the sleazy part of the downtown east side 
to buy from all the crack, heroin and pot dealers, and people who sell 
anything illegal. It's always a discouraging experience to send them there.

"We want to open up something for these visitors that's much more 
respectable and has a warm, safe environment, where they know what they're 
getting and they're with other pot smokers."

Emery said Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal will likely be the first 
Canadian cities with such shops.

Most observers say Canada is headed towards more relaxed pot laws after an 
Ontario judge threw out a possession charge against a teen in Windsor 
earlier this week.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he favours decriminalizing possession 
of less than 30 grams of pot, and will bring in new legislation to that 
effect by March.

His comments came on the heels of a Commons committee report making the 
same recommendation, which would mean that possession of 30 grams of pot 
would result in nothing more than a fine and no criminal record.

But as long as possession of marijuana is illegal, Edmonton cops will 
continue busting people for it, said Sgt. Pete Ratcliff, president of the 
Edmonton Police Association.
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