Pubdate: Thu, 02 Oct 2003
Source: Mcgill Daily, The (CN QU Edu)
Copyright: 2003 The Mcgill Daily
Contact:  http://www.mcgilldaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2638
Author: Ali Mansouri

TWO CREAMS, ONE SUGAR, AND A JOINT

Pot Cafe To Open In Montreal; Bloc Pot Cheers And Local Police Jeer

Chez Marijane, a Montreal pot cafe, is expected to open this autumn.

But police say they will not tolerate people looking to puff with their 
morning coffees.

"Whether or not you open a place that allows pot smoking, it's still 
illegal to possess marijuana, according to the Criminal Code, and we will 
not tolerate that at all," said Constable Yannick Ouimet.

Bloc Pot leader Hugo Saint-Onge said Chez Marijane supporters will not 
yield to pressure from local law enforcement.

"They want to arrest people and frighten them, but we want to end the 
marijuana prohibition, and we will work toward that."

Montreal students living near the Latin Quarter responded positively to the 
new St. Denis Street cafe.

McGill Law student Adam Zanna sees pot-smoking establishements as 
beneficial to the community because they reduce the dangers associated with 
underground drug use.

"I have no problem whatsoever with [the pot cafe]. My general attitude 
about drug use is that the real danger lies in the culture and the turf 
warfare that results from the selling," said Zanna. "Criminalisation of 
marijuana leads to more ills than casual use of the drug."

According to Health Canada, cannabis use among students has greatly 
increased since the 1990s. This fact is nothing new to Vanier student 
Mohammed Hamid.

"I've been seeing students smoke this shit ever since high school," said 
the second-year Pure Science student.

Hamid also believes that having designated places to smoke marijuana may 
lower the chance of citizens smoking in busy public areas.

"Maybe the arrival of this cafe may lower weed smoking on streets and 
campuses," he added.

Across Canada, a growing number of coffeehouses have been encouraging 
customers to smoke joints in their establishments, despite concerns from 
parents.

"Why must my son be exposed to such things? Now even having a cup of coffee 
with his friends is a hazard," explained one parent.

Some people are questioning whether police have the ability to stop people 
from smoking marijuana.

"Grass smoking is a growing trend; they did it in the 70s and they're still 
doing it now. As long as it stays a trend, authorities cannot stop its 
spread," argued a history teacher from =C9mile-Legault High School in Montreal.

Similar pot cafes have already been opened in Vancouver and Toronto.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart