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Two Creams, One Sugar, And A Joint
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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