HIGH TIME TO QUIT DOPE?

Hypnotist vows to weed out marijuana habit

If you're addicted to smoking marijuana, Vance Romane says he can help you
nip the problem in the bud.

For more than 35 years, the former Winnipegger has been aiding people in
losing weight and kicking smoking habits through hypnosis, but he'll hold
his first seminar for pot smokers here on March 19.

"It's time to throw your reefers away," Romane chuckled yesterday from his
home in White Rock, B.C.

Romane's seminars at the McPhillips Street Station Casino go from March
19-22. The first night is on how to stop smoking marijuana, followed by one
on losing weight and two nights on stopping smoking.

The idea to help marijuana smokers came from cigarette smokers who asked
"How about helping me out with that other thing as well? You know what I
mean?" Romane said.

He was also encouraged by an RCMP drug enforcement officer, who told him if
people can't go 30 days without any drug, they're addicted.

Romane holds different types of seminars every year, and he often uses
Winnipeg as a testing ground.

"If it doesn't work in Winnipeg, in terms of interest, it won't work
anywhere," he said. "I grew up there, people know me and there's a lot of
trust there."

Romane spends the first moments of any seminar debunking the fears of
hypnosis. Many people are afraid they will lose control and reveal personal
secrets, which isn't true, he said.

Some clients have amazing results within one session, but many use his
hypnotic recordings at home as reinforcement.

Winnipeg marijuana activist Chris Buors said he doesn't believe in
addictions of any kind. Any users he knows scoff at the idea that pot is
addictive, but he doesn't have a problem with Romane's seminar.

'CURE ALL YOUR NIGHTMARES'

"If you're a believer in addiction and you think you're addicted to
marijuana, and this guy is the cure to all your nightmares, then I'm all
for it," said Buors, who ran for the Marijuana Party in the November
federal election.

"He's a private entrepreneur. That's the free enterprise system at its finest."

The cannabis crusader expects the seminar to attract more than a few. "You
can bet there's a lot of mothers out there who'll say to their kids:
'You've been smoking that s--- for 20 years and you're addicted. I'll pay
for it. You go down there,' " Buors said.

Attendees likely wouldn't have to be concerned with drug unit officers
scoping them out at the seminar. A police source said cops are focused more
on growers and suppliers than users.

Tickets are $100 at the door, but they can be purchased for under $85 from
Ticketmaster.