VANCOUVER POT CAFE OWNER RELEASED ON BAIL FOR SECOND TIME

VANCOUVER - The owner of a now-shuttered marijuana cafe was
released on bail again Monday after promising not to contact her
co-accused in the case.

Carol Gwilt had been in custody since Sept. 17 after allegedly
breaching her previous bail conditions not to be anywhere near the
presence of marijuana.

"Ms. Gwilt is grateful for being released from custody," defence
lawyer Jason Gratl said Monday after a hearing in provincial court.

"She will take her battle off the streets and into the
courts."

Gratl said Gwilt's previous bail conditions still apply but she did
not have to post a bond for her release.

Gwilt, owner of the Da Kine Smoke and Beverage Shop, and several of
her employees are charged with possession of pot for the purpose of
trafficking.

Police raided Da Kine in September after news stories about the
east-side cafe's open sales of marijuana and complaints from
neighbourhood residents.

Investigators seized nine kilograms of marijuana, some hashish and 300
hash-or pot-laced cookies, as well as $63,000 cash. Pot was allegedly
being sold to anyone who filled in a form saying it was for medicinal
use, with no requirement for a doctor's letter.

Gwilt denied a police contention Da Kine was doing $30,000 a day in
business.

The cafe was allowed to reopen without the pot but later closed and
Gwilt surrendered her business licence.