ONLINE MARIJUANA MAILINGS A MATTER FOR POLICE, NOT POST

Canada Post is not in the business of inspecting mail and will let police
decide whether pot-selling website is illegal, says spokesman

Canada Post is in the business of delivering mail, not inspecting its
contents, a spokesman said Sunday when asked about a Vancouver-based
Internet business that bills itself as "Canada's premium mail-order
marijuana delivery service."

John Caines, who saw the "Bud Buddy" website after a media tip-off Friday,
said while the instructions given are "a giveaway" and it appears
"suspicious," it is up to the police to determine whether it's illegal.

"It is not up to Canada Post to shut it down," said Caines, Canada Post's
Ottawa-based manager of national media relations.

"Canada Post is not a law-enforcement agency. Our job is to pick up and
deliver, that's what we do."

But if any illegal activities are brought to its attention, it would notify
the authorities, he said.

"Just because they have a website does not mean they are using the mail
illegally," he added.

Caines said it is against the Canada Post Act to open any mail under 500
grams unless there is reason to believe the mail contains something illegal
or "undeliverable" -- like tobacco, alcohol, corrosives or explosives.

He said Sunday he won't know until today what action, if any, the post
office will take on the matter.

Bud Buddy's website promises to "provide fast, discreet service and high
quality marijuana products ... always clean, well-cured, tasty and potent."

It accepts orders only from within Canada, insists that payment be made by
cash or money order, and asks customers to wrap bills in a few sheets of
paper so they are not visible through an envelope. Orders are to be
addressed to "Buddy Boy" and sent to a box number in Coal Harbour.

"If sending a money order: Always leave the 'Pay To' area blank, and keep
the receipt in case there is a problem with the mail," the website's
instructions read.

"Send your order form and payment via regular mail or Canada Post Xpresspost
only. Do not send by Fedex, UPS, or other courier. Also do not send by
registered mail or anything we'd have to sign for," it goes on.

And customers sending a large quantity of cash in the mail are urged to send
their orders by Canada Post Xpresspost, which it says is trackable, "plus
faster and safer than regular mail."

Caines said marijuana authorized by Health Canada intended for legal
recipients does go in the regular mail stream, but regulations require that
this mail is not identifiable by any markings.

The website, which says its products are sent out discreetly -- "I use
vacuum-sealing to eliminate smell" -- asks customers not to use a pseudonym
on return addresses.

"If you must use a pseudonym, don't use a jokey or pot-related one, like
"I.M. Stoned" or "John Ashcroft."

Messages left with the Vancouver police department Sunday were not returned.