POT'S IN THE MAIL

Canada Post To Probe 'Fast, Discreet' Bud Buddy, Dispatching Marijuana To
Those In Medical Need

VANCOUVER -- Canada Post has said it will investigate a Vancouver-based
marijuana mail-order business that provides "fast, discreet" service to
those declaring they suffer from one of a host of medical ailments.

Canada Post spokesman John Caines said it would be up to police to say
whether the postal pot operation, called Bud Buddy, was breaking the law.

But the Crown corporation will probe its use of the national mail service.

"I'll bring it up to our legal people and they'll advise us on what we're
going to do then," Caines said from Ottawa.

"We're going to look into it."

B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman, meanwhile, said Saturday that he hopes
police would launch their own investigation into what seems to be simply
another illegal way of selling an illegal drug.

"My expectations are no different on this than it would have been on the Da
Kine cafe," he said, referring to the Vancouver cafe that closed last week
following the arrest of owner Carol Gwilt and seven employees on marijuana
trafficking charges.

"If law enforcement is made aware of something that's illegal, my
expectation is that it would investigate and the laws of the country would
be enforced."

Bud Buddy has been in business since August of last year. It describes
itself as "Canada's premium mail-order marijuana delivery service."

It claims to provide "world-class marijuana" -- ranging from California
Orange to Jamaican Sugar and Durban Poison -- that is "always clean,
well-cured, tasty and potent."

On its Web site, it offers three grams of bud for $35, seven for $70, 14
for $130 and 28 for $250.

Bud Buddy ships only in Canada. And it tells customers to place their order
only via regular mail or Canada Post Xpresspost, sending cash or a money
order (plus a $10 shipping fee) to a postal box.

Dana Larsen, editor of Cannabis Culture magazine, said he could recommend
Bud Buddy (one of three marijuana mail-order Web sites he knows of) as
reliable and honest.

But he wouldn't divulge the name of the person operating it.

"He's a Vancouver person who decided this would be a good way to get
marijuana to people who need it," Larsen said.

An e-mail attempt to get an interview with Bud Buddy was unsuccessful Saturday.

Marijuana is an illegal drug in Canada, and its sale or possession is
outlawed except for federally sanctioned medicinal purposes.

On its order form, Bud Buddy asks customers to certify they are over 18 and
suffer from one of a long list of "applicable ailments" cannabis is said to
relieve or treat.

The list includes anorexia, mood swings, constipation, panic disorder and
muscle spasms.

Caines said unless authorized by Health Canada, medical marijuana is not
supposed to be shipped through the mail.