'WE WANT TO TAKE POT SALES OFF THE STREET'

Supporters 'Out In Droves,' Says Owner Of Busted Shop

The pot business was smoking yesterday as hundreds of Vancouverites dropped
in to visit the recently busted Da Kine Smoke and Beverege Shop on
Commercial Drive.

Da Kine owner Carol Gwilt said people were showing up to offer their
support after Thursday's well-publicized police bust.

"People are coming out in droves to support us," said Gwilt, who spent
Thursday night in jail and is charged with benefiting from the proceeds of
crime.

Police -- some wearing balaclavas -- seized $63,000 in cash and 9.5
kilograms of marijuana from the shop. Seven staff members were charged.

Yesterday's youngish crowd was lured as much by the shop's notoriety as by
the opportunity to buy high-grade marijuana for $10 a gram.

"Why don't the police just leave it alone?" said one person.

Down the street from Da Kine, the pungent aroma of burning weed was evident
as a threesome toked up.

As customers lounged in sunshine around the shop at 1018 Commercial, a
police cruiser sat parked a block away while another pulled into a side
street. Unmarked cars cruised the neighbourhood and staff at the shop said
undercover officers were in the area.

"We know who the undercover officers are," said Lorne McLeod, a member of
Da Kine's management. "This is intimidation tactics."

Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson said the city was placed in an awkward spot,
but police must uphold the law.

"The city can't pick and choose which laws it wants to uphold," he said.
"Obviously, lots of people know how hypocritical this is."

Stevenson said he supports the legalization of marijuana and doesn't
consider the issue "a big deal."

Da Kine representatives will appear before council Oct. 6 to argue against
suspension of their business licence. Coincidentally, staffers are due in
court the same day to answer charges of possession and trafficking.

McLeod said it's all a necessary step in the evolution of laws, and
attitudes toward pot.

"We're not gangsters. We don't carry guns. We're regular people," he said.
"We want to take pot sales off the street, where you get poor quality or
get ripped off. If you have a law that is unjust, then to break it is
justified."

Gwilt, 38, acknowledged that "everyone is a bit scared" but added: "You
don't have to be a low-life scum [to smoke pot]."

He said Vancouver already condones drug use and law-breaking at the
safe-injection site in downtown Vancouver.

"Vancouver has a safe-injection site where heroin addicts are shooting up,"
she said.

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