POPULAR POT STORE 'NOT SHUTTING DOWN'

There was a severe downpour in Vancouver yesterday, but even that was tame
compared to the torrent of customers flooding into the city's newest pot store.

Jeremy Schott drove for an hour to visit the Da Kine Smoke and Beverage
Shops Inc., and the 21-year-old from Maple Ridge wasn't too pleased to
learn that its pot and hashish inventory had been temporarily pulled,
fearing a raid by Vancouver police.

"I made the trek all the way in here for not much -- that sucks," said
Schott, who was intent on dishing out $20 for a quarter gram of Budder -- a
hash resin product that is inhaled. "But this is a great idea -- it's a
relaxing place and it is more civilized than going to a dealer. I wish they
had one in Maple Ridge."

Carol Gwilt, owner of Da Kine located in 100-block Commercial Drive, vowed
to resume selling weed and hash today via the Canadian Sanctuary Society,
whose mandate is to make medicinal marijuana available in a safe
environment, much like a Compassion Club.

"We'll be back in business soon," vowed Gwilt, 38, adding she pulled the
pot to protect her assets. "We're not shutting down and we're not backing
down . . . Marijuana is a part of B.C. and it's a part of Canada."

The shop, with an Egyptian motif, opened four months ago and sells
colourful glass pipes ranging from $30 to $50, 16 types of rolling papers,
growing products, hemp clothes and even a T-shirt sporting the original
Canucks logo with a joint in place of the hockey stick. There is also a
ventilated smoking room.

The society provides a gram of high-grade, organic pot for $10. Hash costs
between $10 and $50 per gram. All buyers must be 19.

And business is booming.

"We envisioned this because we know there is a lot of people who smoke and
we know the potential -- this is like McDonald's in 1965," Gwilt said.

Vancouver police spokeswoman Const. Sarah Bloor said officers are watching.

"We're in discussion with the city and our hope is to have the [business]
licence removed," Bloor said.

Barb Windsor, the city's deputy chief licence inspector, said Da Kine's
ride might be short-lived.

"They are not licensed to sell marijuana and they are also smoking on the
premises," Windsor said. "We're just reviewing all the information right
now with our legal department."

Windsor said the matter can be referred to city council with a
recommendation to either revoke or suspend Da Kine's licence.

Coun. Jim Green agreed the shop may be violating its licence but said the
city has not received any complaints about Da Kine.

"There has been nothing [complaint-wise] and that's in their favour," Green
said. "I think we have to take an intelligent, compassionate look at these
things."

Customer Alicia Wise, 19, of Port Coquitlam said she visits Da Kine
regularly and would be sad to see it go.

"It brings the community together," she said.