FEARING RAID, POT CAFE STASHES ITS WEED

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver's controversial pot cafe pulled its marijuana and
hashish inventory from the shelves Wednesday fearing a raid from Vancouver
police.

However, the owner of Da Kine Smoke and Beverage Shops Inc. is vowing 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 38-year-old cafe owner Carol Gwilt,
adding she pulled the pot to protect her assets. "We're not shutting down
and we're not backing down. It (jail) is not OK, but it's all part of the
deal. 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 also sells
colourful glass pipes ranging from $30 to $50, 16 types of rolling papers,
growing products, hemp clothes and even a T-shirt with the original
Vancouver Canucks logo with a joint in place of the hockey stick. There is
also a ventilated, 12-seat smoking room.

According to Gwilt, business is booming.

"You should see us when we open at 11 in the morning, it looks like we're
having a white sale because of the lineup," Gwilt said. "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."

The cafe's customers were disappointed Wednesday, however, to find their
dope fix taken off the shelves.

"I made the trek all the way in here for not much -- that sucks," said
Jeremy Schott of Maple Ridge. "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."

Vancouver police Const. Sarah Bloor said officers are watching Da Kine.

"This is a business that's on our radar, it's something we're aware of,"
Bloor said. "We're in discussion with the city and our hope is to have the
(business) licence removed."

Vancouver city councillor Jim Green agreed the shop may be violating its
licence, but added the city has not received any complaints about it.