POT CRUSADER RETREATS -- FOR NOW

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, B.C. "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."

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

"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 so a decision will be made by the end of the
week."

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

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

"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."

Neighbouring business owners said they don't have a problem with Da Kine
and crime in that area of Vancouver, normally home to heroin or crack
dealers, has gone down since it opened.