BLOC POT TOUTS CHEZ MARIJANE AS A SMOKE-FILLED ENVIRONMENT

Police Say They'll Keep An Eye On Activities As Pro-Marijuana Venue Opens
In Plateau

It's hardly a restaurant, or even a cafe, but there's going to be some
partying and illegal substances will be smoked.

That much is clear, say activists in the Bloc Pot, provincial branch of the
Marijuana Party, as they prepared to open Chez Marijane at noon tomorrow.

It's located in the old Compassion Club premises, which sold the drug for
medical reasons there before moving a few blocks away to a new location.

Chez Marijane - Mary Jane is slang for marijuana - is basically a
storefront room, painted canary yellow, in a renovated brick building at
Rachel St. E. and Mentana St. in the heart of hip Plateau Mont Royal.

They have a permit to run the offices of the Bloc Pot, but a pamphlet being
handed out in the neighbourhood says coffee, juice and biscuits will be
served. If visitors happen to light up a joint, party leaders won't stop
them, they boasted.

Montreal police Commander Paul Chablo of Station 38 dropped in yesterday
and served notice they intend to enforce the law. Possession is still
illegal, no matter how small the amount.

And given heavy publicity surrounding tomorrow's opening, and the room's
limited size, police would be checking into "citizen safety and traffic
circulation," Chablo said.

The actual room is small, covering not much more than 400 square feet and
holding about 25 people. Party activists were there this week, toking away
as counters were being installed.

"Not all the people in our party use marijuana, but a big number do," Bloc
Pot head Hugo St-Onge said. "If they want a place to talk politics and
smoke, we're not going to repress them. We are not the police. We are not
here to promote or apologize for pot - we want to end prohibition."

St-Onge said visitors who bring a mug will automatically become members. As
members, they are expected to share expenses. There will be a "suggested
donation."

While the area is full of bars and pot-smokers light up openly, not
everybody feels it is harmless.

"I don't care that much, but I don't want there to be problems over time,"
said Kim Lay, who operates a convenience store on Rachel St. a few doors away.

The marijuana bill still before the House of Commons proposes to
decriminalize possession of 15 grams or less, so that pot-smokers would be
fined from $100 to $400 but wouldn't receive criminal records.

Until then, it is still a crime, though not treated that seriously.

Criminal lawyer Pierre Leger says people usually get a $50 fine for a first
offence of simple possession of under 30 grams.