POLICE DESCEND ON EAST-END HEAD SHOP

Toronto police raided a drug paraphernalia shop associated with a
group advocating the use of medical marijuana Wednesday night,
arresting more than 20 people and seizing pot, hash and cannabis plants.

The G13 Shop, a three-storey house on Queen St. E. near Woodbine
Ave., became the subject of a police investigation about a month ago
after Beach area residents and businesses began complaining about
disorderly conduct.

Police charged about 10 people with trafficking drugs and the rest
for possession, drug squad Det. Sgt. Larry Cowley said.

He said they also seized about five pounds of pot and hash as well as
about 75 marijuana plants, adding more accurate numbers would be
available soon.

Named after a strain of marijuana that, according to the shop's
website, is known for prolonged strong effects without inducing
paranoia, the G13 Shop advocates for the medical use of cannabis,
which the website says "has been misrepresented by the government
through prohibition and propaganda."

The website says the shop's purpose is to educate people about "how
organic growing methods can improve your health."

According to the website and a sign on the front of the building, the
G13 Shop is associated with the Toronto chapter of the Assembly of
the Church of the Universe, which was voted the city's "best house of
worship" by an annual reader poll in the current issue of NOW Magazine.

The "church" is housed in the basement of Trinity St. Paul's Church
on Bloor St. W. north of Spadina Ave. and claims the Old Testament
gives proof that cannabis was an ingredient in holy oil from the time
of Exodus.

NOW says perspective parishioners shoudn't expect to be zoned out on
special brownies at the church and quotes Rev. Brother Bruce as
saying: "We want to be sure people are actually true of heart."