HIS AIM: HIGH PRIEST OF POT

Rev. Brian Carlisle is bombing toward Ottawa today to demand that his group
- -- the Holy Smoke Alternative Healing Center -- be named the first Canadian
organization allowed to distribute medicinal marijuana.

"I'm demanding they grant Holy Smoke the first exemption for a class of
persons," he said.

Carlisle, who lives with glaucoma and chronic pain, claims to be one of some
20 Canadians granted an exemption through Health Canada to grow and possess
pot for medical purposes.

And he plans to hash out the details Monday at a private workshop reviewing
Health Canada's medicinal marijuana initiatives.

Through Holy Smoke Carlisle, of Mission, delivers medicinal marijuana to
hundreds of members suffering from a range of illnesses.

Those with legal exemptions, physicians, RCMP members and the police chiefs'
association are some of the stakeholders taking part.

But Roslyn Tremblay of Health Canada says Carlisle is not among the
invitees.

Carlisle says several members of Holy Smoke were asked to participate. He
helped fill out their exemption applications and will be looking for answers
with them.

He expects to be compensated for his travel costs when he pulls up in his
"healmobile" -- a green 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier -- on Monday.

The current exemptions granted under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act only apply to individuals, not organizations, but Carlisle
says exemptees need to get their dope supply somewhere.

A businessman with a vision, his goal is to become Health Canada's official
supplier.

"Just make me the minister of marijuana, and I guarantee that within a year
everyone in Canada who needs marijuana will have it."

Carlisle is also slated to appear in New Westminster court in June to ask
that 160 kilos of seized bud be returned to him -- or $1.05 million in
compensation for it -- because of his exempt status.

An exemption for Holy Smoke is also part of his court application. Receiving
a simple "yes" on Monday would save him from going to court, he said.