CANNABIS CAFE IS ON A ROLL IN B.C.

VANCOUVER - The ceilings are high - like the clientele - but there's
nothing remotely seedy about the Cannabis Cafe: the food they serve is
organic; the atmosphere more health-food than hash-den. A sign in the
window reads: ``Cannabis is presently illegal in Canada. If you choose to
consume in this cafe you do so at your own risk.''

Welcome to Vansterdam.

Vancouver gained the nickname for its booming pot trade and an attitude of
tolerance likened to Amsterdam - though weed isn't sold over the counter as
it is in that European city. The province even has its own poster boy for
B.C. grass - Olympic gold-medal snowboarder Ross Rebagliati. As long ago as
1992, police were saying the retail value of marijuana grown in Vancouver
alone rivalled that of all the agriculture in the province.

Vancouver ``is known as being tolerant'' and that reputation only worsens
the pot problem, Mayor Philip Owen said yesterday in an interview.

``People are pouring in from Eastern Canada,'' he said. ``They've decided
it's mild weather, a nice place to be, so they're coming here . . . and
adding to an ongoing challenge.''

The perception that Vancouver is the cannabis capital of North America -
maker of potent ``one-toke'' pot - is also a big draw for young Americans
who are flocking across one of the border crossings from Washington state.

Marijuana seizures are up ``substantially,'' said Gene Kerven, area
director for U.S. Customs in Blaine, Wash.

It comes down to profits - which are huge because of Canada's relatively
weak dollar.

A pound of pot bought for $3,500 can almost double in price stateside.

To help stem the flow of B.C. pot, U.S. authorities have increased the
number of customs agents and stepped up searches - resulting in longer
delays for travellers.

Back at the Cannabis Cafe, Robert - who asked that his last name not be
used - and four of his university pals from Eugene, Ore., didn't wait for
smugglers to deliver the dope.

Instead, on their spring break they travelled eight hours to sample it at
the source.

Early afternoon inside the cafe, located between Vancouver's business
district and the city's skid row, the glassy-eyed group sits around a large
wooden table sucking in mouthfuls of smoke from a soapstone carved pipe.

They filled it with green bud purchased ``across the street.''

The brick-walled cafe is filled with images of marijuana. Even the glass
candleholders on the tables are decorated with the leafy green plant - the
equivalent of the cafe's corporate emblem.

Cigarette smoking is banned and no alcohol is served.
Visitors only risk getting the giggles.

Cigarette smoking is prohibited and no alcohol is served.

``We wanted to come up here and experience what it was like for it to be
legal,'' said Robert, 20, before correcting himself, ``It's not (legal),
but you're able to do it here without getting caught.''

Indeed, the only risk to pot smokers lighting up in the cafe this week -
and there are others in the neighbourhood that allow public toking - was a
case of uncontrollable giggles and the munchies.

Mayor Owen said police have raided the cafe - opened by former London,
Ont., resident Marc Emery last July and now run by another Londoner,
23-year-old Adam Patterson. And indeed police have seized pot seeds and
arrested staff - including Emery.

Vancouver city council has refused to renew the cafe's business licence.

Still, police are ambivalent about focusing their limited resources on
collaring cannabis users, especially when the consumption is kept light and
discreet, when they say heroin and crack cocaine are a far more severe
problem.

``We're aware of what's going on at Cannabis Cafe but we have to set
priorities,'' said Sergeant Carl Hetherington, head of Vancouver police's
drug enforcement unit.