PRO-POT ACTIVISTS PROTEST AFTER COFFEE SHOP RAID

Toronto police raided a popular downtown coffee house frequented by
medical marijuana users and other cannabis-smoking patrons.

More than a dozen officers converged on Kindred Cafe, on Breadabane
St., near Yonge St. and Wellesley Ave., about 7 o'clock last night.

Two people were taken into custody and four others were issued
summonses for trafficking and possession of marijuana before police
began removing furniture, electronic equipment, coffee machines and
paraphernalia used to smoke.

A group of activists gathered outside while police loaded a five-tonne
truck and carted away much of the cafe's contents.

The three-storey building has a restaurant on the main floor, lounges
on the second floor and a rooftop patio with propane heaters and a
canopy where patrons can legally smoke outside. It has been in
business since 2000 and sells fair trade coffee beans and pastries,
some allegedly laced with cannabis.

"They don't sell any cannabis in this establishment," said an angry
Matt Mernaugh, an activist and registered medical marijuana user, who
arrived as the police raid was underway. "This is just a place for
people who use medical marijuana to socialize."