KINDRED POT GATHERING

Marijuana Activists Rally For Arrested Owner Of Cafe

A small crowd of pot activists lit up on the steps of Old City Hall
yesterday morning to protest against last week's police raid on the
Kindred Cafe, a local hangout for medicinal and recreational marijuana
smokers.

"We're here, we're high, get used to it," chanted the group of about
20 people, some waving flags emblazoned with a marijuana leaf, others
were crowned with wreaths of bright green foliage.

The rally was a show of support for the Kindred's owner, Dominic
Cramer, who later turned himself in to police.

Cramer wasn't present when police raided the three-storey cafe
Thursday evening on suspicion of marijuana trafficking, seizing
furniture and equipment and taking two people into custody.

Cramer, who has no criminal record, is expected in court today for a
bail hearing, although it's unclear at this time what charges will be
laid. His fans yesterday pledged to return for the hearing.

"We're not going to let them take us one by one," Matt Mernagh said
into a loudspeaker, a lit joint in his other hand.

Mernagh, who smokes up to 10 grams of pot each day to relieve the pain
of scoliosis, spent nearly two weeks in jail this summer after Toronto
police found marijuana plants on his balcony. The charges were dropped
last week, he said.

He said the protest was about the "greater issue" of marijuana
regulation, but that all present were patrons of the Kindred Cafe, one
of the few places where medicinal users could smoke and socialize.

Chad Cooke, spokesperson for the cafe, said Cramer appreciates the
support, but doesn't condone the rally. "Right now, he's dealing with
this challenge (of turning himself in). Afterwards, maybe we can deal
with the larger issue," Cooke said as he watched the activists yesterday.

The Kindred closed after the raid, but should reopen sometime this
week. Customers will still be allowed to smoke pot on the rooftop
patio, Cooke said.