POTHEADS LIGHT UP; DIM VIEW TAKEN OF SHOP

As pot smokers celebrated their unofficial annual 4:20 holiday
outside the Manitoba Legislature and elsewhere yesterday, a new St.
James head shop was holding its grand opening -- much to the chagrin
of the area's school board chair.

A store called La Mota, which is Spanish slang for marijuana,
officially opened its doors yesterday at 1859 Portage Ave., a
stoner's throw from St. James Collegiate.

Head shops like La Mota typically sell smoking implements like pipes,
bongs and rolling papers, as well as counterculture books, posters,
clothing and other goods.

Const. Jason Michalyshen, a spokesman for Winnipeg police, said such
shops are legal because there's nothing criminal about buying or
selling an unused pipe.

"It's not drug paraphernalia unless it's found in the company of
illegal drugs or has residue in it," Michalyshen said. "Head shops
sell a variety of legal products. There's not a criminal aspect to it."

But Peter Carney, chair of the St. James-Assiniboia School Division
board, said his board believes La Mota should ply its trade elsewhere.

"We know this is a legal enterprise and we can't stop it from
opening, but we feel this is inappropriate so close to a school,"
Carney said. "We are having a problem with the number of students
coming to school with the product (marijuana)."

The board sent a letter to Winnipeg city council, but Carney said it
appears bylaws do not limit where head shops can open.

However, Mayor Sam Katz said the city will soon be reviewing its
zoning laws and suggested that would be an appropriate time for
anyone with a concern about head shops or other businesses to make
their views heard.

A spokeswoman for La Mota said the shop is not targeting students.

"We don't open until 1 p.m. because the school is so close. We don't
want the kids coming in and hanging out and skipping school," said
Lara Edwards-Van-Nuijen of La Mota.

"But whatever kids do after school hours, that's not my concern or
the school's. That's when the parents should step in."

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people -- the vast majority of them high
school students -- gathered outside the legislature yesterday.

"We're supportive of what the crowd is here for -- legalizing
marijuana," said Nicholas Plett, a member of Canadian Students for
Sensible Drug Policy at the University of Winnipeg. "But I'm a little
disconcerted with the amount of young kids here."