CANADA POST SAYS POT BUSTS UP TO COPS

VANCOUVER -- Canada Post is in the business of delivering mail, not
inspecting its contents, a spokesman said yesterday when asked about a
Vancouver-based Internet business that bills itself as "Canada's
premium mail-order marijuana delivery service." John Caines, who saw
the "Bud Buddy" website after a media tipoff Friday, said while the
instructions given are "a giveaway" and it appears "suspicious," it is
up to the police to determine whether it's illegal.

"It is not up to Canada Post to shut it down," said Caines, Canada
Post's Ottawa-based manager of national media relations.

"Canada Post is not a law-enforcement agency. Our job is to pick up
and deliver, that's what we do."

But if any illegal activities are brought to its attention, it would
notify the authorities, he said.

"Just because they have a website does not mean they are using the
mail illegally," he added.

Caines said it is against the Canada Post Act to open any mail under
500 grams unless there is reason to believe the mail contains
something illegal or "undeliverable" - like tobacco, alcohol,
corrosives or explosives.

He said yesterday he wouldn't know until today what action, if any,
the post office will take on the matter.

Bud Buddy's website promises to "provide fast, discreet service and
high-quality marijuana products - always clean, well-cured, tasty and
potent."

It only accepts orders from within Canada, insists that payment be
made by cash or money order and asks customers to wrap bills in a few
sheets of paper so they are not visible through an envelope. Orders
are addressed to "Buddy Boy" and sent to a box number in Coal Harbour.

"If sending a money order: Always leave the 'Pay To' area blank, and
keep the receipt in case there is a problem with the mail," the
instructions on the site reads.

"Send your order form and payment via regular mail or Canada Post
Xpresspost only. Do not send by Fedex, UPS or other courier. Also do
not send by registered mail or anything we'd have to sign for," it
goes on.

And customers sending a large quantity of cash in the mail are urged
to send their orders by Canada Post Xpresspost, which it says is
trackable, "plus faster and safer than regular mail."

Caines said marijuana authorized by Health Canada and intended for
legal recipients does go in the regular mail stream but regulations
require that such mail is not identifiable by any markings.

The website, which says its products are sent out discreetly - "I use
vacuum-sealing to eliminate smell"- asks customers not to use a
pseudonym on return addresses.

"If you must use a pseudonym, don't use a jokey or pot-related one,
like "I.M. Stoned" or "John Ashcroft."

Messages left with the Vancouver police department yesterday were not
returned.