OWNER TO STOP SELLING POT AT B.C. CAFE

Stakes Too High, Owner Says

VANCOUVER -- The owner of the Vancouver cafe that has been openly
selling pot for months said today the stakes in the ongoing game of
cat and mouse with police have become too high.

Carol Gwilt says the cafe on Vancouver's trendy Commercial Drive will
stop selling marijuana.

"I'm directing my staff at the Da Kine Smoke Shop to stop selling
cannabis," Gwilt said in a statement read by lawyer Jason Gratl
outside Vancouver provincial court.

Gwilt was arrested Thursday on a charge of breaching bail
conditions.

She vowed to continue their fight in the courts.

Gwilt remains in custody until a bail hearing on Monday.

The cafe caught the attention of police after media reports of
over-the-counter sales of marijuana.

Police raided the shop on Sept. 9 and arrested Gwilt and seven
employees on charges of possessing marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking.

During the raid, officers seized $63,000, another $1,700 U.S., nine
kilograms of marijuana, some hashish and 300 cookies baked with hash
or marijuana, officials said.

At one 90-minute period during their surveillance, police said they
saw 230 customers.

They estimated the cafe was doing about $30,000 of business a day, a
figure denied by store operators.

Gwilt was also charged with possessing proceeds from a
crime.

After spending a night in jail, she and the others were released from
custody, pending a further appearance on Oct. 6, on the condition they
stay away from marijuana or any premises, automobile or person where
marijuana is present..

At the time, provincial court Judge William Kitchen remarked it was
"silly" for them to remain in custody and added that marijuana-related
cases were "not the most dangerous offences."

However, Kitchen warned they could go to jail if caught
again.

Gwilt was back at Da Kine soon after her release and vowed that her
business would remain open and continue selling marijuana to people
who use it for medicinal purposes.