FELGER VOWS TO OPEN POT CAFE IN ABBSTERDAM

Amsterdam started it and "Vansterdam's" carrying it on, but if one
Abbotsford pot activist has his way, "Abbsterdam" will soon be the
buzzword here for people wanting to buy over the counter marijuana.

Pro-marijuana campaigner Tim Felger is determined to take advantage of
the debate in Vancouver - the city dubbed as "Vansterdam" by local
media - after it came to light a cafe on Commercial Drive has been
openly selling marijuana.

Controversy has surrounded the Da Kine retail outlet since the issue
was highlighted last Monday.

However, Felger says it was his e-mail to media outlets that first
told them of Da Kine.

Felger told the Abbotsford News he wanted to highlight that this kind
of businesses can operate smoothly in a city without generating complaints.

And he says he knows of six similar businesses that will soon be
opening in and around Vancouver.

"It just means marijuana will be sold over the counter rather than
under the counter," he said. "It will totally annihilate the black
market," he said.

According to Felger, Abbotsford will be sucked into what he believes
will be an expanding trend - and he says he's the man to do it.
"Anyone who knows me knows I am going to open one in Abbotsford,"
Felger said.

"Whether they (the City of Vancouver) pulls Da Kine or not makes no
difference."

Asked whether, realistically, he believes a Da Kine-style store could
survive in Abbotsford, Felger was upbeat.

"Whatever happens, I think it would be a lot of free publicity. I will
be the one standing and they (the city) will be the ones with egg on
their faces," Felger said, adding that there are "five or six"
different business models that allow marijuana sellers to get around
licensing restrictions.

"What I am planning to do will make this the most explosive situation
in the world. I want there to be a media frenzy in
Abbotsford."

On Thursday night, Vancouver Police raided Da Kine and arrested eight
people. However, the business - which police believe does $30,000 of
business a day - was operating again within hours and remains open.

Last Wednesday, B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman criticized
Vancouver city officials for allowing the shop to stay open.

However, a number of people in the Commercial Drive area have said
they don't have a problem with Da Kine.