POT CAFE WORKERS RELEASED

Face Trafficking Charges

VANCOUVER -- After spending a night in jail, the seven employees and
the operator of a cafe which has been openly selling marijuana were
released late Friday. Provincial court Judge William Kitchen remarked
that it was "silly" for them to remain in jail.

The arrests were made after Vancouver police seized 20 pounds of
marijuana, a pound of hashish and $63,000 in cash in Thursday night's
raid on Da Kine which senior police officials characterized as a
significant drug house.

Da Kine operator Carol Gwilt and her seven staff members are scheduled
to appear again in Vancouver provincial court Oct. 6 on charges of
possessing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Gwilt was also charged with possessing proceeds from a crime. A
hearing into the cafe's business licence is scheduled at Vancouver
City Hall on the same day as the court appearance.

The judge warned the group they would go to jail if they offend
again.

"Next time, I'll hold you in jail," Kitchen said. "It seems pretty
silly to be held in jail these days for possession of marijuana."

Investigators counted more than 230 visitors to the business within an
hour and a half during their surveillance, said Insp. Dave Nelmes,
head of the Vancouver police drug section.

As customers streamed through the Commercial Drive storefront Friday,
business was brisk, and several customers smoked their joints out on
the sidewalk, cheering loudly as Da Kine spokesman Lorne McLeod vowed
the cafe would remain in business.

"They've done their raid, here we are again. And if they raid us
again, we'll open again,' McLeod said.