POT CAFE OPEN IN QUEBEC

Cops Bust Up Party

MONTREAL -- Police arrested two people yesterday as dozens of people
celebrated the opening of a pot cafe by passing around joints and inhaling
air thick with marijuana smoke. Several police officers from a station less
than a block away squeezed into Chez Marijane and arrested two men holding
joints, said Hugo St-Onge, president of the Bloc Pot party.

"To tell you the truth, I'm surprised," St-Onge said when reached on his
cellphone at the police station where he was helping the two men, age 26
and 51.

"It's a waste of their time, a waste of money. But it's simple possession
and it's illegal."

One of the men arrested has multiple sclerosis, he added.

The cafe does not sell pot but people can bring their own stash, said
St-Onge, who called the day a success despite the arrests.

"Only about two or three people left because of the police, the rest are
still there."

Before police arrived, customers and cafe volunteers sipped coffee, passed
joints and revelled in having a place they could congregate to smoke dope.

Serge Granger said not even the cold snowy weather could keep him away.

" We need transparency when it comes to drugs," he said, cradling his
14-month-old daughter in his arms.

"Drugs need to be out in the open if we are going to deal with the problem."

UNDER SURVEILLANCE

Antoine Debast, 23, peered through the thick haze of smoke at the cafe's
hustle and bustle and described the atmosphere as "more like a rave than a
cafe."

Police had the cafe under surveillance all day. A police spokesman would
not say why they decided to go in when they did or if they would return today.

"I can't comment on that but the cafe will be visited in a regular fashion
in order to enforce the law," Const. Michel Kriaa said.

Police said two children, between the ages of two and five, were present
when they entered. Quebec's child-protection agency was informed.

Earlier, St-Onge was all smiles as he cut a ribbon and declared the cafe
officially open.

"It's time to stop the persecution," St-Onge said on the cafe steps. "Here
at Chez Marijane (people) can come to express themselves and share their
culture in a friendly and secure environment."

Organizers' plans to open a pot cafe at a nearby location last September
drew howls of protest from the landlord and nearby businesses.

The building housing Chez Marijane was previously home to a club that
provided pot to the seriously ill. Nearby businesses said they weren't
worried about the cafe taking its place.

"Look at all the bars around here," said Yves Martel, owner of a nearby art
gallery, as he waved his arm towards the street.

"I'm more worried about the people who come out of them drunk, aggressive
and vomiting all over the sidewalk.