HIGH ROLLER CAFE

Bloc Pot leader Hugo St-Onge has high hopes that Prime Minister Jean
Chretien will come and smoke his retirement joint at the Bloc's Cafe
Maryjane, which is expected to open soon.

"In about two or three weeks we should be open for business," said
St-Onge. "There's still some final details to work out, particularly
with the grand opening."

The Bloc initially planned to open Montreal's first
"marijuana-friendly" coffee house on St-Denis in early September, but
things fell through when the landlord got wind of the plan. Now,
dealing with a new, more understanding landlord, the cafe project is
back on track. While St-Onge wouldn't divulge the exact location -
"it's going to be a BIG surprise," he said - Hour has learned that the
new cafe will be located close, very close, to one of Montreal's 49
neighbourhood police stations.

Vancouver has had such cafes for a number of years, but growing public
tolerance and a confused legal situation have emboldened pot activists
to open similar cafes across the country. Saint John, London and
Toronto have already established cafes for cannabis consumers.

There will be no selling of marijuana on the premises - for now at
least, that's highly illegal - but patrons will be free to bring their
own and toke at will. The Bloc promises to run a "no-pressure
establishment," but after two or three visits, St-Onge said patrons
might be asked to take out membership in the Bloc Pot or the (federal)
Marijuana Party.

"They could also donate to either party," he adds, "and be eligible
for a tax credit."

The federal government is currently deliberating a bill to
decriminalize the possession of small quantities of pot for personal
use, but judges in several provinces have halted proceedings in many
marijuana possession cases saying there is no valid law governing the
offence. The government appealed and recently won an Ontario court
decision that effectively reinstated the possession laws, but
additional court challenges are lining up in a number of provinces,
including Quebec.

The Supreme Court is also studying various constitutional aspects of
Canada's marijuana laws and they are expected to render a verdict shortly.

Meanwhile, St-Onge is busy making plans for Cafe Maryjane's grand
opening. Despite high hopes, on their shoestring budget, it could be a
frugal affair.

"Tell everyone to bring their own cup," he says.