POT SMOKERS ROLLING WITH THE LOOPHOLES

Those who frequent head shops and pick up rolling papers "for tobacco"
may be looking over their shoulders for the law after all.

In response to urging from provincial ministers, Federal Justice
Minister Martin Cauchon said this week he could be revising a bill to
decriminalize marijuana to criminally charge repeat offenders.
Initially the proposed bill would have taken possession of small
amounts of pot out of the criminal realm and offenders would face fines
only.

If something could be done about repeat offenders, "we'll have a
serious look at it," Cauchon said.

The question of the legality or illegality of pot surfaced last month
when B.C. Judge Patrick Chen ruled there was no valid law prohibiting
possession. Solicitor General Rich Coleman argued there is. The
question is now before the Supreme Court of Canada and in courts in
Ontario.

While Abbotsford police said they will follow Coleman's direction and
treat possession as a crime, there are others who don't seem to be
deterred by the criminal aspect.

In fact there's plenty of rolling papers, bongs [pipes] and other
drug-related paraphernalia for sale on the shelves of the Abby Dollar
Store in downtown Abbotsford.

The sign outside the Essendene Avenue shop even advertises the
products, although the store keeper says his customers buy the stuff
only to smoke tobacco.

"We don't sell to minors. We do everything legal," said owner John
Nagra, referring to the pipes and other items.

Store owners in the area are pretty sure they know what people are
buying when they go to the dollar store.

"They sell all kinds of drug paraphernalia," said a neighbouring
storekeeper.

"A guy came in here looking for pipes and scales. We see taxis drive
up and people jump out. How many times do you see people take a cab to
a dollar store?" asked the business owner, who did not wanted to be
identified for fear of retaliation.

Another shopkeeper said the little dollar store on Essendene draws in
a lot of business.

"I see prostitutes going in there all the time, sometimes four or five
times a day and so do their pimps. It's pretty grim," the owner said.