N.B. CANNABIS CAFE TO OFFER OVER-THE-COUNTER SALE OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

SAINT JOHN, N.B. (CP) - The owners of a Saint John cafe where patrons are
encouraged to smoke pot and sip coffee are now offering over-the-counter sales
of medicinal marijuana.

Jim and Lynn Wood, founders of the Cannabis Cafe, announced Tuesday they have
decided to sell high-grade marijuana from their store to people who need pot to
ease their pain. "This will be Canada's first over-the-counter cannabis cafe,"
said Jim Wood. "Bascially, we're just trying to help people."

The cafe has been open since April, but it has not been in the business of
selling marijuana.

The quaint shop offers a wide range of hemp products and drug paraphernalia,
such as pipes. Anyone who buys a beverage can sit and smoke the marijuana they
brought with them.

Police arrested five people at the cafe in May but charges are still pending.

Meanwhile, pot smokers continue to frequent the store.

The Woods said they have decided to branch out into medical marijuana sales
because they believe there is a real need.

People who want to get marijuana must first fill out application forms and, if
possible, provide a doctor's letter that states why they need the pot.

Wood said that if people don't have a doctor or don't have one willing to
recommend marijuana, they can simply apply on their own.

"I just hope they're cheaper than what it costs on the street," said Robert
Brideau, a 61-year-old Saint John resident with arthritis and prostate
problems.

"The dealers are charging $225 or $250 an ounce. That's a lot of money. I can't
afford it where I'm on a pension."

Brideau was the first customer to fill out an application on Tuesday. He hopes
to know within a couple of days whether he will qualify for the marijuana,
which the Woods promise will be top quality.

"I'm in a lot of pain," he said. "It's the only thing that helps."

The Woods said they will discuss prices with the patients.

"We can't give it away," Jim said. "There are costs involved."

Sgt. Kim Phillips, the head of Saint John's street crime unit, said it is
against the law for the Woods to sell marijuana at their store.

He said the police will keep an eye on the cafe, which won't be difficult since
it's directly across the street from a community policing office.

"We are going to investigate and we will charge accordingly," Phillips said.

The Saint John police were criticized for not moving more quickly against the
Cannabis Cafe.

The Woods, who acknowledge they are testing the limits of Canada's pot
decriminalization intentions, said they hope the police will leave them alone.

"We'll see what happens," Jim said. "We can only hope they'll finally look at
this in a positive light."

The federal government is still reviewing a special parliamentary committee's
proposal for decriminalizing the possession of pot for personal use.

Judges in several provinces have halted proceedings in cases involving
marijuana possession in the past year, saying there is no valid federal law
governing the offence.

Wood said he applied to the federal government for a permit to sell medicinal
marijuana, but didn't hear back.

He said the marijuana he sells in his store will be of much higher quality than
the product produced by federal growers, which has been widely criticized as
weak and ineffective.