MINISTER WAITING TO NIP CAFES IN THE BUD

New Brunswick is waiting for Ottawa to act in order to stem the growth of
cannabis cafes in the province, says Justice Minister Brad Green.

Lynn Wood opened Hemp NB's Cannabis Cafe this week in Saint John, providing
customers with a public place to smoke marijuana. The cafe doesn't sell
drugs. Rather it provides a venue for adult customers to smoke in a social
setting.

Mr. Green said Friday the province is anxious to hear the federal government
state its intentions to deal with the decriminalization issue.

"The province of New Brunswick is on record as being opposed to the
decriminalization of marijuana. Our position remains the same," he said. "As
for this particular operation in the City of Saint John, that is a policing
issue. The law is very clear as far as we're concerned."

Public Safety Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney had also said this week the
matter was strictly a policing issue. She said she had "every confidence the
Saint John Police Department will do its job." And yet the cafe remains
open.

Mr. Green said he had no idea when the federal government will conclude its
examination of the issue and come to a decision. But with no word of other
cafe grand openings coming, he said the province wasn't worried about others
taking advantage of the situation. The issue will likely be on the agenda
this fall when Justice Department ministers meet, he noted.

The Cannabis Cafe opened April 2 as the province's first self-described
pot-smoking optional cafe. Patrons said they weren't worried about facing
charges when possession charges are being thrown out of provincial courts
across the country.