STORE COULD BE ONE SMOKIN' JOINT!

Pot shops where smokers could buy and toke marijuana might be set up in
major Canadian cities within six months, says a cannabis advocate in Vancouver.

"We're trying to open a marijuana-selling operation in the city, and the
reason for that is that there's so many people from out of town who come to
Vancouver and there isn't a respectable retail outlet to send an
out-of-towner to," said Marc Emery, president of the Marijuana Party of B.C.

"We end up having to send them to the sleazy part of the downtown east side
to buy from all the crack, heroin and pot dealers, and people who sell
anything illegal. It's always a discouraging experience to send them there.

"We want to open up something for these visitors that's much more
respectable and has a warm, safe environment, where they know what they're
getting and they're with other pot smokers."

Emery said Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal will likely be the first
Canadian cities with such shops.

Most observers say Canada is headed towards more relaxed pot laws after an
Ontario judge threw out a possession charge against a teen in Windsor
earlier this week.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he favours decriminalizing possession
of less than 30 grams of pot, and will bring in new legislation to that
effect by March.

His comments came on the heels of a Commons committee report making the
same recommendation, which would mean that possession of 30 grams of pot
would result in nothing more than a fine and no criminal record.

But as long as possession of marijuana is illegal, Edmonton cops will
continue busting people for it, said Sgt. Pete Ratcliff, president of the
Edmonton Police Association.