'REVEREND' PLANS TO OPEN JOINT FOR JOINTS

Catch A Buzz At Cafe

A Winnipeg pot advocate is eager to get things rolling.

Chris Dalman, who describes himself as a reverend with the Church of
the Universe, believes marijuana use brings enlightenment. He has high
hopes of opening a cafe where fellow church members can smoke a joint.

The 32-year-old hopes to see patrons smoking pot in his proposed
"sanctuary for true believers of cannabis" as early as this spring.

"The casual, recreational user will not be allowed to smoke marijuana
in the cafe unless they become a member and prove they are devout and
their use of marijuana is a true sacrament in their life," said
Dalman, adding the Church of the Universe has 12 clergy members.

"The cafe is a mission of the church, rather than a place to hang out
and smoke dope."

Staff Sgt. John Speirs, of the Winnipeg police drug unit, said he
"can't see an organization or business running something like that."

COMPLY WITH LAWS

"You can't just say, I'm going to do something. Is has to be in
compliance with the laws," Speirs said with a chuckle. "There's
nothing I'm aware of in (The Controlled Drugs and Substance Act) that
permits people to be in possession of an illegal substance for
religious reasons."

The proposed name of the cafe is a mouthful -- the Cannabis Devout
Mission of Humble Hemp Co. Cafe Sanctuary Meeting Place.

Dalman, who owns a hemp store at The Forks, said the cafe's menu would
include food that patrons can "catch a buzz" from. There would be a
separate room where they can enjoy a joint -- "a room sanctioned for
the chapel use."

Dalman said he'll screen patrons before admitting them to the cafe. To
score some dope, patrons must view the plant as a sacrament in their
life or a medicinal need, Dalman said. He hopes to have a registered
nurse on staff to make the health assessments.

Dalman is looking at locations on Corydon Avenue, in Osborne Village
and downtown. He's hopeful his plans won't go up in smoke but doesn't
expect the opening of an illegal cannabis cafe to go unnoticed.

"Any issue that has basically revolutionary implications, there is
always a lot of controversy and concern from different levels of
community leaders, religiously and politically," said Dalman.

Geoff Hughes, of the Manitoba Compassion Club, wants a part in the
cannabis cafe project. The 19-member club dispenses marijuana --
without government approval -- to people with serious illnesses.

Hughes is hoping the proposed cafe will become the group's
"clubhouse." "We're not waiting for the laws to change, we're pressing
ahead," said Hughes.

Last weekend, a marijuana teahouse in Vancouver was closed down two
months after its grand opening. Police arrested two people involved in
running the teahouse -- marketed as a place for medicinal pot users
certified by Health Canada.

Hughes said the Vancouver closure will not deter pot advocates from
fighting for the proposed cannabis cafe. He said he's willing to get
arrested and fight in court for his cause.

"It's not going to stop us," he said. "To challenge the law sometimes
is to break it."