TOP POTHEAD GETS WEED OK

The head of the Marijuana Party of Alberta is now legally allowed to smoke
pot, and police haven't found any wrongdoing at his new pot paraphernalia
store.

Ken Kirk said he received a medical exemption late last year because he
suffers from epilepsy, but he added he believes marijuana is legal anyway -
and has said as much to the cops themselves when they visit his office.

"I inform them if they were to proceed against me for having marijuana I'd
be charging them, and what my arguments would be for charging them. And
then they go away," he said, adding police were kind enough to secure the
shop after a recent break-in.

"I also have the exemption from prosecution. My neurologist applied for my
exemption back in May 1999 and I was finally approved."

He said police have been told that party meetings are for a "moral, social
or benevolent" purpose, and added that to break up such a gathering would
be contrary to the Criminal Code. Kirk says he's warned police that if his
party members are charged in his shop at 10253 97 St., they'll be across
the street at the law courts filing their own statements very quickly.

City police said they have been checking on Kirk's six-week-old "head shop"
downtown as they do whenever a new business opens, but so far haven't found
any problems.

"We've had no complaints from there, but the regular beat officer has made
periodic visits to the store," said police spokesman Wes Bellmore.