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Vancouver: Da Kine Pot Cafe Creates A Stir

Wed, Sep 01, 2004 12:57 pm

VANCOUVER -
The owner of a Vancouver cafe that openly sells marijuana says she's going public, in the hopes that the city and police will let her stay in business.

Carol Gwilt says the Da Kine Cafe on Commercial Drive has been selling marijuana over the counter for the past four months, and just "flew under the radar."

Gwilt says the limit is one ounce per customer, and buyers have to be at least 19 years old. A doctor's note is not required.

The pot is not on display. Instead it's ordered from a menu, and brought out from a back room – much like the cannabis cafes in Amsterdam.

Gwilt says she's had no complaints from police or city hall, and should be allowed to stay open. "It's something that's working, and something that should be applauded. And we do get applauded.

"People come in here and they walk in in disbelief that they are in such a wonderful place," she says.

Now that she's spoken out, Gwilt expects to see police show up at her front door in the very near future.

"I expect to ask for their co-operation in resolving it so we can get our doors open again and continue to sell marijuana," she says.

Vancouver police say they don't have a plan on how to deal with the cafe. Const. Sarah Bloor says police have only just become aware of the operations because they haven't had a single complaint.

Bloor says police will sit down with city officials to decide what, if anything, should be done.

Gwilt says she hopes to convince city officials that her cafe is a vital part of Vancouver's overall harm reduction plan when it comes to dealing with drug us

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Oct 10 2007, 8:25 am

does anyone know where i can buy shrooms on commercial drive?

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ramez alam

May 30 2005, 7:53 pm

hi i'm the sixteen year old again I'm from coquitlam bc. I go to centeniall high school, however THe dope here sucks. Hook up some nice dope man plz.........

u.s. citizen

May 22 2005, 12:56 pm

i think it would help with tourism, i was thinking about taking a vacation, but if im going to get in trouble for it my freinds and i will spend the extra cash and enjoy for sure legal amsterdam vacation but i would much rather stay on my own continent

pot fo the world ma!

Nov 23 2004, 2:14 am

I dont know those kids but in my hood the 9 year olds carry guns to shool drink smoke and toke and will wet your ass if you look atem wrong so dont feel bad for these little shits they know what there doing , there sellin to there frinds cause the dad wont beat that assI dont know those kids but in my hood the 9 year olds carry guns to shool drink smoke and toke and will wet your ass if you look atem wrong so dont feel bad for these little shits they know what there doing , there sellin to there frinds cause the dad wont beat that assI dont know those kids but in my hood the 9 year olds carry guns to shool drink smoke and toke and will wet your ass if you look atem wrong so dont feel bad for these little shits they know what there doing , there sellin to there frinds cause the dad wont beat that assI dont know those kids but in my hood the 9 year olds carry guns to shool drink smoke and toke and will wet your ass if you look atem wrong so dont feel bad for these little shits they know what there doing , there sellin to there frinds cause the dad wont beat that assI dont know those kids but in my hood the 9 year olds carry guns to shool drink smoke and toke and will wet your ass if you look atem wrong so dont feel bad for these little shits they know what there doing , there sellin to there frinds cause the dad wont beat that assI dont know those kids but in my hood the 9 year olds carry guns to shool drink smoke and toke and will wet your ass if you look atem wrong so dont feel bad for these little shits they know what there doing , there sellin to there frinds cause the dad wont beat that ass

ramez

Oct 28 2004, 6:42 pm

has neone ever jacked off while blazing

ramezz

Oct 28 2004, 6:40 pm

i luv it plzzz

Teacher

Sep 24 2004, 9:52 pm

No Ramez you cant have any, youre too young! Now go to your room and play video games!

tristanf

Sep 19 2004, 10:08 pm

if the pigs just tried it they ley off our backs

IVI

Sep 17 2004, 7:56 pm

my wife and I went to VAN for our honeymoon... it was a wonderful experience to be able to walk into DA KINE and order a few grams of herb... and the feeling of legaly burning the herb around all of the friendly conscious minded people... VAN is heaven!

Ramez Alam

Sep 15 2004, 7:24 pm

Hey i'm sixteen years old and I fell that i should be allowed to buy some pot as well. Plz.

Raze

Sep 15 2004, 5:12 am

http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current&page=&view=&sb=5&o=
http://www.bcmarijuanaparty.ca/
http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-2941.html
http://dakinesmoke.ca/index.php

Don

Sep 14 2004, 4:51 pm

Does anyone know what the prices run? I know you vcan buy up to an ounce there, anyone have any idea how much $$$$?

DESIBOY

Sep 13 2004, 6:07 pm

This is great news. I will certainly drop by on the weekend to show my support. Applause for the city of Vancouver, and the Mayor (In most part) :)

U,S,Citizen

Sep 11 2004, 6:40 am

If the City Officials would Listen to their constituency and start changing their cultural thinking,the revenues would be rolling IN.

hidden

Sep 11 2004, 2:46 am

swung past da kine today to notice throngs of people lined up. its neat that people are taking steps, towards a revolution. perhaps time to go back to school and re-educate oursevles about prohibition. about time i say we take a step out into the unknown. it will be interesting to see how things turn out. feels great, stiring the pot.

BC_lean_cuisine

Sep 11 2004, 1:25 am

Carol is a first class lady who is trying to create an oasis that everyone needs.

By the way, Da Kine is at 1018 Commercial Dr.

jsuites

Sep 11 2004, 12:52 am

forgot to add - you'll find da kine on the east side of 1000 block commercial drive. it's the only shop with smiling people lining up out the door. -js

jsuites

Sep 11 2004, 12:47 am

with the owner still in jail, da kine opened at 11 am today, business as usual. i stopped by for the first time today and bought a couple of "freedom specials" - $20 bags, 3 grams each. some kind of indica cross(?), feels nice. they were also selling the mysterious "budder" at $20 per quarter gram. over the counter, organic herb. unreal. don't let it end. -js

Washington Girl

Sep 10 2004, 11:39 pm

I can't believe that no one has talked about the "budder"!!!!!

Hooch

Sep 10 2004, 10:32 pm

Can anyone give me the specific address to Da Kine?

Dave

Sep 10 2004, 8:45 pm

What are their prices like? Is there an url pointing to the menu?

Sep 10 2004, 6:26 pm

I was there last night when it happened, I say go DaKine, there are alot worse things going on out there

RAID

Sep 10 2004, 6:06 pm

A BIG WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY!!.
Since someone down the street probably got assault. Hopely NOT.

some unknown person

Sep 10 2004, 4:25 pm

da kine was raided last night. they are still going to be open and selling bud to people over 19 years of age. i was down there today for the rally and news conference.the cops raided it swat style with balaclavas and guns. there was at least 100-200 people on the street heckling the cops and smoking joints openly. it was crazy. props to carol for keeping it going even in the face of the law. this is how amsterdam started 30 years ago. GO DA KINE!!!!

Sep 10 2004, 3:58 pm

Yea i was watching it on the news in Vancouver. There are more like this though, so don't be dissuaded if you want to buy pot in Vancouver.

Sep 10 2004, 9:32 am

Yesterday the Da Kine was raided and shut down by the Vancouver police. Patrons were also arrested.

Qc_toker

Sep 9 2004, 11:49 pm

I wish we'd have a cafe like that in Quebec!!!Its just incredible to think that weed is still illegal.If people would stop believing everything they hear n start searching for answers by themselves, they'd find out soon enough that weed is harmless.Also that if cigarets and beer are sold legally, there's no reaon for ganja to b prosecuted like that.

ian

Sep 9 2004, 10:03 pm

Looks like Da Kine has been SHUT DOWN!
It sucks... but I can't say it was unexpected. The same thing happened to HempBC and other marijuana businesses in the past too.

ilovemycity

Sep 8 2004, 10:22 am

I believe that this is going to start a new wave in Van. Just keep these places AWAY from hastings. The pot district is old news, we need to spread it out, all over. Maybe I'll be able to stop sneaking over the border to get rid of my bud!

bc_joe

Sep 6 2004, 11:40 pm

I just saw on the local news, now another shop on the same street has started selling marijuana openly as well. Looks like a movement is starting.

I also should add - I live in the same neighborhood as these shops, it really is incredible.. really great quality, service, price.
I've been to Amsterdam, and its so great to see the same deal here in n. america finally... BC is the best!

Christine

Sep 6 2004, 4:56 pm

As a visitor from NYC to Vancouver, I find this shop to be a godsend, but only for the fact VanCity is so boring in many ways, there's little to do but enjoy some mellow company & have a good smoke. This city does doesn't have "the spark" or vibrancy like east coasts cities have, and that's ok. But don't believe Vancouver is perfect because you won't be busted, treated like a murderer as police in US cities might label you as. Why is it laid back cities are associated with pot while busy, go-go ones are all about the caffine buzz?! Funny, we need to switch that!

Mike

Sep 6 2004, 4:46 pm

This only further proves my theory that Vancouver is the greatest city in North America.

Paul

Sep 6 2004, 1:16 am

this is what happens when potheads run businesses, all I wanted was a little spliff but they were closed at a reasonable hour, and no opening hours posted, just plain unreliable, i'm going back to crack

Spaceman_Spliff

Sep 5 2004, 5:38 pm

I think that this would provide the Canadian Government (if not, maybe just the BC Governmanet) to see what impact a legalized distributor of marijuana would have on the city, and even see the financial incentives of such a business. We have more than enough room on the island to provide grow operations that could be environmentally safe, to provide a product to a business in the city, with trackable profits, taxable like any other business. Despite what politicians say, it really is that easy. What's not that easy is the little piece of paper a majority of them have to sign to "permit the operation." Enough of the bullsh*t already, the cops didn't even know the place existed, even thought the government knew about it (google "Dakine Vancouver" to see) since the beginning of the summer. How's that?!?

Evz

Sep 5 2004, 3:11 pm

Ya, I went there yesterday..First time. Mostly out of disbelief.

Before you can buy it, you have to register and explain what cannibis does for you...Just say relaxation and you have stess, lol.
You stand in a line, pick from the daily menu, then buy whatever you want...it's INSANE. All kinds of people...Old, young, rich, poor etc...It blew my mind.
You can then roll it on the counter and share lol....
Buds range from; Chernobyl, Blueberry, Lots of Hash Plants, and Cross breeds....Citrus etc...
The pot got me pretty baked too, compared to the local troll man...Plus you avoid those GAY conversations where you suck up to your drug dealers shady ass. Hah..They're still hippies who want to stick it to the man....w2g

conan

Sep 5 2004, 1:25 am

it's still in operation. it's not about growing your own or what the prices are( 30 an eigth canadian). it's about starting a new revolution. the cops hang around, but commercial drive is free of dealers and the like. they get at least a hundred customers a day, easy. it's a nice relaxed safe enviroment to puschase and it's nice to have a menu to pick from. plus you meet people. i grow, but i like to go down and pick some up if they have a real nice strain at the time. they sell out fast when it comes to the good bud. just like the 'dam you have to know when to go. there hasn't been one problem since it opened. most people didn't know it was even opne that's how low key it is. when you go to a bar or club, you have cops there every night. fights and stabbings or shootings. never see that at da kine.

trichomes

Sep 2 2004, 6:13 pm

When I go to Vancouver next month, I know where my first stop will be! Now thats what I call great advertising!

Hippie_Freak

Sep 2 2004, 10:05 am

Good for her she should be able to keep selling marijuana over the counter to people. Those things should be legal in America, and if it does happen to become legal I am going to take my glass blowing skills and make a store for, bongs, pipes, bubblers, etc. Also sell marijuana.

http://www.grasscity.com
For all your toker' needs

goodbyebluesky

Sep 2 2004, 5:21 am

America? you mean North America? Vancouver's in British Columbia genius.

Dan Goudreau

Sep 2 2004, 3:25 am

Whats the big deal with marijuana? I dont dont see anything wrong with it. If its legal in one place in America it should be legal everywhere. Its a lot safer than drinking I can tell you that much. You get in more trouble with weed than beer or all them other beverages. Smoke weed for breadfest lunch and dinner. Be relaxed and High,love it, smoke it, role it, smell it,burn it inhale it and walla have a nice day. Screw what the government says. HAHAHA!!Blaze it UP. Damn! Get High.
High Times is the Shizznitto yah:}

ponchoman23

Sep 1 2004, 9:36 pm

awsome da kine pot cafe is setting the way. a brave & courages soul shes got . hopefully other cafes will do the same. in two years people will be talking about vandam.

K.B. killer

Sep 1 2004, 7:16 pm

this is what i like to see...a person stepping out and showing the public that pot pot can be enjoyed responsibly in a safe enviroment. I hope other citys see the sucessfulness of this cafe and go into business.

U.S.Citizen

Sep 1 2004, 4:21 pm

That is how you start a REVOLUTION.( A PATRIOT ).
May the UNIVERSE BE WITH YOU.

RaisinToastie

Sep 1 2004, 3:14 pm

I wish more cities had cafes, even secret cannabis speakeasies. It's awesome in Amsterdam where you can enjoy pot in a public, social setting. Also, cafes let "normal" people see smokers aren't a threat to them. Imagine the boom to the economy if stonerprenuers could open new businesses like this one.

RapCityTulsa,OK420

Sep 1 2004, 3:04 pm

Another person trying to make money, i wonder how much those ounces sell for, i bet around 200.
Grow your oown and smoke your OWN...Thena nd only thenw ill weed be legalized!

BC Stoner

Sep 1 2004, 2:18 pm

the cafe is up and running

fizzle

Sep 1 2004, 1:00 pm

apparently, the cafe is locked up by police right now. Anyone in Canada know what's going on there?