[420 Girl]

Quebec City police warn they will closely monitor the activities of a café that plans to sell marijuana.

The operators of Montreal's Compassion Club say they will open a second shop today in the provincial capital to respond to growing demand for "medicinal" marijuana.

"We're going to be functioning (in Quebec City) along the same principles that we use at the Montreal location," said Marc-Boris St-Maurice, founder and president of the Compassion Club.

The Montreal Compassion Club has about 1,000 members. The club operates in a legal grey zone, selling marijuana to those who have a permit from Health Canada or who have a documented medical need for it.

In 2001, the federal government adopted regulations permitting the medicinal use of marijuana. Under the program, patients with a grave or debilitating illness can apply for a permit from Health Canada that gives them the right to grow cannabis or purchase it from Prairie Plant Systems in Flin Flon, Man.

St-Maurice has criticized the federal program for being poorly run.

Quebec City police issued a statement yesterday saying they are studying the "legality of operations of the future Compassion Café (sic) business."

"Quebec City police will pay attention to the activities of this new café. Measures will be taken if needed."

In 2002, a Quebec Court judge acquitted St-Maurice of drug trafficking while he volunteered at the Compassion Club. St-Maurice said the ruling meant he could continue to provide the drug, illegal under the Criminal Code, to suffering patients.

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