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CANNABIS CAFE IS ON A ROLL IN B.C.

VANCOUVER - The ceilings are high - like the clientele - but there’s nothing remotely seedy about the Cannabis Cafe: the food they serve is organic; the atmosphere more health-food than hash-den. A sign in the window reads: "Cannabis is presently illegal in Canada. If you choose to consume in this cafÇ you do so at your own risk."

Welcome to Vansterdam.

Vancouver gained the nickname for its booming pot trade and an attitude of tolerance likened to Amsterdam - though weed isn’t sold over the counter as it is in that European city. The province even has its own poster boy for B.C. grass - Olympic gold-medal snowboarder Ross Rebagliati. As long ago as 1992, police were saying the retail value of marijuana grown in Vancouver alone rivalled that of all the agriculture in the province.

Vancouver "is known as being tolerant" and that reputation only worsens the pot problem, Mayor Philip Owen said yesterday in an interview.

"People are pouring in from Eastern Canada," he said. "They’ve decided it’s mild weather, a nice place to be, so they’re coming here . . . and adding to an ongoing challenge."

The perception that Vancouver is the cannabis capital of North America - maker of potent "one-toke" pot - is also a big draw for young Americans who are flocking across one of the border crossings from Washington state.

Marijuana seizures are up "substantially," said Gene Kerven, area director for U.S. Customs in Blaine, Wash.

It comes down to profits - which are huge because of Canada’s relatively weak dollar. A pound of pot bought for $3,500 can almost double in price stateside.

Instead, on their spring break they travelled eight hours to sample it at the source.

Early afternoon inside the cafÇ, located between Vancouver’s business district and the city’s skid row, the glassy-eyed group sits around a large wooden table sucking in mouthfuls of smoke from a soapstone carved pipe. They filled it with green bud purchased "across the street."

The brick-walled cafÇ is filled with images of marijuana. Even the glass candleholders on the tables are decorated with the leafy green plant - the equivalent of the cafÇ’s corporate emblem.

Cigarette smoking is banned and no alcohol is served.

Visitors only risk getting the giggles.

"We wanted to come up here and experience what it was like for it to be legal," said Robert, 20, before correcting himself, "It’s not (legal), but you’re able to do it here without getting caught."

Indeed, the only risk to pot smokers lighting up in the cafÇ this week - and there are others in the neighbourhood that allow public toking - was a case of uncontrollable giggles and the munchies.

Vancouver city council has refused to renew the cafÇ’s business licence.

Still, police are ambivalent about focusing their limited resources on collaring cannabis users, especially when the consumption is kept light and discreet, when they say heroin and crack cocaine are a far more severe problem.