Charlottetown store cashing in on pot day

A Charlottetown shop is cashing in on April 20 — known as "420" or National Pot Smokers Day to marijuana tokers.

Shoppers will find "420 specials" at the Wild Impulse Smoke Shop, with big savings on smoking paraphernalia such as bongs, pipes and rolling papers. These accessories are commonly used for smoking cannabis, an activity that is illegal in Canada.

At 4:20 p.m. on the 20th day of the fourth month of the year, people around North America celebrate all things marijuana, but Wild Impulse says it won't be breaking any laws when it holds its annual customer appreciation day.

Walter Dooley, the shop's owner, said there there's nothing illegal about selling bongs and pipes.

"There's a lot of people afraid to come in here because we sell this kind of stuff, but to each their own I guess," Dooley said. "Everything we're selling here is legal."

A provision in the Criminal Code of Canada that deals with the sale of drug accessories says "every one who knowingly promotes or sells instruments or literature for illicit drug use is guilty of an offence."

But Charlottetown police say it's impossible to prove bongs or pipes will be used for illicit drugs.

Dooley has a sign up in his store indicating they're not intended for illegal use, even if they are part of the "420 special."

"We've been doing this for seven years now. We're not promoting anything illegal. We're just in business to make a dollar," he said.

As part of the 420 celebrations, Wild Impulse — which is also an adult novelty store — will be serving cake and holding a rolling competition on Tuesday.

However, Dooley said, police don't need to show up because the cake will be pot free and competitors will only be rolling tobacco.