Source: The Argus, Worthing, UK

Pub Date: Friday, 27 December 2002

Subj: Cannabis campaigner to stand for council

Author: Huw Borland

Web: http://www.thisisworthing.co.uk/worthing/archive/2002/12/27/NEWS500ZM.html

Contact: letters@theargus.co.uk

Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance

Ref: http://www.ccguide.org/cannabiscafes.php

CANNABIS CAMPAIGNER TO STAND FOR COUNCIL

A pro-cannabis campaigner whose Amsterdam-style coffee shops were raided by police is planning to launch another bid to enter politics.

Activist Chris Baldwin intends to stand in Worthing Borough Council elections next May and is confident he can "at least snap at the heels" of more established councillors.

Both Mr Baldwin and his friend and fellow Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) member Phil Lockwood, from Worthing, plan to start campaigning for the Heene and Selden ward seats, where Mr Baldwin has been running two coffee shops.

Quantum Leaf cafe, in Rowlands Road and Buddy's Hydroponics cafe, in Brougham Road, were raided by police on December 11 as part of an operation to reduce crime in area. Officers arrested several people for drug-related offences, including Mr Baldwin.

He has since been served an eviction notice for the Rowlands Road cafe by letting agents Spratt's.

Mr Baldwin, LCA candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham in the last General Election, said he was looking forward to another political tussle. Mr Baldwin said: "We're definitely aiming for Heene and Selden wards.

"Phil Lockwood and I both stood in the last General Election, Phil tried for a seat in Yorkshire and is very experienced.

"I got 920 votes in that election and I know it's different to a local election but I found out the last councillor to be elected in Heene got in on 920 votes.

"There is a lot of support in the town for the coffee shops and for us personally and we have a chance of at least snapping at the heels and worrying the other parties."

The Quantum Leaf's eviction notice said Mr Baldwin and his colleagues had to be out of the site by Christmas Day.

Staff went ahead with a Christmas Day charity event for the homeless because it had been planned weeks before.

Mr Baldwin, whose customers included people using cannabis for medicinal purposes, said: "We served up soup and coffee for the town's homeless for four hours."