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UK: Teesside Cannabis Club could expand north - but police say potential move 'unhelpful' in drugs fight Ian Johnson Teesside Live Saturday 02 Nov 2019 A world-renowned Teesside club where members gather to smoke cannabis could expand across the North-east. Michael Fisher set up Club Exhale around five years ago, initially meeting with like-minded smokers in local parks. But it quickly grew and set up its own premises in South Bank , before moving to Middlesbrough and later Stockton . Now, Mr Fisher has set his sights on opening a club in County Durham next year. But despite the progressive views of Ron Hogg, Durham Constabulary's police and crime commissioner, the force has branded the potential move "unhelpful in the fight against crime", reports Chronicle Live . Organisers insist it would be a "safe place" for people to use cannabis socially and Durham Constabulary has previously stated it would stop pursuing people smoking cannabis in private. However, unlike a pub or bar, members for the private venue would need to register to join and unsavoury applicants could be turned away. Addressing the planned venue, a force spokesperson said: "As we have previously said, we are not going to target individuals who smoke a joint in their own home, we actively target the dealers and organised crime groups who are harming our communities, not the low level users." However, the spokesperson said those caught using it in public "may be arrested", adding: “Allowing people to openly commit offences is not conducive to a law-abiding society and anyone who buys cannabis needs to understand the close link between drug supply and organised crime. “Branding a premises that would appear to encourage unlawful drug-use is not helpful to that debate.” Praising the force's liberal approach to policing the drug, one of the people behind the proposed venue said it showed attitudes towards cannabis were becoming more relaxed. And Michael Fisher said he hopes within a few years every major British town and city will have a similar venue which he insists helps to reduce drug-related crimes. "The people who use these are not criminals," insisted Mr Fisher, who helped kickstart Teesside's Cannabis Club, which counts bank managers and psychologists among its members and is thought to be the first in Britain. "There's no violence, or crime, or a reason for people to call the police," continued Mr Fisher. Mr Fisher claims the transparent nature of the club is often the biggest deterrent for "undesirables". "They think we are police informers, and the club isn't somewhere that they would want to be seen," he added. "But the people we stand out to are those who have 9-5 jobs and enjoy the safety of coming to this place. "And the venue reduces the need to integrate with the black market, so I personally feel these venues should be all over the country and be funded by councils who should step in and provide somewhere for people to consume cannabis in a safe enviroment." https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/teesside-cannabis-club-could-expand-17186382
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