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UK: Ex-cannabis cafe owner says 202 marijuana plants were for his arthritis Lee Grimsditch Liverpool Echo Wednesday 12 Feb 2020 The former owner of a cannabis cafe in Liverpool said "202 marijuana plants" found in his wardrobe were for his arthritis. Gary Youds, 50, of Cavan Road, West Derby, pleaded guilty at a magistrates court appearance on March 3 last year to possessing cannabis resin. Today he admitted production of cannabis at Liverpool Crown Court where he was due for sentencing. Brendan Carville, defending, said that police had found "202 plants in a wardrobe' at the dad-of-two's property but argued that he didn't have the means to sustain all the plants in the environment. He also said some were "only just plants because they didn't have roots - they were just cuttings". The defence added that because Mr Youds suffers from arthritis, he had the cannabis plants at his property because "he doesn't take prescription medication for his condition". Before appearing in court today, Mr Youds told the ECHO that it was his "dream to create Liverpool's biggest tourist attraction by building a massive cannabis cafe". He was joined in the courtroom by an entourage of supporters and legalising cannabis campaigners - including his mother. Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, adjourned the sentencing on both charges to February 28 for further evaluation of the evidence on the charge of Youds producing cannabis. The ECHO reported in 2017 how Youds was told to pay back just £600 of his £25,000 profits from his cannabis cafe. Youds – described as a “martyr” for legalisation of the drug – was sentenced to nine months in January 2017. He was locked up after being caught running the illegal business in Holt Road, Kensington for the third time. Police discovered £11,000 of cannabis, along with electronic scales and cash, when they raided the cafe on June 18, 2015. A Proceeds of Crime Application (POCA) hearing against Youds was held. The dad who has since been released from prison, was excused from attending on health grounds. On that occasion, Kyra Badman, prosecuting, said he benefited from his crime by £25,423, but only had £606 available in assets that could be seized. She said: “That is made up of some equity in a property, the value of a second hand car and some property that is already in the court’s possession.” Paul Treble, defending, said the figures had been agreed and his client was willing to pay the money, but asked for two months to sell his assets. Recorder Louise Brandon, who previously jailed Youds, said he must pay the amount within that period, or face 14 days in prison. The judge added: “I make an order for forfeiture and destruction of all the drugs and paraphernalia seized.” Pictures of the cafe show how its modest entrance looked like a common outbuilding, giving no indication of what lay inside. The luxurious smokers’ haven included a pool table and flat screen TV, rows of tables and chairs, plus leather armchairs. A sign on the wall above a counter listed the types of cannabis on offer, Super Silver Haze, Amnesia Haze, Cheese, Kush and Pollen/Hash, with “bifters” costing £5. Another photo showed the plush cafe sold “Mango Haze Crispy Cornflake Cakes’ – with a quarter of an ounce of cannabis used in the batch – for either £2 or £5. Further images revealed grinders, bongs, papers, lighters and even cannabis-themed t-shirts available for sale, with rows of tables and seats for customers. Youds first applied to Liverpool council to convert the former taxi office into a “private members club” for cannabis smokers in 2002. When councillors rejected his plans for the Tea Cafe in Holt Road, Kensington, the former property developer went ahead and set it up anyway. Youds was then handed a conditional discharge for letting The Chillin’ Rooms cafe be used for smoking cannabis in 2005. He ignored the punishment and was locked up for 12 months in 2006, after he also admitted to growing a crop at his home and dealing the drug. Judge Brian Lewis, sentencing, then said: “Either you wanted to martyr yourself in the cause of the pro-cannabis lobby or you wanted to set up a cafe, a deliberate and blatant challenge to the law.” Youds, who has two young children and said he was “terrified” of prison, previously told the ECHO he spent £60,000 on the business. He said he believed people’s attitudes to cannabis use had changed when it was downgraded from Class B to Class C in 2004 - before the decision was reversed in 2009. Philip Clemo, defending, said Youds was “a very polite man” with “misguided beliefs about cannabis”. Recorder Brandon told him: “Regardless of what you think of the law, these are criminal offences.” https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/ex-cannabis-cafe-owner-says-17736237?fbclid=IwAR0Y5Fkm6va9pHEXy0Bph4BRX9Z8HHUlybxtq0TRklrLbBGaF8PEoEdLvxs
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