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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cannabis campaigner freed
ITN
Sunday 16 Sep 2001 A campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis who was arrested after attempting to open Britain's first Dutch-style cafe has been released by police without charge. Colin Davies, 44, was quizzed by detectives on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply following his arrest yesterday morning at The Dutch Experience cafe, in Stockport, Greater Manchester. Mr Davies, who lives in Stockport and who has smoked the drug to relieve pain since he broke his spine four years ago, was involved in scuffles with uniformed officers before being led away by undercover detectives. He was questioned at Stockport Police Station, when he was released on police bail without charge. Another man, along with four Dutch people, three men and a woman, were also arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of a Class B drug. They have all been released on police bail. A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: "All six people arrested yesterday have been released on bail pending further inquiries. "Some substances have been seized and will undergo forensic examination." Mr Davies said after his release he was "disgusted" with the police's handling of the situation. He said the cafe was open again, but would not be selling cannabis or allowing the drug to be smoked on its premises. During the altercations with officers yesterday, Mr Davies became trapped in the doorway of the shop as a struggle broke out. "I had the door rammed into me," he said. "I was being dragged one way and then another. "My back is black and blue. My arm was also trapped and it felt like it was broken. "It was heavy-handed policing. It was disgusting. There were 20 officers there at one stage - it must have cost the taxpayer a lot of money." Dozens of people from across the country turned up yesterday for the opening of the cafe. Its aim was to sell cannabis at a cheaper rate to ill people who say it helps relieve symptoms. At least 10 people in wheelchairs, some of them with multiple sclerosis including a former police officer, were at the shop to support Mr Davies. "Our aim was to provide ill people with this medicine," said Mr Davies. "Have the police nothing better to do than disrupt ill people's lives? "We are now looking at alternative ways of running the business, which is almost a reverse of our aim. It puts the selling of cannabis back on to the streets." Mr Davies continued his call for the Government to change the law and legalise cannabis. He said: "I do not blame the police officers who were there yesterday. They were doing their jobs. "It is at Government level where something needs to be done."
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