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UK: Cannabis cafe plan

The BBC

Monday 29 Oct 2001

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A Somerset man wants to open a cannabis coffee shop in Taunton.

Entrepreneur Mike Cottee believes the town would benefit from a venue where
like-minded people can meet to smoke a joint.

He thinks the venture could be possible following the announcement by the
Home Secretary of plans to relax some of the regulations governing the drug.

Mike Cottee said: "We felt that in the light of the announcement we would
definitely go ahead with the plan.

"It is time to make it public in the hope that people come forward who want
to support it and get involved."

Under reclassification as a Class C drug, it would still be an offence to
buy and sell cannabis, so he has no plans for it to be available over the
counter.

"The intention is to provide a safe, comfortable environment for people who
enjoy smoking cannabis to come and socialise without fear of being
arrested," said Mr Cottee.

If a venue goes ahead in the Somerset town it will follow a similar
short-lived scheme in Greater Manchester.

The Dutch Experience - an Amsterdam-style marijuana cafe - opened in
Stockport in September.

But it was immediately shut down by police, and several people were
arrested for possession with intent to supply the drug.

The cafe reopened but cannabis is no longer sold or smoked on the premises.

Mr Cottee and the Taunton cafe's other financial backers are hoping that
the authorities in Somerset will turn a blind eye to a marijuana cafe in
the town.

"We see no reason why they should waste resources raiding the premises when
they won't be able to arrest anyone," he said.

They are now looking for a suitable venue in Taunton.

"We want somewhere fairly central but not on one of the main shopping
streets," said Mr Cottee.

"Once we find premises we can move quite quickly and be open in a matter of
two or three weeks."

 

 

 

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