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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Freedom protest for cannabis cafe boss
John Scheerhout Manchester Evening News
Friday 30 Nov 2001 Campaigners are planning a massive protest at Britain's first cannabis cafe to free owner Colin Davies. Yesterday magistrates remanded him in custody, where he has been since November 20, after a failed application to free him on bail. Cannabis campaigners are planning to protest tomorrow against that decision and current laws on the drug at the Dutch Experience on Hooper Street in Stockport. Last Saturday a number of people were arrested outside Stockport police station - but organisers say tomorrow's protest will be bigger. Later editions of yesterday's Manchester Evening News reported how Mr Davies called a magistrates' hearing a "kangaroo court" after they refused to free him on bail. Mr Davies, who is charged with a string of drug offences, says he supplies the drug at The Dutch Experience - his Amsterdam-style cafe - to people who need it for medicinal purposes, using profits from tea and coffee to subsidise them. But the police says he sells it to anyone who wishes to purchase it. Magistrates at Stockport agreed with the prosecution belief that there were substantial grounds for believing he would re-offend and remanded him in custody. The decision to refuse bail was greeted with uproar from the public gallery and as he was being led away by security officers, Mr Davies told the magistrates: "I hope you never have multiple sclerosis. This is a kangaroo court." Afterwards, his solicitor Lesley Herman said: "Colin is diappointed with the decision to continue his remand in custody. He has been helping patients who are suffering from a number of debilitating illnesses for some time now with the knowledge of doctors and consultants. "He does not believe he should be in prison and attempts to secure his release will continue. Colin feels the taxpayer would not want to support this case against him which will ultimately cost them thousands of pounds." Mr Davies remains in custody in the hospital wing of Strangeways prison, where he is being treated for back pain and where he has received letters of support from all over the country, added Mrs Herman. The court, which has lifted reporting restrictions, heard how police raided the Hooper Street premises on September 15 just before its grand opening, arresting Mr Davies, 44, along with a number of others and seizing bags of cannabis and smoking "bongs" and pipes. Police say they seized 1,358 grams of cannabis in the raid at the shop and at Mr Davies' home in Brinnington. Prosecutor Wendy Logan said a number of articles appeared in the national and local press indicating cannabis was being smoked on the premises and police executed another search warrant on November 20. While he was being interviewed by the BBC, Mr Davies was again arrested, the court heard. A number of others were also arrested. During a police interview, Mr Davies said he denied being aware others were smoking cannabis because he was busy being interviewed, said Ms Logan. "The police have evidence that he's supplying cannabis to recreational users. "Customers are openly smoking cannabis whilst in the cafe and there's a fear that if it gets more publicity it will attract undesirable gangs into the area," said Ms Logan.
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