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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cannabis plan for pensioners
Diane Ashton Rhyl Journal
Tuesday 05 Feb 2002 PENSIONERS could roll joints and grow cannabis for cash. This is the latest bizarre idea from the man who wants to open a cannabis cafe in Rhyl. Jeffrey Ditchfield, 41, plans to use pensioners to supply his Dutch- style coffee shop with cannabis. He reckons they could roll joints while watching their favourite television soaps or grow the plant in their homes and pull in as much as 3,000 pounds a year. But Rhyl's deputy Mayor, Cllr Glyn Williams said the idea "beggars belief." Mr Ditchfield said: "Pensioners would be ideal growers and suppliers for the coffee shop. Those who had to give up a large garden when they retired could continue their hobby indoors. "I also want to sell ready rolled joints and this would be a good source of income for pensioners who do not want to grow cannabis. They would be supplied with the ingredients and the papers and could roll the joints while they are watching Coronation Street or Emmerdale." Mr Ditchfield said the cafe would sell cannabis seeds and cultivating equipment. He said: "Pensioners interested in indoor growing will be funded by the coffee shop and will get this equipment free, as will MS sufferers and other qualifying people. "Pensioners would get about 3,000 pounds a year for a small grow operation and they'd be doing something good and worthwhile for the community." Mr Ditchfield is looking at two possible Rhyl town centre sites for his coffee shop for the over 18s, which would sell cannabis for recreational use and supply it free to the genuinely ill who would need a doctor's note. He said: "If pensioners used cannabis for medicinal purposes and helped supply the cafe they would have an inexhaustible quality supply, giving them independence. The excess could be sold to the coffee shop as a good source of funds to supplement the inadequate state pension." Mr Ditchfield, who aims to give the profits from the coffee shop to local causes based in a half mile radius of the business, estimates it will generate a quarter of a million pounds. Deputy mayor Cllr Williams said: "Using pensioners to grow cannabis beggars belief. It is really sad he is canvassing in this way. "Although it is illegal some pensioners, because of infirmity, may have taken cannabis to relieve pain. Is he trying to target this particular group in the hope they will come forward? "What he is looking for is a group of people to deal in whacky baccy. Why doesn't he do this in his own town instead of bringing all the problems to Rhyl." North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom has already warned that a cannabis cafe would be illegal and says the law would be enforced.
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