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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: 'Cannabis cafe' boss thanks police
Lancashire Evening Telegraph
Tuesday 20 Aug 2002 A CAFE boss today thanked police after his policy of allowing customers to smoke cannabis passed for two weeks without any arrests. But David Wilson, owner of The Real Jerk cafe and takeaway, in Bolton Road, Ewood, Blackburn, said he was anxiously aware that the lack of police presence could mean officers were gathering evidence. He said many customers had smoked cannabis in his takeaway since August 2 and had been pleased with the amount of support people had shown him. Police visited the takeaway twice on the day it re-opened as a so-called 'cannabis cafe' and warned David they would be monitoring his actions. They have not yet returned in uniform. David, 37, who has two young children, caused outrage in late July when he announced customers would be allowed to smoke what he described as 'God's herb' on his premises. The Real Jerk was then dubbed East Lancashire's first cannabis cafe, although David said his main concern was to cook West Indian food. It was not his job to enforce the law and that people had the right to smoke whatever they wanted. But since, he has placed a sign in the window saying drugs are not sold on the premises after numerous people asked to buy cannabis. But apart from that the police had given him no problems at all. David said: "I haven't seen the police around anywhere and I have to take that as a good thing. "Although I am on pins a bit as I know it could be a bad thing as they could be getting the troops ready, or if they are undercover. But I would like to thank the police for not intimidating me and not coming down." Last month, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced plans to reclassify cannabis from a class B to a class C drug. David, who has organised cannabis picnics in Corporation Park, said: "Cannabis has got to be separated from heroin and cocaine and other hard drugs. If people don't want what I am doing I won't carry on, but, so far, people have been supporting me." Today police confirmed that the situation was being monitored. Sergeant Stuart Bruce said: "The local beat officer is aware of this new business venture and any concerns about the use of the premises will be dealt with accordingly."
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