Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:


After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.

UK: Cannabis cafe man faces jail sentence

Paul Stokes

The Telegraph

Thursday 03 Oct 2002

---
The operator of Britain's first cannabis cafe is facing imprisonment after
being convicted of involvement in the importation and supply of drugs.

Colin Davies, 44, claimed that the purpose of the Dutch Experience in
Stockport, Greater Manchester, was to provide the Class B drug for
medicinal use. He was arrested after openly smoking a cannabis joint when
police raided the premises on the opening day in September last year.

Customs officers in Dover later intercepted parcels from Holland destined
for Davies containing 4kg of the drug worth around £18,000 and including 430
pre-rolled joints. He had previously set up a group called the Medical
Marijuana Co-operative, with a membership of 100, which involved him
selling cannabis to selected customers.

People suffering from illnesses went to him for the drug "to take the edge
off the pain", Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard. Police found
his cafe thick with smoke when they raided it for a second time and
recovered 90gm of the drug and £3,000 cash from his flat.

Alan Wolstenholme, prosecuting, said: "He was attempting to advertise his
intentions using a medical facade. It was a smokescreen to attempt to
legitimise what he was about - supplying cannabis to anybody who wanted it."

Davies was found guilty of being concerned in the importation and supply of
drugs, permitting premises to be used for smoking cannabis and possessing
drugs with intent. Judge Stuart Fish reserved sentence and remanded him in
custody.

Davies said he began using cannabis after being paralysed from the waist
down in a fall in 1995. He said he grew marijuana to relieve pain.

 

 

 

After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.




This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!