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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: 'Cannabis cafe' raid
Gail Atkinson This Is Lancashire
Friday 11 Oct 2002 DEFIANT businessman Frank Mac today pledged to carry on with his Amsterdam-style coffee shop after police raided it in the search for illegal drugs. Officers descended on the business, above Mr Mac's tattoo parlour in Warner Street, Accrington,, at 12.44pm yesterday. During the raid they arrested one man and seized a small quantity of what they believe was cannabis. Police said they would continue to monitor the business, which opened two months ago and provides a place for people to smoke cannabis. No drugs are sold on the premises. But an angry Mr Mac said he was going to contact every motorbike club in the country and every cannabis smoker he knew and organise a mass protest in Accrington. "This is pathetic," he stormed after eight officers swarmed the premises. "They are not cracking down on people with crack cocaine and heroin. They are wasting police time when they should be handling the big stuff. "They are asking for it to be taken off the streets but they harass me and my customers. I'm very angry about it." Sgt Mark Porter, who led the raid, said: "The legislation is the same as it ever was. It's been discussed by politicians but as it stands it's illegal to possess, sell or allow premises to be used for smoking cannabis. "We have been targeting all kinds of illegal drugs and we will continue to do so." Accrington Police commander Insp Phil Cottam said: "We are targeting all drug offences and this is only part of it. Any misuse of drugs is unlawful. "The police have got a duty to act and we feel from the point of view of the concerns that have been expressed, not just from local residents in Warner Street but also from the communities in Hyndburn, that they want us to take some action with drug offences wherever they occur. "We have got to be seen to be enforcing the law. As long as offences are being committed we will continue to act." Asked whether he would now close the cafe, Mr Mac said: "No chance. I'm going to make an appeal to every biker in the UK, every club. There are 5,000 in Kent alone, and 7,000 in Scotland. I will fill Accrington. We must stand up for our rights. It's business as usual. It's war." Hyndburn councillor John Burke, who spoke out in defence of the cafe last month, said: "I don't think the police should be targeting these cafes. It's a safe environment, it's taking it off the streets and away from children and from schools."
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