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UK: Bring your own to first cannabis cafe

Gillian Harris, Scotland Correspondent

The Times

Friday 30 Jan 2004

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STEVEN ENGLAND, who claimed to have a secret stash of dope in his pocket,
was at the head of the queue when Scotland's first cannabis cafe opened
yesterday.

Mr England, 24, was one of about 50 customers who filed into Purple Haze, a
former greasy spoon in Edinburgh, which has been transformed with a coat of
lilac paint into a private club for cannabis users.

Outside two uniformed police officers stood at the door handing every
customer a letter stating that downgrading cannabis to a Class C drug did
not make it legal.

They were told that if they were seen using cannabis inside the cafe they
would be arrested and charged. 'I am concerned that the reclassification
has been misunderstood by some members of the public,' said Inspector Neil
Phillip of Lothian and Borders police.

Mr England, who is unemployed, said it was a risk he was prepared to take.
'I feel I should be allowed to take cannabis. I think this cafe is an
excellent move forward and I hope to see many more open across the country.

But staff at Purple Haze, a basement internet cafe will not sell cannabis
alongside the bacon rolls and cheeseburgers.

Customers, who pay 5 pounds to become members, will be invited to bring and
consume their own using the cafe supplied vaporiser, which costs 350
pounds. Smoking is banned, so there will be no joints.

'I would prefer to smoke a joint but vaporisers give you a faster hit,'
said Mr England.

Another customer, dismayed to learn that the cafe was not selling cannabis,
grumbled: 'I didn't realise it was BYOB - Bring Your Own Blow.

Yesterday was registration day at the cafe with cannabis use expected to
begin today.

Paul Stewart, 37, the cafe owner, said he was prepared to defy the law in
order to draw attention to the plight of cannabis users who he believes are
treated harshly.

'I am not selling it but I will allow people to bring their own,' he said.
'If the police arrest me or other customers that will not do anything to
stop people using cannabis.'

To prevent passers-by enjoying the spectacle of a handful of ageing hippies
and unemployed youths getting stoned, grids have been placed across the
cafe windows.

'It is part of our non-confrontational approach. We are not putting on a
show and we are not going to get involved in big fights with the police
over it,' said Mr Stewart.

During the day Purple Haze will continue as a conventional internet cafe
serving tea, coffee and food including baked potatoes, burgers and French
pastries. But at 4pm the cafe will be turned over to members who want to
use cannabis. Mr Stewart stressed no other drugs will be tolerated.

 

 

 

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