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UK: Scots MP warns Blair over cannabis cafes

Edinburgh Evening News

Friday 06 Feb 2004

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A SCOTS MP has called on the Government not to let drug dealers use the
downgrading of cannabis as an opportunity to set up dope cafes.

The plea from Glasgow Cathcart MP Tom Harris followed arrests last week
over alleged drugs offences at Scotland's first cannabis cafe in Edinburgh.

Mr Harris told Tony Blair in the Commons that Scottish cities needed "more
jobs, not more drugs".

Cannabis has now been reclassified from a class B to a class C drug.

The changes mean penalties for possession will be lessened, but dealers
could face up to 14 years in jail. Mr Blair told Mr Harris: "We've taken
action against such cafes and I think it's important that we continue to do
so."

He added: "The possession of cannabis remains a criminal offence. The
purpose of what we have done recently, however, is to make sure that the
police can, where they need to do so, target their main resources and
activity on dealing with hard drugs."

Last week, three people were charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act over
activities at the Purple Haze Cafe in Leith.

The cafe, which is currently open as a private members' club, was formerly a
greasy spoon.

 

 

 

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