cannabisnews.com: Five on Trial Over Dutch-Style Coffee Shop Five on Trial Over Dutch-Style Coffee Shop Posted by CN Staff on September 14, 2002 at 08:52:47 PT By Chris Marritt Source: Independent UK A man who opened an Amsterdam-style coffee shop went on trial charged with drug offences yesterday. Colin Davies, 44, opened the Dutch Experience café in Stockport, Greater Manchester, last year, saying he would supply cannabis to those who needed the Class B drug for medicinal purposes.He and four others involved in the coffee shop, in Hooper Street, are on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester. Opening the case for the prosecution, Alan Wolstenholme told the jury that police raided the shop when it opened on 15 September last year. Mr Davies was "in a state of high agitation" when police arrived but later allowed them to search the café and even smoked cannabis in front of officers, he said.He was arrested and a search of his home at Romney Towers, Stockport, revealed about 90g of cannabis and a large quantity of resealable bags, which could have been used to distribute the drug, Mr Wolstenholme said.Customs officers at Dover later uncovered packages addressed to Mr Davies containing 4kg of the drug, valued at about £18,000, including more than 400 cannabis cigarettes.A further raid was carried out at the Dutch Experience and Mr Davies and a number of others were arrested again. Searches on that occasion, in November last year, uncovered £3,000 in cash at Mr Davies's home."Colin Davies was in receipt of disability allowance at this time and, therefore, the money must have been derived from his trade in selling cannabis," the court was told.Mr Davies is charged with seven counts, including possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply, being involved in the importation and supply of cannabis, and permitting premises to be used for the smoking of the drug. Phillip Rainford, 35, Stephen Caveney, 47, and Andrew Young, 32, all of Stockport, face charges concerning the supply of the drug. Robin Wright, 46, of Longsight, is charged with permitting the café to be used for the smoking of cannabis while Mr Davies was in custody. All five deny all the charges. The trial was adjourned until Monday. Source: Independent (UK)Author: Chris MarrittPublished: September 14, 2002Copyright: 2002 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.Contact: letters independent.co.ukWebsite: http://www.independent.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Dutch Experiencehttp://www.dutchexperience.org/Cannabis Café Boss is Freed http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12876.shtmlCannabis Cafe Man Remanded for Trialhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12182.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 14, 2002 at 09:36:35 PT Who is complaining? How many complaints have the Stockport police recieved about the Dutch Experience? Besides complaints from other police? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by p4me on September 14, 2002 at 09:07:13 PT In 7 hours the DE will have a birthday One thing that has supported Colin's spirits is the fact that the DE has stayed open dispite the prohibitionist efforts. You might say our flag still waves. Happy birthday to the Dutch Experience.The DE messageboard at HempCity is still down and it makes you wonder what is happening.Here is a link to the results of a Google search for Nevada newspapers in case people want to join some forums of Nevada newspapers: http://www.usnpl.com/nvnews.htmlRebecca Knight had another excellent article that appeared at Buzzflash.com and also The Daily Weasel: http://www.lyingsocialistweasels.com/. The article is titled "Abiding Anger" and is a 10 in my evalution. It is worthy of a two-paragraph copy that I hope induces you to read the entire article. Copy follows:"Make no mistake about it. There lives deep within millions of Americans an abiding anger that is overwhelming and all consuming. We will never forgive or forget the travesties inflicted upon us by the Bush family and those complicit in their deceit within the Republican Party. We awaken every day with the weight of what we consider a nightmarish existence.""Call us anti-American. Call us traitors. Call us liberal socialist commie pinkos. We don't give a damn what the right wing nuts think of us. We know what we are. We know what we believe and we have the courage of our convictions. We know that we have within our hearts, minds, and souls a love of America that will never allow us to remain complacent about wrongs forced upon us by those who would silence us. We will fight that latest incarnation of fascism. We will protest, write letters, make phone calls, speak up, and VOTE. If only we could believe that our votes will be accurately counted!"1,2 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment