cannabisnews.com: Drug Shop Officially Opens Drug Shop Officially Opens Posted by CN Staff on September 13, 2003 at 08:40:02 PT News Story Source: BBC News UK A cannabis campaigner will officially open a shop selling drug paraphernalia on Saturday despite previous attempts being thwarted by police. Jeffrey Ditchfield has been trading from his store called 'The Beggar's Belief' in Water Street, Rhyl for the past seven days. Last Saturday he was arrested at the shop's opening and charged with possessing a quantity of cannabis resin and intent to supply. He says he will not sell cannabis, but will sell seeds and equipment to grow it, "magic mushroom" growing kits and legal intoxicating herbs. He pleaded not guilty and opted for a trial by jury when he appeared at Denbighshire magistrates court in Prestatyn on Thursday. The case was adjourned until 6 November for committal proceedings. BenefitsIn the past, Mr Ditchfield has said he wanted to give cannabis to people for medicinal purposes. He initially wanted to open a cannabis cafe to promote the drug's benefits for sick people. He said ill people would get the drug free and recreational users would be able to buy it from an undisclosed supplier. Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom has previously backed calls for further investigations into the possibility of legalising drugs. North Wales Police Superintendent Mark Jones said the shop in Water Street would be closely monitored. Earlier this year charges against Mr Ditchfield of possessing cannabis and possession with intent to supply were dismissed at Manchester Crown Court. He had admitted giving cannabis chocolate to someone with multiple sclerosis. Source: BBC News (UK Web) Published: Saturday, September 13, 2003Copyright: 2003 BBC Contact: newsonline bbc.co.ukWebsite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Related Articles: Charges After Police Raid on Storehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17245.shtmlCannabis Campaigner To Open Shophttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17228.shtmlCannabis Cafe Chains To Open in Britainhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13489.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by aolbites on September 13, 2003 at 22:27:46 PT -my understanding.... My understanding is that this guy is trying to highlight the absurdity of allowing these various severly mind altering drugs when the ONE that has PROVEN medicinal benifit is illeagal for him to distribute..Related Articles? READ THEM!!!----------------------------------A cannabis campaigner will finally open a shop selling drug paraphernalia despite the threat of police action. North Wales Police say they will "closely monitor" the store when it is opened by businessman Jeffrey Ditchfield in Rhyl on Saturday.He says he will not sell cannabis, but will sell seeds and equipment to grow them, "magic mushroom" growing kits and legal intoxicating herbs. In the past, he has said he wanted to give cannabis to people for medicinal purposes."I've made it quite clear that all I want to be able to do is supply cannabis to sick people," said Mr Ditchfield, 43." Everything I'm providing is legal, the only illegal thing I do is help sick people." -- Jeffrey Ditchfield"For the past 18 months I've been helping people with their illnesses and I will continue to do so."Selling the magic mushroom kits is not what I want to do but I'm doing it to make a point about the drug laws."I've been and talked to the neighbours and I've had a very positive response," he added.Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom has previously backed calls for further investigations into the possibility of legalising drugs.But Mr Brunstrom has said he has to follow the law and if Mr Ditchfield sold or possessed illegal drugs on his premises he would be closed down."I met with the police this week and they said they'd monitor the situation," said Mr Ditchfield."Everything I'm providing is legal, the only illegal thing I do is help sick people." [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Jose Melendez on September 13, 2003 at 12:43:01 PT So what if they are drugs? Excuse me, but I just had a couple of beers. Alcohol is a drug. He should be free to sell drugs. We should be free to use what we want, and be happy.>Peace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Max Flowers on September 13, 2003 at 10:25:49 PT More insidious headline sabotage I get really annoyed when I see "journalists" do this over and over. "Drug shop"? The guy is not selling drugs there. They deliberately use the word DRUG when it should say cannabis or at least marijuana (however I object to clinging to the use of that word too, as it harks back to the reefer madness era). These so called professional writers know very well that there are certain associations which come with words, like the word DRUG. Heroin, syringes, cocaine, PCP, speed... these are the images that are conjoured for most people when they hear "drugs". Dried Cannabis flowers and seeds are just natural plant products, not DRUGS. If this writer had chosen the header "Cannabis Shop Officially Opens" it would have a very different effect wouldn't it? Gentler, less evil, almost makes you curious to look into it without prejudice, doesn't it?But in England, fortunately, they've already started to move past the propaganda, prejudice and prohibition, so very soon they may start to get comfortable with calling this new part of their lives, this benign plant, by its real name Cannabis.I find it very ironic that the country America fought for its independence from, to avoid its repressive religious strictures, is now far more liberal about what magic plants you may use than America, while here in the so called land of the free we are in the middle of an Inquisition. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment