cannabisnews.com: Three Arrests at Cannabis Cafe 





Three Arrests at Cannabis Cafe 
Posted by CN Staff on January 29, 2004 at 20:01:09 PT
By Kirsty Scott
Source: Guardian Unlimited UK
Police arrested three people at Scotland's first cannabis cafe last night, on the day the drug was officially downgraded. The arrests followed a stand-off between officers and cannabis campaigners at the Purple Haze cafe in Edinburgh, amid confusion over the status of the drug in different parts of the UK. 
About 50 people had clustered into the cafe to test the reaction of Scottish police, who have indicated they will continue to take a tough line on use and possession of cannabis despite its declassification from a class B to C drug, and in contrast to many English forces. A spokesman for Lothian and Borders police said two men, aged 43 and 37, and a 35-year-old woman had been arrested and charged with possession of drugs. Two of them had been seen using drugs on the premises. It is understood Paul Stewart, the cafe owner, was one of those arrested. Earlier, Mr Stewart had said he intended to turn the greasy spoon cafe into a private cannabis club at 4pm each day. He said people were still confused over the legality of cannabis and Scots were being discriminated against. "It is the poll tax all over again. The people of Scotland are getting treated as second-class citizens. All we are looking for is equal treatment. It is an unfair and unjust law and we will be challenging it." As a stream queued up to apply for membership yesterday afternoon, three police officers stationed outside handed out letters clarifying the law. "I feel that I should be able to go to a warm place and smoke cannabis, not loiter the streets," said Steven England, 24, an unemployed sales representative. "I expect to get arrested but I don't think I should have to be." Kevin Williamson of the Scottish Socialist party said they hoped the cafe would become the starting point for a series of cannabis tolerance zones. "Cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol," he said. "It is less dangerous than tobacco. Therefore, its legal status must reflect that." The SSP leader, Tommy Sheridan, a non-smoker and teetotaller, turned up to lend his support. Lothian and Borders said it would continue to arrest people for possession of cannabis in "hotspot" areas where dealers are operating Scotland has already indicated that the declassification will have little impact north of the border, where law and order and policing are devolved. Source: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK) Author: Kirsty ScottPublished: Friday, January 30, 2004Copyright: 2004 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles:Smoking Ban at First Cannabis Cafe http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18245.shtmlSSP Backing for Scotland's First Cannabis Cafe http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18235.shtmlCannabis Cafe Rolls Out Challengehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18234.shtmlA New Leaf? - Scotsman UKhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18209.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 30, 2004 at 07:22:05 PT:
Pissing In The Wind
You would think that law enforcement and prosecutors would get tired of arresting and prosecuting their citizens for marijuana use. This total waste of resources and money is tantamount to pissing in the wind. Maybe they'll figure it out one day soon.
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