The Dutch Experience campaign
Britains first high profile Amsterdam style coffee shop opened on the 15th September 2001 in Stockport, Manchester
Colin Davies - Cannabis Activist
The Dutch Experience coffeeshop was the work of Colin Davies of the Medical Marijuana Cooperative. Colin is one of the most determined legalisation campaigners in the country. He has goood reson to be, having suffered a spinal injury some time back, he uses cannabis for its pain killing properties. Colin was a founder member of the MMCO which provides medical users of cannabis with a supply of their medicine.
Colin Davies with a bunch of herb, preparing to meet the queen in Stockport in October 2000.
Colin handed the Cannabis to the Queen who took it gratefully and said "keep up the good work"
Photos: Manchester Evening News
Britain's first Cannabis Coffee shop opens!
The police shut it down as soon as it opened, but it re-opened later that day. Read the story of the opening day here.
Following the raid in November and the arrest of the owner, Colin Davies, a sustained campaign in support of the coffeeshop began. Dutch Experience campaign.
Britains first Amsterdam style coffee shop opened on the 15th September 2001 in Stockport, Manchester
News of the event broke on the UKCIA mailing list, the activist list that passes information:
"Just heard from cc-news that the opening of the planned Dutch-style coffeeshop in Stockport has been stopped by police. Colin Davies and three Dutch citizens have been arrested and are presently banged up by the police. Meanwhile there is a crowd of about 100 outside smoking pipes, joints and bongs. This, of course, comes as little surprise to anyone! Good luck to them all"
Sat,
15 Sep 2001
Subject: [UKCIA] UK: UK cannabis cafe manager is arrested
From: shug
Source: Ananova
The manager of Britain's first Amsterdam-style cafe which aims to sell cannabis has reportedly been arrested shortly after the business opened.
A scuffle broke out at the entrance of the cafe when a plain clothed detective revealed to cafe owner Colin Davies that he was inside. Police had warned Mr Davies that The Dutch Experience, based in the centre of Stockport, Greater Manchester, would be shut down if it was found to be breaking the law.
Mr Davies came out of his business just after opening demanding that the police officer showed him a warrant. A uniformed officer outside the shop was involved in an altercation with Mr Davies, who was trapped in the door. Mr Davies came out to greet a woman in a wheelchair and pushed her back into the shop saying: "She is a sick woman and needs cannabis to relieve her pain." The scuffle continued and Mr Davies was seen inside the cafe slumped on the floor.
At 10.15am he was led away by two female plain clothed detectives amid shouts from his supporters. As Mr Davies was put into the back of a police van, one of his supporters shouted: "He's a healer not a dealer." A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: "A man has been arrested for the possession of cannabis with intent to supply. A search of the premises will now be conducted."
Police officers arrived in greater numbers at about 10.30am and entered the cafe where they carried out a search of every person there. Several people were arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis and as they were led away a crowd of supporters outside cheered. Supporters of Mr Davies began smoking cannabis outside the cafe as the police watched. The wheelchair users lit pipes filled with the drug as police officers stood just two yards away.
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UKCIA recieved the account from Chris who was there:
The time is 9.15am as I finally stand outside the DUTCH Experience coffee shop.
As I enter I finally get to meet colin a man Ii owe so much to in helping me with my pain relief! Colin is really busy putting final touches to shop along with his Dutch counterparts. The press are starting to gather numbers outside while we make ourselves comfortable.
My wife and I have now been joined by another patient of colin's! A friend and fellow campaigner called Kate Bradley, who suffers from M.S. We were served cups of tea (normal I may add) while the others busied themselves around us.
As
10am approached some photographers and the BBC news cameras came in and took some
pictures and also some footage shot by BBC. During this kate and her two carers
lit up a normal B&H as there were no cannabis present at that time! this pic has
since been used in an article in the Sunday people with the quote underneath saying...
"LIGHTING UP: cannabis being openly smoked by colin's supporters"..But I can categorically
deny that quote!
After the press had finished and had left things were
getting ready to open up the shop. A few small bags of FREE weed was
placed on table for us to roll, so we could enjoy a celebratory spliff while the opening ceremony took place.
It was at this moment things started to turn nasty, and there was an incident where a female under cover police officer had gained her way into the shop, and as colin tried to wheel in another patient of his he was caught in the middle with an officer on inside and an officer on outside trying to issue colin with a search warrant. a struggle broke out and colin was man handled to floor.
After this colin was led away and the people inside the shop were detained including myself, while police took particular's, except thats where things started to get strange. I was searched (if you could call it that) very reluctantly by the officer in charge, no name taken no caution taken for the 2 bags of weed Ii had in my hand!!!, and was then allowed to leave. Outside was a substantial crowd of fellow sufferers and media. Its from this point Ii will leave it to the press releases
cc:news is pleased to report the Dutch Experience re-opened at 2.30pm.
Following arrest of Colin, Nol, Marushka (Nols wife and two Dutch staff, and the removal of their whole office and much other 'ervdience', it had been boarded up but apparently something happened to the boards, and the cafe has been occupied by 20-30 people since that time.
Someone took the initiative and opened the 'bar', serving teas, coffees, canned drinks etc... There has been open cannabis smoking and friendly conversation.
Everyone is wating to find out if Colin has been charged and if and when he's coming out on bail. Meanwhile, it's clear that the premises must remain occupied, since the boards had proved to be inadequate to secure the building and key to the door is missing.
The shop carried on for a couple of months and proved to be a very popular venue in the local community and indeed began to attract a lot of press interest.
Colin Davies, the owner, was arrested and held in detention without trial for seven months on remand.
Return to the coffeeshop campaign
The second and final Bust
The Dutch Experience was raided in late November, a totally unexpect development given the relaxed and tolerant attitude of the police up till then.
As a result of this raid Colin Davies the owner is being held in Strangeways prison in the hospital wing.
As the year drew to an end, the protests in support of the Dutch Experience began to grow. Two MEP's "turned themselves in" by admitting to the possession of a symbolic amount of cannabis, coach tours were arranged and support groups held demos. At the start of 2002 the protests continued with a third MEP presenting himself for arrest, only to be turned away by the police. 29th January saw the first in the series of court trials and the C! day demo.
On Sunday 16th December about 20 supporters of Colin held a vigil outside Strangeways prison to wish Colin a happy Christmas.
They collected signatures on a Christmas card which was sent by registered post later that day.
More vigils are planned in support of Colin.
Chris Davies MEP being arrested
Wednesday 19th December 2001:
Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West offered himself for arrest by Greater Manchester police for possession of a tiny amount of cannabis resin on a postage stamp on Saturday 15th December. It took place at the police station, Lee Street, Stockport during the latest demonstration in support of Colin Davies and the Dutch Experience coffee shop.
He waned to draw attention to the experience of his constituent, Colin Davies (no relation) who is currently in Strangeways prison on remand while awaiting trial on cannabis-related offences. Colin has been repeatedly denied bail despite never having being convicted of a drugs-related offence. This arrest would seem to indicate that the Stockport police are acting not so much to uphold the law, but rather to prevent a political point from being made. More news when we get it.
Chris will appeare in court on Thursday 20th December
Friday 21st December
Second MEP arrested
Stockport police have confirmed that a second MEP has been arrested whilst making a protest in support of Colin Davies, the owner of the "Dutch Experience", Britain's first cannabis coffeeshop in Stockport.
Marco Capatto was charged with possession of a tiny amount of cannabis on a postage stamp, he refused bail and was held overnight to appear in magistrates court today (Friday 21st). He has now accepted bail form the magistrates and will return toward the end of January.
In a separate development, Chris Davies, the Lib Dem MEP for the North West has opted for a jury trial. He was charged with possession of a tiny amount of cannabis in a symbolic demonstration in support of Colin on Saturday 15th December.
We have also heard that Colin Davies is being held in custody and will not appear in court until February at the earliest.
Protests are becoming a weekly event with a constant stream of people offering themselves for arrest.
More information will follow as we get it. Thanks to Experiencewm
Mystery tour on the Cannabus!
On Saturday 22nd December, the.magical mystery Cannabus took to the streets of Manchester. Continuing the campaign to free Colin Davis from his incarceration in Strangeways prison, a group of activists made a roundabout trip from Colin's home area to the heart of Manchester Piccadilly. Complete with on-board sound system and 5000 leaflets, the bus brought the injustice to the attention of the public in style!
Colins' Chrstmas card
Just to let everyone know we collected well over 100 signatures on the roundrobin Xmas card for Colin Davies here in Manchester - and with those friends I've heard from who are taking it round their workplaces and sending it on direct to Colin @ Strangeways, it's probably nearer 200 now.
People
who signed include teaching and non-teaching staff at my partner's school in Stretford,
local social services team, hospital workers, town hall workers, and most people
at two xmas socials, one for refugees/asylum seekers, the other our local anti-war
group. There's such goodwill out there !
All the best, Penny
Stockport police back down and refuse to charge MEP
MEP Marco Pannella
Monday 28th January 2002
The Stockport police seem uncertain how to handle the demostrations in support of the Dutch Experience coffee shop. Up top now they had adopted a hard line approach, arresting people even for simple possession. Just before Christmas two MEP's were arrested for possession of tiny, symbolic, amounts of cannabis.
However,
when nonviolent Italian radical party leader, MEP Marco Pannella presented himself
for arrest in a similar act of civil dissobedience on Monday 28th January things
went differently. About 25 of protesters stood outside Stockport police station
whilst Marco Pannella gave a press statement. Unlike previous occassions, there
were no police present.
In the end he had to go into the station to
be arrested as nobody would come out at all, so along with about 15 folk and loads
of cameras he went in. The police quickly kicked all the cameras out, then proceeded
to do something strange.
They confiscated Marco's Panellas weed, gave him a receipt for it and told him it was not in the public interest to arrest him. They had stated in the past that when challenged with overtly illegal behaviour they would enforce the law to the full, not this time, not even a caution just a bit of paper saying "we have nicked your weed"
Colin Davies released on bail
Colin Davies, Co-founder of the Dutch Experience Coffee shop in Stockport was released on bail on Friday 17th May by Manchester Crown court after serving SEVEN months on remand.
To what end was Colin’s time on remand justified? The Dutch Experience coffeeshop is still open, and many more cannabis entrepreneurs are now following in Colin’s footsteps with at least 12 more coffeeshops opening nationwide this summer.
Is it right that an disabled man who has twice been vindicated by a jury can be locked up to silence him?
Colin has now served his time whether he is found guilty or not, the state has exacted it’s punishment on him by using the remand law in a wholly unjustified way.
Colins release has been under very stringent bail conditions which allows him very limited movement on release, one major restriction is that Colin stays out of the Greater Manchester area, which excludes him from his home (not seen in seven months), easy contact with his children, and the chance to start to put his life back together in his own community after being imprisoned with out trial for far too long.
Colin Davis sentenced
3rd October 2002
Colin Davis, the founder of the UK's first cannabis coffeeshop in Stockport was sentenced today (Thursday 3rd October), nearly a year after the shop was raided by Greater Manchester police
Colin was given various sentences up to a max of 2 years for the offences the jury found him guilty of yesterday (to run 'concurrently). the heaviest sentences for November 20th offences because he'd carried on after the September busts
Also 12 months each (also to run 'concurrently') for the PERJURY and POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SUPPLY charges from July of this year, which he pleaded guilty to this morning,
But the two groups of sentences to run consecutively, so a total of 3 years.
The packed public gallery were shocked into a stunned silence by the severity of the sentences.
There is a possibility of an appeal against the sentences but that will probably take months.
We think Colin will be back in Strangeways for now but will probably be moved to another (hopefully better) prison fairly soon now he has been convicted.
Colin Senior was also in court to face Perjury charges - he pleaded not guilty and the Crown decided it wasn't in the public interest to go ahead.
Colin was found guilty of three counts of possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply at Manchester's Minshull Crown Court, also of supplying a Class B drug and of being involved in the importation of cannabis.
He was also convicted of permitting the premises to be used for the smoking of the drug.
A jury of seven men and five women took just over five hours to reach their verdicts.
Shortly after the sentences were passed, around 50 police raided the cafe.
Read UKCIA and BBC report - click here.