UK Coffee shop campaign
Around the turn of the millennium there was a real feeling of change in the air with regard to cannabis and several attempts to set up "coffeeshops" - perhaps better described as cannabis pubs - were made.
2008 update:
UKCIA has, up to now, been under the impression that "The Dutch Experience" was the first cananbis coffeeshop project in the UK, well it seems we were wrong, the first actually opperated between 1994 qnd 1996 in Stoke On Trent. - Dreadheads
As we found out , the change in the law when cannabis became a class C drug didn't mean anything in practice and the government decided that cannabis users would have to continue to fund the growing illegal market, often provided by organised crime.
This is the story of the first wave of cannabis coffeeshops which opened at the turn of the century.
As 2002 drew to a close, four such places in London and Worthing were raided by large numbers of police, who had seemingly been ignoring the establishments for months. These places were hardly a secret locally, so the sudden heavy handed attitude of the police is hard to understand.
This daft situation has come about because David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, made a mess of his much trailed reforms of the law against Cannabis. This story was to run from 2001 and into 2004
Other than this introduction this section hasn't been updated since 2004, when all the old pages were brought together.
The Dutch Coffeeshop system
In 2002 it was over 30 years now since Holland allowed the famous "Coffeeshops" to open, places where cannabis can be legally bought and used.
In those 30 years, the country has not descended into a drug crazed depravity, indeed quite the opposite seems to have happened.
Read the account by Nol van Schaik, cofounder of the Dutch Experience
December 2002 - The Coffeeshop campaign spreads
As soon as it became clear that the law against cannabis really was beginning to fall apart, people began asking the obvious question - "How is cannabis going to be supplied". Around the middle of 2001 plans were made to open "coffee shops" based on the successful and highly popular Dutch shops.
Of course, this is a red flag to the drug warriors, those who still believe that cannabis prohibition is a good thing. Strange as it may seem there are still people who think that and sadly, the Home Secretary David Blunkett seems to be one of them.
Although he has been forced to propose a reduction in penalties he still thinks the prohibition can be continued and has tried to rule out the idea, preferring instead to keep organised crime in control of the cannabis market.
There are though a number of people around the country who see this as plain daft, which of course it is and they've decided to try and do something about it. The movement to create coffee shops thatreally began on 15th September 2001 with the opening of the "Dutch Experience" in Stockport, Manchester. This extraordinary story unfolded during 2002.
Following the Dutch Experience, as time past, a substantial number of small local coffeeshops were opening quitely without any publicity. UKCIA does not intend to document the entire scene - understandably many of these enterprises were "underground" in nature, but below are links and information about a few, both planned and opened in 2003.
Bournemouth - DE2
This south coast town was the second place to have a coffee shop - the Dutch Experience 2 (DE 2), which opened an industrial estate in Boscombe.. There was frantic activity in the run-up to opening and the shop attracted a lot of attention from the media and its owner, Jimmy Ward, was happy to milk the publicity.
The result was a very popular venue which soon attracted a lot of customers. However, the local police, spurred on by prohibition supporting local councillors raided the shop in early May, less than a month after it opened. The raid involved some 60 officers in what can only be described as an over the top show of force.
The landlord has now served an eviction notice on Jimmy.
Accrington
A coffee shop later opened in Accrington, Lancashire. Called the "Dutch Way" it was ran by Frank Mac, and his wife Margaret. It opened above their existing business in Warner Street, a tattoo parlour called Studio One. After some planning permission issues were resolved with the council, it was clear from a petition of over 1000 signatures,to be given to Prime Minister Tony Blair, from local residents and traders, that there was support for such a venture.
A police raid took place on the 10th October 2002, arresting one man for possession of cannabis. This did not close the coffeeshop - rather it intensified Mr Mac's resolve, who said "We must stand up for our rights. It's business as usual. It's war." and called for a mass demonstration in support of the legalisation of cannabis and introduction of coffee shops.
The enterprise had the support of at least some of the local councillors. Hyndburn councillor John Burke has been quoted as saying "I think it [cannabis] should be legalised and taxed. It would also take it away from the streets and put it into an environment like this [coffee shop] which is more adult based." He has joined forces with fellow councillor David Myles to call for an overhaul of drug legislation and to encourage local MPs to read and sign the Angel Decleration which seeks the outright repeal of drugs prohibition.
Worthing coffeeshops
Former LCA candidate Chris Baldwin and associates went a step further and opened 2 coffeeshops in Worthing, a town on the South Coast of England. The first, Quantum Leaf, has been repeatedly raided and forced to close down, but Buddy's stayed open for business for some time before finally being shut down.
The Quantum Leaf story
On the 26th June 2002, in an adjoining room to his existing headshop "Bongchuffa", Chris Baldwin opened Worthing's first Dutch-style coffeeshop - "Quantum Leaf". This coffeeshop proceeded smoothly with its business for several months with especial attention given to involve and support those people who use cannabis for medical reasons.
Towards the end of October, the cafe was raided by more than 30 police officers equipped with bulletproof vests, helmets and battering rams. A large quantity of cannabis was "recovered" by the police and 12 arrests were made. Chris, who was one of the 12 arrested, immediately reopened the cafe, saying "They'll have to lock me up to stop me.".
However, a fortnight later, as part of "Operation Thor", the police raided the cafe once more. Once again they arrested Chris for allowing his premises to be used for cannabis usage, along with another person for possession of approximately a joint's worth of cannabis. Sadly, due to the increasing police pressure and an eviction notice subsequently served by the letting agents, Spratt's Estate Agents, the cafe was forced to close on the 25th January 2003, seven months after it opened.
The Hempire
Billed as being "somewhere not too far from Central London" and "if we can't be precise we hope you'll understand why".
But only somewhat. What we do know is we will open it. Even if this means breaking the law. Britain needs cannabis cafés. Cannabis smokers need them and society in general needs them.
We will not sell cannabis ourselves, nor will we permit it - or any other drug - to be sold on our premises. All we'll be doing is allowing people to smoke and that, apparently, is a crime.
We do not intend to be confrontational. Our aim is to provide the most responsible environment in which cannabis can be consumed. We welcome discussions on how to best achieve this on our forums on our website.
Since then, Chris Baldwin and his associates have been through a series of court trials, fiercely protested by campaigners from Worthing and beyond. On the 3rd February Chris Baldwin, Mark Benson and Adrian Allday appeared in the Magistrates Court and were released on bail. As reported in the local paper, the Argus, all 3 were charged with permitting the premises to be used for cannabis usage, and Chris and Mark both were additionally charged with the possession and supply of cannabis.
On the 18th February, Chris, Mark and Adrian re-appeared in court. Chris entered no plea, and Mark and Adrian pleaded not guilty to the charges and all three were once again bailed. Whilst this was going on, between 70 - 100 activists held a peaceful protest outside the court to show their support for Chris' venture and for the legalisation of cannabis. During the trial the campaigners held a march to the Town Hall, the police station and returned to court to meet Chris as he left. No arrests were made despite obvious further use of cannabis.
They
reappeared in court at the beginning of April, along with Winston Matthews who
has been charged with "being the
occupier of premises permitting a drug
offence". Again, all were released on bail and they will return again on
the 15th April, where their trials will probably be taken to the Crown Court.
The Worthing protesters used this day to hold a further demo for the legalisation
of cannabis. Being April Fool's day, the theme was a fancy dress competition and
as can be seen below there were some very inventive costumes on show!
Picture supplied by Sarah Chalk, taken by Argus photographer Eddie Mitchell
The protesters made banners and marched down to the Town Hall. They then presented the councillors with a petition of 500 signatures to support the legalisation campaign. A supportative Liberal Democrat MP came out to speak to them, and gave a friendly interview to Paul Dooner and Sarah Chalk. Clara O'Donnell, from the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, was also present and wrote a report of the day which you can read here.
Chris and associates are due back in court on Tuesday the 15th April and another demo is planned outside the Magistrates Court at 9:30AM. If you are able, UKCIA urges you to turn up and show your support!
Worthing Coffeeshop Buddies first birthday!
A continental style cafe, based on an Amsterdam Coffee Shop, in Worthing will this week celebrate its first Birthday.
Buddies Cafe has to date remained open as local authority spent eleven months allowing the cafe to run, and only recently have asked the owner to apply for planning permission!
Chris Baldwin a fifty-something Pisces man, will happily tell you this was never actually his intention, he planned to open up and get closed instantly by the police, to prove a political point but it didn't happen, instead he and a few cannabis campaigners are now under a constant pressure from customers both medical and recreational to stay open,because the police wouldn't close it down!
Hundreds (more probably thousands) of visitors have walked through the doors over the last year, from all walks of life, and as far away as Holland!
Now as the cafe reaches its first birthday, Chris and his Staff would like to invite any member of any newspaper to come along and witness living history, and then through them ask the public should it stay or should it go???
Not only has this cafe helped over two hundred medical patients, Chris and the majority of his staff suffer from disabilities.
They have created a friendly community cafe where people can meet up with others, and spend some time doing something they enjoy without being excluded from society.
This cafe has bought more turnover to the local area, with restaurants, take always, newsagents, garages and bed and breakfasts feeling the benefit of the extra visitors to this beautiful seaside resort, it has also raised a huge political debate, and with all customers regularly donating to The Legalise Cannabis Alliance (a registered political party, that Chris has sat as candidate in Worthing in previous years), it shows these people want to see change.
Edinburgh - Purple Haze cafe raided
February 2004
Two men and a woman were arrested for alleged possession of cannabis at the Purple Haze Cafe in Edinburgh. It is understood that Paul Stewart, the owner of the café in Leith, was one of the three arrested.
Mr Stewart said he wanted to highlight the discrepancy between the way that the reclassification of the drug was being implemented on different sides of the border.
"In the rest of the UK the presumption of arrest has been taken away, but that presumption still remains in Scotland," he said.
Scottish Socialist Party MSPs Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne signed up to become members of the cafe.
The cafe closed a few weeks later.