Take-away cannabis cafe proposed

[superjoint]

Alan Travis, home affairs editor
Friday September 28, 2001
The Guardian

Plans to open the first licensed Dutch-style cannabis cafes in Britain, including one which would specialise as a fast take-away service, have been proposed in Brixton, south London.

The scheme to open three cafes is designed to follow the present six-month experiment under which Lambeth police do not arrest people found in possession of small amounts of cannabis.

The scheme has been drawn up by Tim Summers, the organiser of the successful annual cannabis campaign marches held for the past three years in south London.

"We would follow the tested Dutch regulations that mean no advertising, no sale of hard drugs, no nuisance, no alcohol, no sale to those under 18 years and no sale of more than 30 grammes of cannabis for each transaction," he said. "The idea is to supersede the criminal street trade by being open long hours, and offering a wide choice of resin and herbal cannabis at cheaper prices."

The proposal by the group, Cannabis Action, follows consultation with youth workers, residents, and pro-legalisation campaigners. The first cafe would offer a licensed 24-hour take-away service which would serve Londoners and other "drug tourists"; the second could be under the sponsorship of Brixton's Rastafarian community; while the third might attract interest from the local hippie community.

Lambeth council said it was not a licensing authority for cannabis and the Metropolitan police warned that such a decision would have to be taken by the Home Office.

Last week the owner of a would-be cannabis cafe in Stockport, Greater Manchester, was arrested before it had opened. Colin Davies was released on bail.