Newshawk: http://www.ccguide.org.uk Pubdate: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 Source: Milton Keynes Citizen (UK) Copyright: 2001 Premier Newspapers Ltd Website: http://195.172.106.178/news/story1.html Feedback: http://www.mkcitizen.co.uk/feedback.html Address: Napier House, Auckland Park, Bond Avenue, Milton Keynes, MK1 1BU Contact: jenny@mkcitizen.co.uk Copyright: 2001 Premier Newspapers Ltd Forum: http://www.mkcitizen.co.uk/forum/index.html Phone: 01908651312 Fax: 01908632214 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) CANNABIS CAFE FOR CITY? LEGALISE cannabis campaigner Patman Denning says he wants to open Milton Keynes' first marijuana cafe . He's been inspired after visiting Britain's first Amsterdam-style coffee shop. Patman, of Old Farm Park, went to Stockport on Saturday to support his friend and fellow cannabis fan Colin Davies who was opening the illegal Dutch Experience cafe. During the grand opening about 20 police officers raided the premises and Mr Davies was arrested, as well as four Dutch people brought in to advise him on his new and risky venture. Soon after Mr Davies' arrest a crowd of between 50 and 60 people, including Patman, held a protest. Yet, despite openly smoking marijuana in front of police, the defiant Patman was not arrested. "The police had already been in," said Patman, who says cannabis eases the symptoms of his MS. "I was there when they arrested some of the Dutch people. "About 2pm the police left and the door was reopened. It is still open as a cafe but you can't get anything from it because they had all their stuff confiscated. "I was banging on the window saying, 'let me in, I want my medicine'. Then the police threatened to arrest me if I did not move. "As soon as they started doing that, I thought I would skin up outside in front of the police. They did not do anything." Following Saturday's events, Patman, who stood for his own Legalise Cannabis party in this year's general election, said he would like to open a similar coffee shop in Milton Keynes. He said that by providing cafes, users would not need to buy cannabis from dealers who could expose them to other, more harmful drugs. ------------------------------------------------ Here's a pic of Patman, in the Dutch experience...