cannabisnews.com: Owner Dealt in Cannabis at His Café
Owner Dealt in Cannabis at His Café
Posted by FoM on November 23, 2001 at 22:16:52 PT
Lead Story
Source: Manchester Evening News
The owner of Britain's first cannabis cafe is operating as a drug dealer, a court heard. Stockport magistrates were told Colin Davies' claim he supplied the drug at the Dutch Experience only to those who use it for medicinal purposes was not true.Police had evidence the premises on Hooper Street, in Stockport, were being used for the commercial supply of the drug to anybody who wished to purchase it, prosecutor Lesley Mott said.
The claim was made after magistrates allowed reporting restrictions to be lifted following an appeal by Mr Davies' solicitor, Lesley Herman, during a dramatic court appearance yesterday attended by dozens of his supporters.Ms Herman admitted her client was a nuisance to the police and the authorities but pointed out that Mr Davies had twice been acquitted of drugs offences, in June 1997 and July 1998, by separate juries.Pain Relief She said Mr Davies had badly damaged his spine in 1996 which required numerous operations and which caused pain so severe that morphine and other painkillers could not help.When he was offered it at a spinal injuries unit in Sheffield, cannabis provided him with the first proper night's sleep since the accident and now he wanted to make it available to other sick people in his situation, she said.Mr Davies set up his cafe on a slightly different basis, where the sale of tea and coffee with the help of donations would be used to provide the drug to sick people and patients in his Medical Marijuana Co-operative, the court heard.Ms Herman said her client admitted possession of the drug, but added: ''It has always been Mr Davies' intention that he has not supplied cannabis for money.''Earlier, prosecutor Ms Mott described how police raided The Dutch Experience on September 15 just before its grand opening.Raid Police seized bags containing cannabis, smoking ''bongs'', pipes and other cannabis merchandise including T-shirts, ashtrays and stickers, while officers also seized more bags of cannabis and computers at Mr Davies' home in Brinnington, she said.Another raid on Tuesday afternoon this week had been preceeded by numerous newspaper articles indicating cannabis was being openly smoked on the premises, she said.Ms Mott said police seized a kilo of cannabis in the process of being weighed out for re-sale, along with scales and bags full of cannabis being sold at £10 each. The value of the drugs was up to £3,000, she said.She also said Mr Davies had been charged with importing ''very large quantities of cannabis'' from the Continent, adding that one video cassette box seized by customs officers hid a kilo of cannabis resin.Ms Herman made an application for her client, who is charged with string of drug offences, to be freed on bail. A decision to refuse the application was greeted with uproar from the public gallery. Mr Davies was remanded in custody until November 29 while three others, who are also charged with drug offences, were released on conditional bail until January 3.Newshawk: puff_tuffSource: Manchester Evening News (UK)Published: November 23, 2001Copyright: 2001 Manchester Evening NewsContact: postbag mcr-evening-news.co.ukWebsite: http://www.manchesteronline.co.ukRelated Articles & Web Site:Dutch Experiencehttp://www.dutchexperience.org/English Pot Smokers' Pub May Prove a Model http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11402.shtmlCannabis Cafe Shut Down http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11384.shtml
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Comment #16 posted by Tim Stone on November 24, 2001 at 19:47:30 PT
Ashcroft
Ashcroft can't stand to see a calico-colored cat because he thinks they're in league with the Devil. And when he became both governor and senator, he anointed himself with oil in the manner of the biblical kings of Jerusalem - crisco, since there was no olive oil handy. I think he is very close to a full-blown religious loon. What he chooses to believe in his heart, his home and his church is none of my business. However, when he takes his clearly extremist religious views and attempts to base public policy on them - indeed, to _make_ public policy by fiat, as in going after CA. medpot dispensers and Oregon right-to-die law - then he can no longer hide behind the fig leaf of "religious tolerance" for protection. His lunatic views are fair game.
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Comment #15 posted by freedom fighter on November 24, 2001 at 18:54:31 PT
A letter to the Editor
Dear EditorI am an American who like to read the news from your newssite. It bothered me to read about Mr. Colin Davies's arrest for dealing cannabis. Do'nt Police have better things to do? There were seven serious crimes that had occured while they were spending their resources on arresting Mr. Colin Davies. 15 yr old girl got raped, 28 yr old man got burned, and five other robberies.Prohibition is a serious waste of effort in reducing the crimes that are harmful to your people and community. I would love to visit Stockport and Dutch Experience cafe someday but I am not sure if I would be safe.Respectfully Yoursmailto:stockportexpress gmwn.co.uk Write letters to Editorffhttp://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/index.cfm?story=07full.html
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Comment #14 posted by p4me on November 24, 2001 at 11:00:31 PT:
mpreston conninc.com
I am sure you would have found this article at MAP. It is called "Disorder in the court." Cheered me up pretty good.I was wondering what would happen if a person took a vaporizer with a little residue in it down to the courthouse and stood there with it what would happen. If I did it and got arrested when it went to trial I could claim that I had no criminal intent. My intent would be to draw attention to the necessity of dissiminating information vital to the citizens of this country that smoke both marijuana and tobacco.I think I will have to go up to the flea market with a vaporizer and just talk to people that have an interest the way Eagle Bill did at the booth at the Cannabis Cup. I wish I would have thought of this earlier, before it turned cold.If people wonder why a vaporizers present such a threat to the tobacco industry, you have to remember that smoking tobacco is cured. They have little tobacco barns that use oil, gas, and electricity and this involves time and labor. A person could buy tobacco directly from farmers and skip the cigarette making process altogether or buy bulk tobacco at the store. It would also be the first thing a person could do to break the habit of firing up. It could become accepted in restaurants as a way to feed the nicotine habit without stinking up the place or turning the walls yellow.Instead of paying a doctor $90 for a prescription for the patch or Zyban, a person could have a path for his own escape from the bondage of nicotine. And what money the government would lose and people might live longer and draw from an already troubled situation with Social Security.Yes they do really sell vaporizers for tobacco. You can do a Google search with "tobacco vaporizers" and find out. The second listing will have a small vaporizer for $35. I am not suggesting that you buy any particular vaporizer, but I do suggest you buy one. If you burn MJ you lose 1/3 of the THC to combustion and your lungs become coated and cannot absorb THC as readily. The same would be true for tobacco and nicotine. A vaporizer will save you money, protect your health, and keep the smell of MJ off your clothes.Vote against all incumbents. Buy someone you love a vaporizer.
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Comment #13 posted by E_Johnson on November 24, 2001 at 10:26:59 PT
Look at what else is happening in Stockport
They have a rapist on the loose who is targeting teenegers, and the police have resources to devote to stopping Colin Davies?http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/index.cfm?story=07full.html
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Comment #12 posted by CorvallisEric on November 24, 2001 at 10:18:13 PT
Poll
Poll on Colin Davies and the Dutch Experiencehttp://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/Click on "click here to vote" which is part of a very slow-loading bunch of pictures.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 24, 2001 at 09:58:26 PT
My 2 cents
They didn't have anyway to get control of people like they have now. Many different groups have "causes" and they don't like "causes". Now since 9-11 they have a free rein and I'm sure they are very pleased and that makes me feel sick. If an epidemic of some communicable disease breaks out in a major city watch them lock that city down. I do believe it would happen that way too.
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Comment #10 posted by QcStrt on November 24, 2001 at 09:42:33 PT
>>Stupidity
What I would like to know is how the D E A can MAKE
LAWS for the PEOPLE of the USA. I though that was
part of the HOUSE and SENATE'S job. So we have just
become Dictatorship in the good old US of A.
The Stupidity of our LEADERSHIP to allow this to take
place. WELL PEOPLE THE WAY I SEE IT WE HAVE
TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL!!
That is to get an IMPEACHMENT MOVEMENT GOING
against the ones that let this happen.
And if the leadership goes to the TOP so be it, take them all out of OFFICE! this country would be better off with out allthe LIAR'S in Office.
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Comment #9 posted by p4me on November 24, 2001 at 09:35:01 PT:
DE protesters report
According to information posted by a moderator at http://www.dutchexperience.org there were 40 to 50 protesters that showed up for the march from the DE to the Stockport police station. The protesters had a camera in a van to film the events. The police asked people that were smoking if they were smoking a controlled substance. If they said yes they arrested them. About 12 were arrested and they did not bother Nol. There were no incidents.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 24, 2001 at 09:29:32 PT
Hi null
Ashcroft is one of the most scary looking people I've seen that are in control of our lives. I have always been cautious but I haven't really been afraid but Ashcroft makes me really scared. He is not a kind man like some might think. He is a big time control type person. No one should be in his position with his religious convictions in my opinion.
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Comment #7 posted by null on November 24, 2001 at 09:16:53 PT
skewering article on Ashcroft
it is indeed a slow news weekend. I did read an article from the NY Times which spelled out some justified grievances with John Ashcroft's manner of running the Justice dept. Considering other news here with Ashcroft's dealing of medical marijuana initiatives in CA and euthansia in Oregon it is nice to see the mainstream press is not taking a liking to Ashcroft. It's worth the read:
Op-Ed column from the NY Times
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 24, 2001 at 07:49:00 PT
Just a Note
Hi Everyone,
I haven't been able to find any news so far but I will keep looking. I know it is because of being a long holiday weekend. We'll get back to normal during the week I'm sure. Thought I'd let you all know. Have a nice day!
What's New in Drug Policy Reform
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Comment #5 posted by Headhunter420 on November 24, 2001 at 01:15:31 PT
Unity
I would think that with all of this forum chat , you would focus your messages toward the governments of your nations for your plea. To take a stand is good, but to take a stand and just be idle serves no purpose. It is not hard to find e-mail addresses of the people important, and it may show the common intrest to the higher ups. Remember, it is the will of the people, not the person that will win the war. Peace to all
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Comment #4 posted by p4me on November 24, 2001 at 00:01:49 PT:
my post at the DE website
I am going to copy the posting I made on Friday at http:www.dutchexperience.org There will be some interesting reading at their website on Saturday. It is 6 hours ahead of us so it is already 9AM. In 5 hours it will be on. an idea You guys are fighting the fight for millions of people and I am a great
admirer of everything all of you in the UK are doing to unravel the
insane MJ laws around the world. I respectfully submit that some people should be caught with joints or
spliffs with substances other than MJ such as orageno, tobacco, sage
or whatever. This will cause more problems for the police and will
make for a better story when the media picks it up. Also some people
may not want to get arrested on the first round but would participate
in a smoking spectacle. As always there is nothing in the Charlotte Observer about MJ
anywhere in the world much less the UK or the DE in particular. I
cancelled my subscription because of protest of the news being
filtered. I still say the article that needs to be written is MARIJUANA PROHIBITION: IT'S THE MONEY STUPID 5000 years of experience has shown us that it is not the substance of
cannabis that is to be feared. It is the laws that are feared and they
are now on the books to protect the financial interest of the tobacco,
alcohol, and pill industries that could suffer from a change in the laws
and an open debate in the media on the issue of substance abuse. Cannabis medals to you all. Thanks for changing the world to a more
sensible place. __________________
The land of the free is now the land of pee Last edited by p4me on 23rd November 2001 at 08:29 PM
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Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on November 23, 2001 at 23:57:07 PT
A green armband campaign?
There should be one visible symbol that everyone can wear that will make a statement.
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Comment #2 posted by p4me on November 23, 2001 at 23:50:38 PT:
sad but true
How can government be so out of touch with the people? The economic powers surely want to preserve the status quo while the people of the UK are for legalization. Not class c but legalization. Even the Dutch won't legalize it. They just do not enforce it and of course they do not allow a legal way for the coffeeshops to get there MJ.It is like the honorable Governor Johnson of New Mexico says. The war on drugs is the biggest head in the sand issue we have. It gets no coverage on the airwaves or in print and that is a concern that should draw the attention of real journalist. Marijuana's biggest health risk is of course particle inhalation. If paraphanalia were not a crime marijuana could be used for 50 years by a person with no major side effects. I forgot short-term memory loss. That is a joke.
Governments are ruining good people's lives for something that is all but benign. This is not on moral ground or abuse of health. It is for economic interest of the rich. Tobacco does not want to hear the word vaporizer. Alcohol does not want something that rivals it for pleasure or escape when it has terrible consequences that can be felt the next morning and can be an addiction that ends in death.
As far as medicine, MJ can do things that the pill people only wish they could do. It does some things pills do but with almost no harm. MJ is a winner and everyone in power wants silence or lies to control the inevitable.Good grief. How many elected officials can even see what is coming. I can understand the DEA wanting to increase its budget and have helicopters to fly around in. I can not accept this stupidity from people that are chosen to lead. I hate to mention numbers because who knows what is accurate. But let us say a clear majority in the UK are for
complete legalization and a clear majority of Americans are for medicinal MJ. Not only are the politicians not ahead of
the public, they are blocking the publics will.The lid is going to blow off of NarcoImperialism of the US. It is all about money. There is no real harm done by marijuana and it is a miracle plant plain and simple. This trial is just another thing that should not have happenned because cannabis should be legal everywhere in the world.The Supreme Court rules 8-0 that there is no medical reason for medical marijuana. What a joke. What a disgrace. And the media doesn't cover the story. What is everyone thinking? You cannot tell me Bush didn't do cocaine and now he is killing people in Columbia that are just farmers and it is spreading. We are killing people in Columbia because we create a demand. What if there government wanted to come here and kill the demand? This is plain crazy. My new three words are : Marijuana arrest anger. I could use some MJ right now because it might keep me from saying that Bush is a liar. There are lies by commission and omission. He has no leadership ability and he is an agent to protect the interest of the rich. He is paraded around to talk about terrorism and could not face the scrutiny of a town hall meeting much less a series of them. He is a pitiful exuse for a President.Why doesn't he give a speech about drug-abuse in this country? Because they have to figure a way to protect his stupidity from showing so he can get reelected and the only way to do that is to hold up for public scrutiny in relation to the war on terrorism. Just go to hightimes.com and read the article on Bush and what it says about a cocaine conviction that was esponged from the record because of his dad and the rest. Bush is enough to make me sick. Whoever saw a 50 year old man that didn't have enough sense to lose his smirk. If his handlers couldn't have broken his habit it would have cost the Republicans the election.The people of the UK are going to fight for legalization. Saturday at 2PM there will be a protest at the Stockport Police station. There will be as many protest as it takes.
The land of the free is now the land of pee.
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Comment #1 posted by herbdoc215 on November 23, 2001 at 22:44:39 PT:
Now is the time for all of us to unite as one!
All over the world thousands of us are working wholeheartedly for true access to cannabis for sick folks and we are finding it immpossible to change economic laws, as long as present criminal laws stand then Mr. Davies answer is the ONLY true way to provide No to Low cost Mdi-weed to the needy. We must all put forth a renewed effort to show these facist pigs for what the thivin punks are in every country now on the edge of legalization. We are reaching critical mass here in B.C. and we are so close to legalization that I can smell it! We need to put all our heads together and issue a sort of Emancipation statement to express our demands for justice. Enough already! How many more shall we throw upon the sabre's. Steve Tuck
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