LANDLORD TAKES 'POT' CAFE MAN TO COURT

Cannabis campaigner Colin Davies will be in court today as a landlord tries
to put an end to his Amsterdam-style marijuana cafe. On Saturday, police
arrested Mr Davies and five others in a raid at the Dutch Experience in
Stockport.

It had been touted as Britain's first cannabis cafe.

The raid prompted the retired builder to back down after initially
promising to sell the drug to social smokers to subsidise his "patients",
whom he claims need it to ease the pain of various medical conditions.

As soon as he was released on police bail pending further inquiries, Colin,
44, re-opened the cafe on Hooper Street but insisted he would be selling
only tea and coffee.

But police have threatened his landlord, Leda Securities Northern Ltd, in
Macclesfield, with prosecution if cannabis is supplied on the premises.

The company immediately launched court proceedings and today it will ask a
High Court judge at Manchester Crown Court to grant an injunction
preventing the sale of cannabis on the premises.

Mr Davies, who claims police took a computer from his home in Brinnington,
says the real losers are his customers.

He said: "The patients are very distressed after the police stole their
medicine. They seem intent on allowing ill people to suffer by their actions."