POLICE VOW TO CLOSE AMSTERDAM SOFT DRUG CAFE

POLICE in Stockport have vowed to shut down an Amsterdam-style cannabis
cafe set to open in a secret location thought to be near the town centre.

Colin Davies, the Stockport man infamous for presenting the Queen with a
bouquet of marijuana plants, says he will open the controversial cafe in
Stockport on September 15.

The Brinnington man, who has campaigned for the legalisation of cannabis to
help people with illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, claims he is opening
the Dutch Experience cafe for patients who find the illegal drug eases
their symptoms.

In Amsterdam people can walk into this type of cafe and buy and smoke
cannabis on the premises.

But he says supplies for medical users will be subsidised with revenue from
people visiting the cafe for "social" use.

He presented the Queen with a bunch of marijuana plants as she toured the
new Lowry Centre in Salford Quays.

Mr Davies said the reason he wanted to open the cafe was the amount of
letters he was inundated with from sufferers.

He said: "The proof is in the patients, and the good that is being done for
them. It is the patients who come first.

"Imagine if you are in a wheelchair, how do you get hold of some good
quality medicine?

"The plan is to bring a lot of patients together to meet and discuss their
personal problems with each other, and support each other."

Mr Davies now says he has supporters coming to the opening of the Dutch
Experience from as far away as America and Holland.

And he wants patients to come together to cut a ceremonial ribbon to open
the cafe.

But this week Superintendent Ian McLoughlin, from Stockport Police, said:
"The law in respect of a Class C drug is very clear.

"If this happens in Stockport we will monitor the situation but it is the
law of the land and we will uphold this."