THREE ARRESTS AT CANNABIS CAFE

Police arrested three people at Scotland's first cannabis cafe last
night, on the day the drug was officially downgraded.

The arrests followed a stand-off between officers and cannabis
campaigners at the Purple Haze cafe in Edinburgh, amid confusion over
the status of the drug in different parts of the UK.

About 50 people had clustered into the cafe to test the reaction of
Scottish police, who have indicated they will continue to take a tough
line on use and possession of cannabis despite its declassification
from a class B to C drug, and in contrast to many English forces.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders police said two men, aged 43 and
37, and a 35-year-old woman had been arrested and charged with
possession of drugs. Two of them had been seen using drugs on the
premises. It is understood Paul Stewart, the cafe owner, was one of
those arrested.

Earlier, Mr Stewart had said he intended to turn the greasy spoon cafe
into a private cannabis club at 4pm each day. He said people were
still confused over the legality of cannabis and Scots were being
discriminated against.

"It is the poll tax all over again. The people of Scotland are getting
treated as second-class citizens. All we are looking for is equal
treatment. It is an unfair and unjust law and we will be challenging
it."

As a stream queued up to apply for membership yesterday afternoon,
three police officers stationed outside handed out letters clarifying
the law.

"I feel that I should be able to go to a warm place and smoke
cannabis, not loiter the streets," said Steven England, 24, an
unemployed sales representative. "I expect to get arrested but I don't
think I should have to be."

Kevin Williamson of the Scottish Socialist party said they hoped the
cafe would become the starting point for a series of cannabis
tolerance zones. "Cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol," he said.
"It is less dangerous than tobacco. Therefore, its legal status must
reflect that."

The SSP leader, Tommy Sheridan, a non-smoker and teetotaller, turned
up to lend his support.

Lothian and Borders said it would continue to arrest people for
possession of cannabis in "hotspot" areas where dealers are operating

Scotland has already indicated that the declassification will have
little impact north of the border, where law and order and policing
are devolved.