THREE ARRESTED AT CANNABIS CAFE

Three people have been charged with drugs offences at Scotland's first
cannabis cafe, police said.

The two men and a woman were arrested for alleged possession of
cannabis at the Purple Haze Cafe in Edinburgh.

The charges coincide with the official reclassification of the drug
from Class B to Class C.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said the men arrested were aged
43 and 37, while the woman was 35. A report will be sent to the
procurator fiscal.

Greasy Spoon

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "Three people have been
arrested and charged with possession of drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act."

He added: "Two people were seen using drugs within the premises."

The Purple Haze Cafe, a former greasy spoon, was opened on Thursday
afternoon as a private members' club.

Cafe owner Paul Stewart said that cannabis would not be on
sale.

However, Mr Stewart said members would be able to use cannabis on the
premises.

He said the cafe would be "tobacco free" but anyone wishing to take
cannabis would be able to use a vaporiser machine, which eliminates
99% of the carcinogenic substances of the drug.

Mr Stewart said he wanted to highlight the discrepancy between the way
that the reclassification of the drug was being implemented on
different sides of the border.

"In the rest of the UK the presumption of arrest has been taken away,
but that presumption still remains in Scotland," he said.

Scottish Socialist Party MSPs Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne signed
up to become members of the cafe.

Mr Sheridan said: "The people in this cafe want to take drugs off our
streets and I think most people in Scotland would want to take drugs
off our streets."

Police officers, who had been keeping a presence outside the cafe, had
warned customers they could be arrested if seen with any illegal substances.

Following the three arrests the force stood down, police
said.

Earlier, First Minister Jack McConnell had condemned the
cafe.

He said: "Those who are attempting to interpret the law for their own
ends, I think, should think about the consequences of their actions."

Significant Implications

Mr McConnell said Scottish police forces would continue to report
cases involving cannabis to procurators fiscals, who would then
consider what action should be taken.

He also described the Socialists' position as "shameful" and attacked
"those who intend to interpret the law for their own ends".

The first minister said: "I want to make clear today that
reclassification is not the same as decriminalisation. The use and
sale of cannabis both remain illegal in Scotland.

"I do not anticipate that cannabis reclassification will have any
significant implications for policing in Scotland."

This, he said, was "partly because police time and resources in
Scotland are already concentrating on those most serious drugs".