CANNABIS CAFE SET TO CLOSE

CANNABIS rebels have until Monday to leave the industrial unit they have
set up a cafe in after an eviction order was made by a county court judge
yesterday. The cafe, at Station Approach, off Ashley Road, Boscombe, has
been operating as the Ganja Land cafe since April 1, when it opened,
briefly attaining national notoriety. Bullock and Lees, agent for the owner
of the industrial unit where James Ward set up the cafe, has always
maintained he has no right to be there. Mr Ward always claimed he had
verbal permission from the agent but this was denied and the court decided
in favour of Bullock and Lees. The possession order became effective
immediately but the agent has decided to give the cafe proprietors and
staff until Monday to leave. Mr Ward told the Echo before the cafe opened
that his venture was part of the Netherlands-based Dutch Experience empire.

The group already runs a similar cafe in Stockport which has opened again
and again after police raids. The Boscombe cafe has been open most days
since police acted on April 24 and seven arrests were made for
drugs-related offences.

The cafe was recently featured on BBC2's Money Programme. Nobody from
Bullock and Lees was available for comment yesterday. Mr Ward is due to
appear before Bournemouth Magistrates on June 26, charged with allowing
premises to be used for administering or using cannabis.