AMSTERDAM-STYLE CANNABIS VENTURE PLANNED

Cafe Will Cut Drug Abuse Claims Woman

A DORCHESTER woman who plans to open a cannabis cafe in the town claims it
would help tackle heroin abuse.

Sam Day, 36, is waiting until the law changes to classify cannabis as a
class C drug, so that it can be licensed by magistrates in a similar way to
alcohol.

And she is concerned that cafes offering cannabis should be responsibly
run, with drugs counsellors on hand to help and regulations to ensure
people's safety.

Sam, who has written several books on cooking with the drug, has slammed a
plan to open an Amsterdam-style cafe near two drug rehabilitation centres
in Bournemouth as "irresponsible".

She said: "I have been waiting to open a proper cannabis cafe for the past
six years - these things don't just happen overnight.

"I have been on management courses and food safety courses to prepare me
for running a business and I believe that a cafe run sensibly will provide
a number of benefits for the town.

Heroin

"Take the growing problem with heroin in the area - the well-run cafes in
Amsterdam have dramatically cut heroin abuse in Holland, because they
provide somewhere to go as an alternative to the pub."

Sam said: "Every aspect of opening a place like that has got to be looked
at - it's madness to put a cannabis cafe near a school or rehab centre.

"The good thing about making cannabis a class C drug is that it can be
regulated - we can stop all the rubbish coming from Europe and create a
British industry to grow it, farm it and use the hemp for making material
and beer."

Town and district councillor Tim Harries said he was pleased that Sam was
taking the project seriously.

He added: "I am glad that she's going the right way about it and it will be
interesting to see what happens.

"! am following the news on how cannabis will be used for medical purposes
for people with multiple sclerosis with great interest."

But Coun Leslie Phillips said: I wouldn't want to see any encouragement of
drugs in Dorchester.

"I believe that cannabis use can lead to harder drugs and I do not want to
see a cannabis cafe here."