Arrests made at cannabis cafe
Three people were arrested last night under the Misuse of Drugs Act at Scotland’s first cannabis cafe.
Two men, aged 43 and 37, and a 35-year-old woman were arrested for possession of the class C drug at the Purple Haze Cafe.
Cannabis was downgraded from a class B to a class C drug at midnight yesterday.
According to reports, Paul Stewart, owner of the cafe in Edinburgh was one of the three arrested.
The Purple Haze Cafe, a former “greasy spoon,” was opened on Thursday afternoon as a private members’ club.
Although smoking is banned, customers who bring their own cannabis can use a “vaporiser” to get a hit of the drug.
The “vaporiser” is believed to remove 99 per cent of known carcinogens.
It is reported that two socialist MSPs – Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne – were among the cafe’s members.
Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne signed up to become members of the cafe.
Paul Stewart told reporters: “I am not selling [cannabis] but I will allow people to bring their own.
“If the police arrest me or other customers that will not do anything to stop people using cannabis.”
The Government has stressed that “soft” drug remains illegal and police have the power to arrest anyone carrying or using it but “ordinarily” possession will not be an arrestable offence.
The Home Office says the change in the law will allow police to concentrate on the fight against “hard” drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
The Metropolitan Police said yesterday it would continue to arrest people for possession of cannabis in “hotspot” areas where dealers operated.
Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation, said yesterday the police were still confused about the practical implications of the reclassification of the drug.
She said: “I think police officers are probably in the same boat as the public wondering what has happened and why it has happened, and why we are having this tinkering.’
“I think they are just as confused as anyone else.
“We really need to have a very mature debate on the issue and what we are having at the moment is confusion.”
