Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 Source: BBC News (UK Web) Copyright: 2004 BBC Contact: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Cannabis+Cafe 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".