Friends and supporters of a man behind a town's cannabis coffee shop are to protest at the Houses of Parliament against his jail sentence . Chris Baldwin, 53, will be 15 days into a six-month term for various offences related to the drug when the demonstration takes place on Wednesday. Baldwin's mother Dorothy, 81, said: "My son has helped hundreds of people who are sick. "We need to be strong for Chris, so I would ask anyone who knows him to come to show their support of my son." [continues 448 words]
Campaigners say smoking cannabis is a harmless activity which has less of an impact on society than alcohol. Opponents say the drug can lead to mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, and inevitably leads the user to harder narcotics. It is true his management of the Quantum Leaf cafe quite simply broke the law. The class B drug was readily available at the Worthing store, he was caught with large amounts of cannabis and police had gathered a wealth of evidence to prove it. [continues 127 words]
CHRIS Baldwin, who stood as a candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham in the 2001 general election, has been a passionate campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis. His efforts led to the opening of a Dutch-style coffee shop, selling herbal marijuana and cannabis resin. He gave the Argus an exclusive interview before he was jailed on Friday for drug offences. HUW BORLAND reports. The legalisation of cannabis has been debated by medical researchers and politicians for decades. Pro-cannabis campaigners insist it can give effective relief for a range of physical and mental conditions with minimal side effects. [continues 828 words]
A jailed cannabis cafe owner has gone on hunger strike in protest at his prison diet. Chris Baldwin, 53, a vegan, is refusing to eat the diet provided at HMP High Down, in Sutton, Surrey, because he is not convinced that the food is free of animal products. He has pledged to refuse food and water until the prison proves his meals are vegan. The cannabis campaigner was jailed for six months on Friday after pleading guilty to allowing people to smoke cannabis at a property on November 27, 2002, and possessing cannabis with intent to supply on May 20, last year. [continues 337 words]
A disabled pro-cannabis campaigner has been jailed for six months after opening a Dutch-style coffee shop. Protestors wept and shouted:"You're sending a cripple to jail" when Chris Baldwin, 53, of Carnegie Close, Worthing, was imprisoned for his involvement in the notorious Quantum Leaf cafe in Rowlands Road, Worthing. Police had to clear Chichester Crown Court when some of the 30-strong group refused to leave the public gallery. During a series of police raids in November 2002, officers stormed the cafe, set in a back room of a smoking accessory shop called Bongchuffa. Officers found and estimated UKP 2000 worth of cannabis plus more than UKP 4000 in cash. [continues 301 words]
A doorman has been found not guilty of allowing people to smoke marijuana at a cafe. Jurors at Chichester Crown Court yesterday took 20 minutes to clear Michael Allday, 37, of two charges related to cannabis use at Quantum Leaf in Worthing. The court had heard how cannabis campaigner Chris Baldwin wanted to prove the benefits of a Dutch-style cannabis cafe in England and set up Quantum Leaf in the back room of his marijuana paraphernalia shop, Bongchuffa, in Rowlands Road. Police raided the store on November 27, 2002. [continues 277 words]
Protesters calling for the legalisation of cannabis staged a demonstration outside a court. About a dozen campaigners cheered and waved placards in support of three men who appeared at Chichester Crown Court. All three admitted drug offences in connection with an alleged Dutch-style cannabis cafe. Chris Baldwin, 52, of Carnegie Close, Worthing, who ran the Quantum Leaf cafe and adjoining Bongchuffa shop in Rowlands Road, Worthing, and Mark Benson, 37, of Irene Avenue, Lancing, admitted allowing premises to be used for smoking cannabis on November 27th 2002. Winston Matthew, 46, of Court Lodge Road, Horley, also attended yesterday's hearing and admitted possessing more than 450g of cannabis with intent to supply. [end]
An MP has joined in the row surrounding alleged cannabis cafes, saying police operations to shut them down will cost more than UKP 100,000. Officers have so far closed two of the three cafes in Worthing where it is alleged the drug has been sold and consumed. Tactics have included stationing officers in Brougham Road and Victoria Road to search anyone leaving or entering the cafes. Now Tim Loughton, Tory MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, said the "unofficial" price of this police pressure, which has continued for the past month, may exceed UKP 100,000. [continues 397 words]
Residents are furious at a controversial celebration to mark the first anniversary of alleged cannabis cafes in Worthing. Staff at Buddy's, in Brougham Road, had invited MPs, councillors and dignitaries to view their premises. The enterprise and other alleged Dutch-style cafes have been repeatedly raided by police but two sites are still up and running. Cafe staff insist they provide a much-need community service but Colin Gregg, of the East Worthing Action Group, is disgusted. He said: "This is an absolute disgrace. The police and local authorities should have done something about this a long time ago. [continues 323 words]
A political leader joined traders and customers to mark the first anniversary of an alleged cannabis cafe in Worthing. Michael Russell, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Gosport Borough Council, praised staff at Buddy's, in Brougham Road, and criticised political figures in the town for not coming to the party and open day. He said: "If you look at what is going on today, it is fairly clear there are going to be cannabis cafes nationwide. "I just want to make sure that when coffee shops open in Gosport we have the information and knowledge and are able to provide cannabis users with the appropriate safeguards for themselves and for residents." Almost every civic dignitary in Worthing, including MPs and councillors, was sent an invitation on Monday to yesterday's celebrations but none turned up. Coun Russell, who describes himself as an occasional consumer of cannabis in the form of hash cakes and biscuits, said: "I think this is a missed opportunity. [continues 143 words]
Brilliant - police raid Worthing's cannabis cafe, arrest ten, caution eight, then release one without charge and one on bail (The Argus, May 29). This is apparently part of Operation Harrow to catch serious criminals. The question is: Were those arrested really harming anyone? Certainly, some people would rather see the end of the cafe but I suspect many more would secretly wish for more such places. After all, cannabis cafes present a safe place for cannabis users to gather, away from the rest of us, away from children and away from hard drugs and associated crime. [continues 61 words]
Campaigners are having problems booking a venue to debate lifting cannabis laws. The Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) in Worthing wants to show the certificate 18 Green Britain video, which highlights the controversial subject of allowing use of the drug. LCA campaigner Phil Lockwood, who is set to stand in Worthing Borough Council's local elections in May, said more than 20 venues in Worthing had refused to host the discussion evening. Appealing for a place to stage the event, Mr Lockwood said: "We have been trying to organise this for the past six weeks. [continues 53 words]
WEED ROLE: More than 70 people staged a demo outside Worthing Magistrates Court and the town's police buildings CAMPAIGNERS seeking the legalisation of cannabis staged a protest outside two Worthing police buildings and the town's magistrates court. The action was timed to coincide with the appearance in court of three men on drug charges. Members of the 70-strong group toured the town centre and visited Worthing police station in Union Place and Highdown division's headquarters at Centenary House in Worthing. [continues 105 words]
The owner of an alleged cannabis cafe appeared in court yesterday. Quantum Leaf cafe owner Chris Baldwin, 52, of Carnegie Close, Worthing, appeared at Worthing Magistrates Court. Baldwin ran Quantum Leaf and the adjoining Bongchuffa shop, in Rowlands Road, Worthing. Also in the dock were employees Mark Benson and Adrian Allday. Baldwin was charged with possessing and supplying cannabis and allowing premises to be used for the smoking of cannabis. Benson, 37, of Irene Avenue, Lancing, has been charged with possessing and supplying cannabis, permitting premises to be used for the smoking of cannabis and for the production of cannabis. Allday, 37, of Thomson Close, Durrington, is charged with permitting the premises to be used for the smoking of cannabis. The three men, who were arrested on January 30, spoke only to confirm their names and addresses. They were released on bail until February 18. [end]
A pro-cannabis campaigner whose Amsterdam-style coffee shops were raided by police is planning to launch another bid to enter politics. Activist Chris Baldwin intends to stand in Worthing Borough Council elections next May and is confident he can "at least snap at the heels" of more established councillors. Both Mr Baldwin and his friend and fellow Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) member Phil Lockwood, from Worthing, plan to start campaigning for the Heene and Selden ward seats, where Mr Baldwin has been running two coffee shops. Quantum Leaf cafe, in Rowlands Road and Buddy's Hydroponics cafe, in Brougham Road, were raided by police on December 11 as part of an operation to reduce crime in area. Officers arrested several people for drug-related offences, including Mr Baldwin. [continues 214 words]
The article about raids on coffee shops in Worthing (December 12) starts by saying Chris Baldwin is a "cannabis campaigner". This title bestows an admirable quality reminiscent of the ladies who broke the law in the name of suffrage. The similarities are striking as there seem to be many people again willing to risk prison to change what they believe is an injustice in British society. The article seeks to associate cannabis users with burglars, car thieves and violent people. While some burglars, car thieves and thugs use cannabis, the vast majority of users are not anti-social people. Cannabis users are unlikely to be violent individuals. [continues 361 words]
A controversial Amsterdam-style cafe is set to close by Christmas Day following a series of police raids and court action. Chris Baldwin, who runs Bongchuffa and the Quantum Leaf in Worthing, has been served with an eviction notice by the letting agents and must be out by December 25. Last night he said: "There's going to be a lot of people in this town bitterly disappointed if this project fails." Bongchuffa, in Rowlands Road, where the Quantum Leaf Cafe is also based, has twice been raided by police who arrested 14 people, including Mr Baldwin. There was a demonstration outside Worthing Magistrates Court by pro-cannabis campaigners on Monday, when one of those arrested appeared on a drugs-related charge. [continues 256 words]
I imagine residents of Worthing are very happy to know that when the police decide to have their pre-Christmas crackdown on crime, there are no more serious things than a local cannabis cafe to tackle. With the cannabis users out of the cafe and back on the streets, I am sure people will feel more at ease - at least until they discover the huge cost involved in sending 30 police to arrest two or three cannabis smokers. It will run into tens of thousands of pounds. Alun Buffry, PO Box 198, Norwich [end]
While I have some sympathy with the dilemma faced by Chief Inspector Ross Whitfield and can applaud his attempts to catch burglars and other such criminals, I cannot but think that raiding a Worthing cannabis cafe is completely over the top. His statement - "We want to lock these people up for the Christmas period so the rest of Worthing has a pleasant and happy one" - is quite outrageous applied to the cannabis users. I remain unconvinced the cannabis users in any way prevent the general, law-abiding citizens of Worthing from being pleasant and happy at any time of the year. Peter Jubb, Harold Road, Upper Norwood, London SE19 [end]
Cannabis campaigners held a demonstration outside Worthing magistrates' court to protest against recent police drug raids. Members of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance gathered as a man arrested last week appeared to face drugs charges. The arrest was made last Wednesday when Worthing police raided the Quantum Leaf cafe in Rowlands Road, Worthing. Operation Thor involved about 30 officers raiding properties across the town. [end]
