A jailed cannabis cafe owner walked from court without having to pay a UKP 100,000 bill. Christopher Baldwin, 53, was accused of making thousands of pounds from his illegal venture. He had already served six weeks in prison for his involvement in the Amsterdam-style Quantum Leaf cafe in Worthing. But new laws meant he was faced with paying back any money he made from the business. Original estimates were that this could be UKP 113,000. However, Chichester Crown Court heard it was unclear after examining the cafe's accounts what profit had been made. Francis Lloyd, prosecuting, said the figure could have been about UKP 78,222 but there were too many gaps in the cafe's accounts. Baldwin, who campaigns for the legalisation of cannabis, had told an earlier hearing that the Quantum Leaf, in Rowlands Road, was run as a political statement and had left him in debt. [continues 357 words]
Jailed cannabis cafe owner Christopher Baldwin could face a UKP113,000 bill. He has already served six weeks in prison for his involvement in the Amsterdam-style Quantum Leaf cafe in Worthing. But new laws mean he could be forced to pay back any money he made from the business. Police say tens of thousands of pounds were made in the venture. However, Baldwin, 53, who campaigns for the legalisation of cannabis, said the Quantum Leaf, in Rowlands Road, Worthing, was run as a political statement and left him in debt. [continues 359 words]
Cannabis campaigner Chris Baldwin was offered the drug in jail but turned it down because it was of such poor quality. The self-styled marijuana martyr was relaxing at home yesterday after being freed from a six-month prison sentence after six-and-a-half weeks. He said: "I was offered cannabis once but it was 'soap bar' and really low-grade gear. I campaign against it and he wanted to sell me half an ounce of the stuff." During his incarceration Mr Baldwin, who suffers from spastic paraplegia, put up with painful cramps, leg spasms and sleepless nights. Now half a stone lighter and distinctly greyer, the 53-year-old, of Carnegie Close, Worthing, must wear an electronic tag around his wrist for another three months. Mr Baldwin was the mastermind behind a series of Amsterdam-style coffee shops in Worthing, an enterprise which prompted months of police raids, arrests and court appearances. [continues 447 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 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]
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]
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]
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]
Customers were questioned by drugs squad officers as police raided a shop and cafe run by a cannabis campaigner. Police equipped with bulletproof vests, helmets and battering rams rushed into the cafe and a strong smell of burning herbs and incense spread into the street. More than 30 officers were involved and seized a substance believed to be herbal cannabis. More than 20 customers were spoken to by officers during the raid at the Quantum Leaf cafe in the back room of Bongchuffa in Rowlands Road, Worthing. [continues 255 words]
The manager of a Dutch-style coffee shop has vowed to keep on trading and said: "They'll have to lock me up to stop me." Cannabis campaigner Chris Baldwin was one of 12 arrested and questioned when 30 officers raided The Quantum Leaf in Rowlands Road, Worthing. Today, despite attracting the attention of the law, the shop, behind smoking accessory shop Bongchuffa, reopened for business. Mr Baldwin, who also owns the accessory shop, said: "We lost a bit of money in the raid and quite a lot of cannabis was taken away but that's okay. [continues 443 words]
