Pubdate: Tue, 04 Dec 2001
Source: Edinburgh Evening News
Copyright: 2001 The Scotsman Publications Ltd
Website: http://www.edinburghnews.com/
Contact:  Barclay House, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh. EH8 8AS Scotland
Phone: +44 (0) 131 620 8620
Fax: +44 (0) 131 620 8696
Author: Mark Smith

NEWS POLL SHOWS HUGE YES VOTE FOR DRUGS CAFE

Moves to create a cannabis cafe in Edinburgh have won overwhelming support 
in an exclusive Evening News poll.

The man behind the cafe claimed the result - four to one in favour of the 
plan - had given him a "green light" to press ahead with the project.

Edinburgh-based publisher Kevin Williamson, who helped launch the career of 
controversial novelist Irvine Welsh, plans to take advantage of the 
Government's softening stance on cannabis to open the cafe as early as next 
spring.

Cannabis would be sold openly at the Amsterdam-style coffee shop, which is 
to be named after Mr Williamson's publishing company Rebel Inc.

Anti-drug campaigners condemned the plan when it was announced, saying it 
could attract drug users to the city.

But in a phone poll conducted by the Evening News, 79 per cent of those who 
voted were in favour of the cannabis cafe . Only 21 per cent objected.

Today Mr Williamson welcomed the poll findings, saying: "This is a very 
encouraging result. To me, this is a green light to press ahead with the cafe.

"This phone poll mirrors other opinion polls which show that people want 
cannabis to be openly available in a licensed environment and taken out of 
the hands of gangsters in our housing schemes.

"The poll also reflects what we have been hearing in the street. Everyone 
has been speaking about it since it was in the Evening News and I haven't 
heard anyone who is against the cafe. This poll shows that most people are 
in favour - and it is the authorities who are out of step with popular 
opinion."

Mr Williamson said public support for the cannabis cafe was vital if it was 
to succeed. "If there was very little support for this idea then it would 
be arrogant for me to press ahead with it against the wishes of local people.

"But there is widespread support - and it is important that the authorities 
listen to what people are saying."

But anti-drug campaigners today maintained their stance against the cafe 
plan. Alistair Ramsay, of the Scotland Against Drugs agency, said the 
cannabis cafe idea "was not a serious likelihood" and warned that anyone 
caught selling cannabis could be jailed.

Responding to the Evening News poll, he said: "When a group of people feel 
strongly about an issue they are often more prepared to take action. This 
could have happened in this poll.

"The idea of a cannabis cafe in Edinburgh is such an unreality that people 
may not feel strongly against it."

He denied that people in Edinburgh would tolerate cannabis cafes in the 
same way they put up with licensed sex saunas.

He added: "I don't think people would want to live next door to a cannabis 
cafe.

"Those supplying the cafe would still be criminals, and the cafe itself may 
well attract people who deal in harder drugs.

"This would be a ready-made outlet for criminal activity. These may not be 
the kind of people you want hanging around beside your home."

Mr Williamson, 39, of Meadowbank, is still refusing to name the proposed 
location of the cafe or the "consortium" of people backing the plan. Talks 
between Mr Williamson and the police have not yet taken place but he hopes 
to begin discussions before opening the cafe.

The proposed cafe would open following new legislation by Home Secretary 
David Blunkett, which is expected in the spring.

The Scottish Socialist Party welcomed the findings of today's Evening News 
Poll.

A spokesman said they believed there was now a majority in favour of 
decriminalising the drug. He added: " We will support Kevin Williamson in 
his efforts."
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