Pubdate: Sun, 25 Nov 2001
Source: Observer, The (UK)
Copyright: 2001 The Observer
Contact:  http://www.observer.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/315
Author: Stephen Khan, Scotland editor

REBEL PUBLISHER PLANS CANNABIS CAFE

He Brought Trainspotting To Print, And Now He Wants An Urban Retreat
For Britain's Dope Smokers

The magazine turned publishing house that gave the world its first
glimpse of Irvine Welsh's drug-fuelled novel Trainspotting is to join
the cannabis revolution by opening an Amsterdam-style cafe in
Edinburgh. Fans of the book that was turned into one the most
successful films of the 1990s will, however, be disappointed if they
hope to find real-life equivalents of characters such as Begbie or
Spud lurking inside. Rebel Inc the cafe will be no underworld dive.

Rebel Inc was launched from an Edinburgh bookshop by Kevin Williamson
with the help of emerging writers such as Welsh in 1992 and ran
extracts of their books. Now Williamson will throw open the doors of
his coffee shop early next summer. Hoping for a tenth anniversary
launch date of 1 May, he is billing it as an urban retreat where
cannabis users will be able to relax in a culturally stimulating
environment.

'The coffee shop will be called Rebel Inc and will be a cultural
centre where art and literature can flourish,' Williamson said, adding
that book launches could take place there. 'What we want is a pleasant
environment - the opposite of a drunken pub.'

He will also tackle the small matter of such establishments'
illegality before opening up and sees the police strategy towards
prostitution in the Scottish capital as providing a blueprint for the
future of cannabis use.

'In Edinburgh we have a situation where prostitution is illegal, but
because of an agreement between the police, the council and saunas the
women are able to work from places that are basically toleration
zones. As a result prostitutes face far less danger in Edinburgh than
in other cities, such as Glasgow. It makes the police's job much
easier as well.

'The toleration of the supply of cannabis would also make their job
much easier.'

However, he added that Rebel. Inc would be prepared to open without
the consent of the police. 'We would open anyway but I don't want to
break the law. That's not what this is about. I'd like to see this
leading the way to national legalisation.'

Williamson revealed his plans just days after Colin Davies's Dutch
Experience, the UK's first cannabis coffee shop, was shut by police in
Stockport nearly two months after it opened, but he said that would
not not deter him. 'The people are moving ahead but the Government is
dragging its heels - the majority want change, they want a stop to
people being prosecuted for using cannabis.'

Having discussed his plans with campaigner Howard Marks and Scottish
Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan, he is convinced change is in the
pipeline. 'A movement is already under way and we are keen to
affiliate Rebel Inc to that. By next summer this will be huge, because
the public is starting to see something concrete. The cannabis cafe is
an idea whose time has come.'

The filth, disease and violent crime of Edinburgh's heroin scene was
graphically portrayed in Trainspotting and Williamson wants to see
cannabis taken out of that equation.

'We must take cannabis away from the heroin dealers. People who want
to use cannabis should not have to go into the estates and buy it from
gangsters,' he said.

The right to use the name Rebel Inc for publishing purposes was leased
to Edinburgh's Canongate but that runs out at the end of this year,
when Williamson will move the organisation into a new phase that will
see the cultural centre at its heart.

'The cafe will be part of the cultural movement that is Rebel Inc.

'Rebel Inc has never just been about books and the next stage in its
evolution will include the internet and multimedia publishing.'
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake