Colin Davies – once jailed for drug trafficking and famous for handing over a bouquet of flowers containing cannabis to the Queen – is heading for another collision with the authorities after announcing his intention to open The New Way Cafe on Tariff Street in January.
He said cannabis wouldn’t be traded on the property although members would be invited to bring their own drugs for personal consumption.
Possession and supply of cannabis remains against the law despite long-standing campaigns to legalise the drug.
It was reclassified as a Class B drug in 2009 after it had been downgraded for the previous five years to Class C. Possession of it carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
Mr Davies, 56, said: “There will be tea and coffee and smokers will be welcome. “We’re just providing a meeting point for people.”
A landlord has agreed to lease him a former bar on Tariff Street which features three rooms and a kitchen, he said.
“We just want to make it safe for everybody. This is straight above the line. There will be no sales of cannabis until the government says it is legal to do so. Manchester is full of it anyway down Oldham Street and Piccadilly Gardens. It’s everywhere. There will be no alcohol. People can come, have a coffee, play chess, chat and smoke.”
By John Scheerhout
Read the full story at manchestereveningnews.co.uk
