Cannabis café opens in Bournemouth

Jimmy Ward insists the shop will succeed

A controversial cannabis café, the Dutch Experience Bournemouth, has opened in Boscombe in Dorset.

Its owner Jimmy Ward plans to sell organic marijuana over the counter.

But Dorset Police have warned they will not tolerate any illegal behaviour at the premises, and action would be taken to stop any law being broken.

The Home Secretary David Blunkett has indicated that although he wants to reclassify cannabis he does not intend to legalise or decriminalise it.

Cannabis possession and supply is set to remain a criminal offence, attracting maximum sentences of five years for supply and two years for possession.

But rather than arresting people caught with cannabis, police will be more likely to issue a warning, a caution or a court summons.

More café

But supporters of decriminalisation think they are making progress and there are plans for cafes in several towns and cities across Britain now.

There's been a mixed reaction to the news that there will be a cannabis cafe in the area.

We spoke to Phillip Carey, local councillor for the Boscombe ward in Bournemouth. He told us that the organisers had already come in to contact with the police when they arrested some of the campaigners last week.