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Wednesday, 29 May, 2002, 10:30 GMT 11:30 UK
Evicted cannabis cafe owners move
James Ward
Defiant James Ward vows to keep his cafe open
Owners of a cannabis cafe have moved the Dutch-style business after being evicted from their original Bournemouth property.

The 525 members are determined to continue with the venture and have transformed an empty building in nearby Charminster.

But the property's owners have started proceedings to have them removed.

The organisers were kicked out of the first address in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth after the property's landlords got an eviction order from a judge.

If they get another eviction order we will just move until someone gives us a proper lease

James Ward

Survive

James Ward, who is behind the new Dutch Experience cafe, said despite their new Charminster location being under threat the business would survive.

"If they get another eviction order we will just move until someone gives us a proper lease.

"All our fixtures and fittings are mobile and are very easy to move from place to place.

"The police can come and arrest us all, but I doubt whether they have enough room in their cells for the 525 members who jointly own the cafe."

Frustrating

Agents for the owners of the new property claim the cannabis users had broken in to the former shop.
Cannabis plant
Campaigners want cannabis legalised

Tony Mellery-Pratt, of Rebbeck Brothers, said: "We had loads of potential clients who were interested, but now we can't show them round.

"It is really frustrating for the owners and people think that we've let the place to cannabis people.

"It took two months to get them out of the last place but we hope to have them out of this place sooner than that."

See also:

13 Mar 02 | England
30 Oct 01 | UK Politics
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