Police kept a close watch on the caf� when it opened

Paul Stewart said he was selling the Purple Haze caf� in Leith but hoped to start a similar venture nearer the centre of Edinburgh.

The premises were run as a conventional caf� by day but at night became a club for cannabis users.

It was backed by some MSPs but was condemned by the first minister.

The Purple Haze Caf�, a former greasy spoon, was operated as a private members' club.

When it opened, Mr Stewart said it would be "tobacco free" but anyone wishing to take cannabis would be able to use a vaporiser machine, which is claimed to eliminate 99% of the carcinogenic substances of the drug.

Politicians divided

Mr Stewart said he wanted to highlight the discrepancy between the way that the reclassification of the drug was being implemented on different sides of the border.

"In the rest of the UK the presumption of arrest has been taken away, but that presumption still remains in Scotland," he said.

The opening of the caf� highlighted a split amongst Scotland's politicians.

Scottish Socialist Party MSPs Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne signed up to become members of the caf�.

But Jack McConnell said Scottish police forces would continue to report cases involving cannabis to procurators fiscals, who would then consider what action should be taken.