Worthing update, Chris's Court appearance!

[cannabinol]

Tues 18th Feb 2003:

DEMONSTRATION FOR WORTHING CANNABIS COFFEESHOP OWNER

About 100 friends and supporters of Chris Baldwin the Dutch-Style Coffee Shop owner, offered our support by holding a peaceful demonstration outside Worthing Magistrate's Courts. We bared the cold, sharp, frost holding banners and cheering in support of Chris' Coffee Shop Policy.

Chris arrived on time having to ignore us. He had given his word to take no part in any action. With crutches, he had to climb the building's steps stumbling, people wanting to help but had to resist. The police officers neither offered assistance.

We then made our way to the Town Hall, and expressed our opinion about the laws surrounding Cannabis for medical and recreational use. About ten minutes later we proceeded to the Police Station, again offering our opinions to somewhat silent and bemused policeman. They are not allowed to give a personal opinion being servants of the Crown. They could have been more then bemused?

However, I found them amiable as we marched back to Worthing Magistrate's Courts, a colleague smoked a bong without harassment as we chatted about the weather. We arrived at the Court's a few minutes before Chris hurried out, again having to ignore us. But three loud cheers from his supporters, must have brought some pride to a man who should be accepted as a good and well meaning citizen, not a criminal.

Chris Baldwin was in court on charges of possession with intent to supply and allowing his premises to be used for smoking cannabis. His case has been adjourned for another six weeks.

Winston Matthews was later charged with managing the Coffee shop, I am not sure how this charge was worded or hopefully how it will be proved.

No one was arrested at the demonstration.

Photos to follow

Winston Mathews: A notorious Law breaker!!

[billybarker]

See the plod are still using "allowing premises to be used" to harrass anybody who dares to openly allow people to smoke the evil weed, and not just the owner/manager but anybody who helps out.

its one of the craziest bits of our law and extremely discriminatory in its application. lets hope its quietly dropped in the summer......

[Dibbz]

Will they defonately down grade though i don't trust our Goverment at all is it just gonna be nearer the time they put it off for another year and so on and so on?

[OLD TIMER HOBBIT]

Who would the government persecute and control next if they downgrade it,if Bush gets his way you won't be able to listen to any non christian music,all the cannabis forums will be banned, possesing cannabis littarture will have a two year prison sentence like the guy in Oakland got for giving out N.O.R.M.A.L. leaflets and growing more than 4 plants will be the death penalty.

[winstone]

Funny to see a picture of me smoking a bong....

Winston Mathews: A notorious Law breaker!!

What Me?


winnie

[LADYDEEE]

Is that a rozzer holding your gear m8 Thats a sight you dont see to often.

[winstone]

Is that a rozzer holding your gear m8

As it goes Anne ( the police woman's name) was a really good laugh, if your going to protest, when we were outside stockport magistrates court. The afternoon was even more funny. I was out fairly quick on a caution.

Nol has wrote write about it in 30 years Dutch Coffeeshops, I say with a shameless plug, please give it a read LADYDEEE,

This was in 2001, long time back now, ...Still that day we won a battle

and unfortunately these stupid laws in the UK, seemed to be based on reefer madness, have not changed to where we could have coffee shops, though we did try..

but that's another story

winnie

[bigfatllama]

thats a cool pic winstone.
you should have it as your avatar!

[winstone]

Thank you bigfatllama, I just took your idea, as you can see,

great to say hi

winnie

[AmeriSkunk]

You are a man that is more brave than I, I think I can speak for everyone when I say were glad to have you here Winston. Sad to see that the movement didn't take root.

[winstone]

Hi AmeriSkunk, not brave just determined, we are still not there though..

And thank you for a big warm welcome.

heres another pic of me getting busted for smoking a bong outside our courtcase in Worthing, that I was in with Chris Baldwin.



and here one me smoking outside our Parliament. UK



winnie

[AmeriSkunk]

What did they give you, a fine or jail time or anything? I think it would work better if more people like you would stand up in unison, I mean what are they going to do arrest all of us Here in the states they would have body-slammed you for doing somethin like that and prolly threw in a public lewdness charge too boot. At least here in my state, some states are more leniant but not Oklahoma, I got charged with a felony for a bowl of weed, I guess i should have smoked it.

[winstone]

What did they give you, a fine or jail time or anything?

Hi AmeriSkunk This is more or less the public story, I was only in Chris's shadow, as he did time, I did a few days on remand in prison, not as much as a lot have had, like Colin Davis, and Chris Baldwin of course, have a read please..

http://www.ccguide.org.uk/chrisbaldwin.php

I think it would work better if more people like you would stand up in unison, I mean what are they going to do arrest all of us

I wasn't the only one protesting, this was a fancy dress outside the magistrates court on April the first, which is April fools day..

I like to call us the smiling revolution.

winnie

[bigfatllama]

Thank you bigfatllama, I just took your idea, as you can see,

great to say hi

winnie

nice one
keep up the good work as well mate,
and keep us informed on this site you might get a few more coming to offer their support.
i would, work/traveling distance permitting.

[winstone]

Hi bigfatllama..

we do keep trying to change these stupid laws, yet when I think of the cannabis users worldwide, then I feel if all these united, the change would be here already.. its got to be in the hundreds of millions

winnie