Experts on cannabis attended a meeting today to discuss opening a cannabis café in Thanet.

The event was organised by Green Party district councillor and parliamentary candidate for Thanet South Ian Driver.

He said: "I am confident that we will be able to establish a group of people who will take the cannabis café idea forward and who will campaign on behalf of cannabis users in Thanet.”

Speakers at the meeting included Professor Alex Stevens from the University of Kent, an international authority on cannabis law reform, and representatives from he Kent Cannabis Consortium, and the UK Cannabis Social Clubs.

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes declined an invitation to attend.

Cllr Driver said: “I am very disappointed that Ann Barnes will not be present.

"The debate about drugs and policing is becoming much more topical and important.

"Senior police officers such as Chief Constable Mike Barton of the Durham Constabulary and senior politicians like Deputy Prime Minster Nick Clegg, are calling for an informed national debate about drugs policy.

“Just two weeks ago a Government e-petition, sponsored by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, calling for a review of UK drugs laws received more than 135,000 signatures.”

Cllr Driver has said previously that the proposal was to develop an Amsterdam-style cafe "where like-minded people can hang out and relax with their friends.”

Those present at the meeting were largely in favour of the plan, with one attendee claiming that cannabis use was already rife in Thanet.