A controversial Dundee shopkeeper who champions drug legalisation has been detained after firefighters discovered tens of thousands of pounds of cannabis in his burning home.
Nik Brown had hoped to secure bail ahead of sentencing, but a sheriff told him he was unwilling to give him his liberty if was going to continue running the Dundee Cannabis Collective.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard fire crews had attended at Brown’s home following reports of a fire.
They forced entry and extinguished a small kitchen fire, started because the accused had left food unattended on the cooker.
No-one was within the flat, but firefighters spotted a quantity of cannabis and rolls of money on the living room table.
By the time Brown returned home, there was a cordon around the property and a search warrant was on its way.
He was searched and officers recover a grinder flecked with small amounts of “medicinal” cannabis and £350.
An exhaustive search of his home revealed far more.
In addition to drug paraphernalia including grinders, four sets of scales, bags and a tick list containing the names of buyers, the officers found £9,865 in cash and 2,354 grammes of cannabis with a potential illicit street value of more than £37,000.
It was secreted all over the property, stashed in bins, a freezer and suitcases.
MDMA with a street value of £1,650 was also found.
Sheriff Alastair Brown said reports were required ahead of sentencing on such a serious matter.
He refused an appeal for bail after being told that the accused hoped for release to continue running his shop.
“That would be the Dundee Cannabis Collective,” he stated.
“He may consider that he is supplying it for medicinal purposes but others know better.
“It is supply of a banned drug.
“I am not giving him bail just so he can continue running a business that helps and encourages people to break the law.”
Brown and a business partner have been running the Dundee Cannabis Collective in the city’s Strathmartine Road since early 2015.
The site purports to promote the benefits of “medicinal cannabis” and sells items such as legal drug paraphernalia and large tins of lighter gas.
The Courier spoke to Brown in June after the mother of a Tayside man whose life had been ruined by solvent abuse criticised the shop.
He insisted he wanted to educate people about the uses of cannabis to treat medical conditions and help people stay safe.
Brown also said he wanted to change people’s minds about drugs and expressed his support for drug legalisation.
He said that could help change people’s drug usage and habits.
Brown, 24, of Laing Place in Dundee, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and MDMA at his home on September 1 last year.
