Look inside Suffolk’s first ever cannabis lounge – but is it legal?

Suffolk’s first cannabis lounge has opened in Ipswich – but owner Darryl Noe says it’s all legal and above board.

Green Man Compassion, which opened in Eagle Street yesterday, sells a range of cannabis derived products, including oils, pastes and powders containing CBD, a non-psychoactive constituent of cannabis.

The lounge offers members the chance to use CBD recreationally as well as offering it to people with medical conditions at a discount.

The shop also sells different paraphernalia, including bongs and vaporisers, used to smoke cannabis.

However, owner Darryl Noe also grows and sells cannabis for medical use, giving it away for people to use as pain relief.

“We do produce cannabis for medical members but that is separate from the shop,” he said.

“We do grow illegal cannabis but do not sell it for a profit.

“We do not supply recreational members with cannabis.”

Co-owner Jessie Carter said the CBD products can be used to treat a range of medical symptoms.

She said: “We have members with MS, arthritis, crones disease, cancer and cluster headaches.

“We are recreational users ourselves but speak on behalf of those that need it medically.

“But we also want it legalised recreationally.”

Officers from Suffolk police visited the lounge today.

A force spokesman said: “An officer visited Green Man Compassion in Eagle Street, Ipswich this afternoon to discuss the business concept with its proprietors.

“We will continue to monitor the situation.”

The lounge hosted an open day yesterday, inviting people to apply for either a recreational or medicine membership.

The idea behind the lounge is that money made through recreation use of cannabis products will go towards subsidising their medicinal members.

Mr Noe said: “We think that medicine should be free.”

Plans are afoot to create a cafe area where people can use CBD products in the lounge with a cup of tea or coffee.

Member Med Mellor has been using cannabis for years to relieve the symptoms of her chronic lyme disease.

“They supply me with medical cannabis,” she said.

“My condition has no medical support, no treatment and no cure. “It has made a huge difference.

“The NHS are happy to throw all the morphine they want at me because they don’t understand cannabis.

“For me it is a no-brainer.”

Miss Carter said the lounge is being set up so it is ready for any change in the law surrounding cannabis use.

• What do you think of the cannabis lounge? Let us know in the comments below.