Purple haze, all in my bar

I walked into this bar
And the man refused.
He said: "We don't serve strangers
In blue suede shoes."
He gave me a smile that was sickly and wet,
And I offered him one of my cigarettes.
He said: "My oh my, I've suffered too long,
And this cigarette seems to be very strong;
From the green cigarette, he took a long drag,
And said: "I think I'll pack my travelling bag."

Singer-songwriter Kevin Ayers recorded these lyrics (Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes) in 1974. He was ahead of his time; 30 years in this case.

As from 29 January cannabis becomes not a class B, but a class C drug (see page 6) and there's every danger that customers are going to start walking into bars (or should I say joints?) all over the country and rolling spliffs with an impunity previously found, until now, only in Holland.

OK, I'm exaggerating. But what exactly does the reclassification of cannabis mean? In the strictest sense of the law it means not much has changed. It's still a criminal offence to possess cannabis or smoke a joint in a public place - it's just that the police are going to be less worried about it and probably won't take any action.

As far as the owner of licensed premises is concerned, the situation is also unchanged - consumption of drugs in the bar is still a no-no. But the problem is that all the media hype about the relaxation of the law has led to the public misconception that cannabis has been "decriminalised" and, because no one really knows what that means, there's a danger that customers are going to start getting out their big blue Rizlas and rolling joints in the snug of their local pub.

Confusion reigns because changes in the law haven't been explained properly or widely enough. And, as with most changes to licensing law, it will be up to the poor operator to get customers to comply. "Let me bogart that joint, my friend, and don't light another one." (Sorry, I'm quoting song lyrics again).

But you get the picture - another change in regulations by the Government and no clear guidelines given to the public and, more importantly from the industry's point of view, to pubs, clubs and bars. What's more, because the new relaxation policy is being left to local police forces to implement, there will be inconsistency all over the country.

What a nonsense. It's enough to drive a man to drugs.