THE owner of a caf that promotes cannabis has insisted he is offering a responsible service for adults, despite mounting criticism.

Peter Watson's Haschischins caf, has been open on Chester-le-Street's Front Street for three weeks.

The 51-year-old grandfather said he was promoting the drug's medicinal use and providing adults with legitimate information on cannabis, but police say they have been receiving calls from worried parents.

Chester-le-Street police Inspector Dave Marshall said he had had about six complaints from mothers, concerned about the message the caf was sending to young people.

Although the establishment does not sell the drug, it is decked out in a cannabis theme with cannabis literature spread across the tables.

Inspector Marshall said: "We're obviously concerned that such a premises is now open in Chester-le-Street and the message it is sending to young people in particular.

"The police are watching the premises carefully. Although the owner is not breaking the law, we will still be paying regular visits.

"We see the unglamorous side of drugs and it concerns us greatly."

But Mr Watson has defended the focus of his caf, saying he is helping adults find reliable information about the drug and its medicinal use. He has banned under-16s, unless they are accompanied by an adult.

Mr Watson said he began looking into cannabis in an effort to help his wife deal with pain caused by a cyst on her spine and says the drugs' medicinal benefits are backed up by Government and World Health Organisation reports.

"We want it to be taken seriously," said Mr Watson.

"We have had a few people in asking about its medicinal uses, because they can't get any information anywhere.

"If someone comes in and says 'we know my child has just started taking cannabis', we could give them practical advice.

"While we can't condone the purchase, if you know people are going to use cannabis, we can promote a sensible attitude.

"On the whole, we've had an extremely good reaction from the public.

"We had one woman come in and complain, but she also complained that we were promoting heathen images with our pictures of Buddha and she wanted to take away a sample of our sage bread buns because she insisted they were laced with cannabis."