
| . | Welcome
to UKCIA
A website
dedicated to the issue of cannabis law reform |
What
is UKCIA? Contact UKCIA Cannabis
is a stimulating-hallucinogenic depressant with anti-psychotic properties, it's
not your normal run of the mill drug. UKCIA
is a law reform, specifically an "anti prohibition" site. You don't
have to be a cannabis user or even like cannabis very much to understand the harm
prohibition is causing to individuals and the wider society and to want to do
something about it. Actually,
Cannabis is not a drug as such, it's a plant which grows widely all over the world.
Some forms of the plant contain a substance known as THC which, together with
certain other chemicals contained in the plant, produce an effect on perception
known - in the UK - as "getting stoned". THC is rightly called a drug,
but cannabis isn't just THC This
property is well known in British society and many millions of us have experienced
it, but it is an experience which carries a prison sentence of five years simply
for possessing a sample of the plant, trading in cannabis can land you with a
14 year stint inside which is more severe than you can expect for violent assault. The
aim of this law - called prohibition - is to prevent the use of cannabis through
a deterrent effect provided by legal sanctions. It doesn't work and the result
has been to create an illegal, uncontrolled and unregulated trade which employs
hundreds of thousands of people and reaches into every corner of society. The
dangers created by prohibition are outlined on this site and they far outweigh
anything the plant could do. Nothing
on earth is "safe", especially things we all enjoy doing for fun and
cannabis is no exception. But prohibition prevents any rational, informed debate
about or study of the real dangers cannabis may or may not be capable of. Instead
we are fed a diet of hype, misinformation and downright lies. Even to the extent
that this illegal, uncontrolled and unregulated substance is called a "controlled
drug" by politicians and police. "Controlled", of course, is the
one thing that cannabis is not. Indeed, many of the dangers the law claims to
exist to protect us from are caused by the law in the first place. UKCIA
is
a website of information. We have a Research
Section stuffed with scientific studies and a Library
of significant developments in the law reform debate. We have information on the
Therapeutic use of
cannabis and its Industrial
uses - which some argue are the real reason cannabis is illegal. We examine the
long history cannabis has and the effects of using it (including the risks) in
the Culture section.
Lastly, but sadly not the least importantly, we have a section on
Politics and Law, the cause of all the problems. UKCIA
is here for you to use. Get informed and when you hear stupid people saying stupid
things about cannabis and put them right! Please
use our Forum to talk about issues,
or tell us what you think with the Feedback
Form. The
message from UKCIA is simple: if you want change, it's up to you to make it happen.
The first step is to get informed and that's what this site is here for, please
use it. Pragmatism
UKCIA, the what and the why Whatever
politicians and the police might try to tell you, cannabis is not really a "controlled
drug", prohibition prevents any real controls. A
pragmatic approach to law reform challenges this use of doublespeak. Instead it
argues that the potential risks should form the basis of the regulatory approach. UKCIA
is a pragmatic cannabis law reform campaign for a drugs policy based on proper
control and regulation of the commercial supply, coupled with effective harm reduction
measures. Cannabis
pragmatism and the case for law reform | Newsblog
News
and comment on the unfolding story of cannabis law reform
 Readers
in the USA
- Vote YES to legaize marijuana - Prop 19 in California November 2nd | |
Digital
Drugs? Shock Horror! Virtual
cannabis - now all you need to get stoned is an i-pod! Well...
maybe Click here! |
Skunk
Panic!We're
told cannabis has increased greatly in strength in recent years, just what is
the truth behind the hype? THC,
CBD and the misleading concept of "potency" - why potency is not
strength. The
Home Office potency study 2008 - the "evidence" that cannabis has
changed and the unscientific way it was collected. Toke
purePerhaps
the most important cannabis use information there is - DIY harm reduction: say
"no" to tobacco! Tokepure Cannabis
HistoryListening
to the politicians you might be forgiven for thinking cannabis is a new drug being
introduced by evil pushers. The truth couldn't be more different as the history
section demonstrates Cannabis
timeline The
history of cannabis at a glance Indian
Hemp And The Dope Fiends Of Old England Sean Blanchard and Matthew Atha. The
drugs history of colonial Britain, is examined in this article, including the
rise of the prohibitionist movement, and their battle with the free-trade movement.
Also featured is the background to the famous Indian Hemp Drugs commission. Marijuana
- The First Twelve Thousand Years Ernest L. Abel The complete history
of the cannabis plant and it's relationship with mankind The Consumers Union
Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs Edward M. Brecher and the Editors of Consumer
Reports Magazine, 1972 Drug prohibition, an examination. Law
LibraryThe
UKCIA law library contains the full text of the most important legislation governing
the use of drugs, including cannabis in the UK. Please note this information is
given for guidance only and should not be taken as authoritative. If you have
legal troubles, please do not rely on the information given here for your defence. Please
consult a law professional for any questions on the legislation and interpretation
of drug laws! Misuse
of Drugs Act 1971 The main Act governing the usage of 'illicit' drugs in
the UK. Updated to take into account changes in legislation. UN
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961
UN
Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971
UN
Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
1988
Human
Rights Act 1998 This is the Act which a number of people have been trying
to use as a defence against punishment for cannabis possession. Is it compatible
with the 1971 MoDA? (86k) Misuse
of Drugs Regulations 2001 The regulations banning cannabis from being medically
prescribed under any circumstances, despite its proven effectiveness. Drug
Trafficking Act 1994 BEEN
BUSTED? NEED HELP? 
The Independent Drug Monitoring
Unit (IDMU) has legal advice and a find a solicitor service.
IDMU
Please
complete the IDMU drug user survey UKCIA
Research LibraryThe
UKCIA research library contains links to important articles and reports on subjects
relating to cannabis, it's one of the largest publicity accessible collections
of cannabis research in the UK. In
the interests of truth and objectivity, we are attempting to present the available
research without bias. The intention is to spread knowledge about cannabis because
we believe that knowledge is the best weapon against prohibition. We
hope the result is a useful resource for researcher and campaigners alike. Full
text search - to search for keywords in the main body text 
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