Library
UKCIA is a huge site and contains a wealth of information about the cannabis plant and its many uses.
The UKCIA Research Library
A collection of studies and articles relating to cannabis in society, cannabis and mental health, cannabis and general health and the medicinal uses
>> Research library
Cannabis History
Cannabis, the first twelve thousand years - Ernest L. Abel
A major reference work of cannabis history. The complete history of
the cannabis plant and it's relationship with mankind.
>> Cannabis, the first 12 thousand years
Pot Culture - Russell Cronin
Cannabis and popular culture: A major article on the influence of cannabis on music from the 30's to the 90's, from the days of "Reefer madness" to the Acid house dance culture revolution at the end of the 1990's.
>> Pot Culture
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.>> Indian hemp and the dope fiends of old England
The Agricultural History of Hemp in the UK -
Stuart Young
Here you can discover where and why hemp was grown in the UK in the past 1000 years. Also what sort of evidence is there that hemp was grown?
>> Agricutural history of hemp in the UK
The Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs - Edward M. Brecher and the Editors of Consumer Reports Magazine
1972. Drug prohibition, an examination.
>> CU report on licit anfd illicit drugs in the UK
The start of prohibition
The US government debated cannabis
>> Conference, January
14, 1937
Victor Lacata - a rush to judgement - The Reefer Madness Museum
An investigation into the story of Victor Lacata who, it was claimed, was driven mad by his use of cannabis and murdered his whole family with an axe, proving to be the most famous and enduring stories underpinning Reefer Madness.
>> Victor Lacata - a rush to judgement
Campaign History - 1990's - 2000's
Early law reform arguments
It's interesting to see how the case for cannabis law reform has evolved over the years.
>> Arguments from the early 1990's
Channel 4 Pot Night
In 1995 Ch4 gave whole evening over to the subject of cannabis. This is a summary of the evenings programmes
>> Pot night, the book
Past events
>> Free the weed demos, the London marches
Coffeeshop Campaign
The Dutch Experience in Stockport and Worthings Bong Chuffer ran for some time before the Blair government cracked down. A good try.
>> The UK Coffeeshop campaign
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance conferences
The LCA was a registered political party that stood in elections, without, it has to be said, much success. It was a good idea though and the LCA morphed into CLEAR cannabis law reform in 2011
>> LCA conference 2001
>> LCA conference 2002
>> LCA conference 2003
>> LCA conference 2005
>> LCA Conference 2006
Cannabis conferences
Other organisations were also discussing cannabis, including psychiatrists and drug advice agencies.>> IoS campaign, Cannabis and mental health, HIT
Cannabis Videos
>> a collection of videos about cannabis and cannabis law reform
The Reclassification debacle
The reclassification of cannabis to class C under Class C - Just what did the original move to class C under the Misuse of Drugs act was the biggest legal change to have happened since the act was introduced, but what did it actually mean if anything? Cannabis was eventually re=reclassicied to B folloing a media campaign based on the Reefer madness V2.0 hype. It all pointless in the end.
>> The Class C debacle
The British Government on Drugs
in May 2002 the British government of Tony Blair launched its new weapon in the war on drugs, an anti-drug propaganda site dressed up as honest information. Talk to Frank is still going but has a much lower profile. It became famous for terrible advertising and dodgy information. It is still used as a teaching aid in schools, but it could have been so much better
>> Talk to Frank if you must
The Grit Weed story from 2006
During 2005-6 cannabis appeared which seemed to have grit in it. This "grit weed" was being sold all over the country, something was going on at an industrial level. It turned out the cannabis was being sprayed with the tiny class beads used in reflective paint
>> Contamination
The "Skunk" panic
The reefer madness V2.0 hype was based on cannabis having become very uch stronger in recent years. The truth, of course, was not so simple and has become the key argument against prohibition and infavour of law reform
>> Skunk panic!!!
Eulogy to Jack Girling
We said goodbye to Jack Girling in December 2023. Jack was a long time campagner for cannabis law reform who will be missed by many of us. Aeulogy from Derek Williams.
Jack Girling eulogy