History of the Criminalisation of Cannabis

History of the criminalisation of cannabis. Why was it criminalised?

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_Kingdom  15/12/17

https://www.release.org.uk/law/uks-law-medical-cannabis - 15/12/17

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis#cite_note-Rich,_Alex_K._2015-13 - 15/12/17

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/the-1912-hague-international-opium-convention.html - 15/12/17

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_classification_in_the_United_Kingdom - 15/12/17

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runciman_Report - 15/12/17 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1934756/Cannabis-to-be-reclassified-as-a-class-B-drug.html -15/12/17 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/1632726.stm 

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/legal-marijuana-medical-uk-availability-law-a7699056.html

Currently in the UK the possession, growth and supply of cannabis is illegal. It has been a restricted drug since 1928. It was prohibited in accordance with the 1925 International Opium Convention and added to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1920.

IOP- was signed in 1912 and was the first international drug control treaty. Its primary objective was to introduce restrictions on exports of drugs- not opposing the use and cultivation.

Recreational cannabis use continued and as there was a dramatic change in drug culture globally, cannabis arrests in the UK increased dramatically. (From 235 in 1960 to 4,683 by 1970). The increased popularity in the 1960’s lead to the stricter 1971 laws. In 1971 Cannabis was listed as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. It has remained a class B drug except for during 2004-9 where it was listed as class C (a less harmful category).

Transferring cannabis to a class C drug removed the treat of arrest for possession- however there was still threat from distribution. This meant that “otherwise law-abiding young people” would no longer be receiving custodial sentences that could determine their futures. As well as relieving tension between police and the wider community, thus freeing up police time to concentrate on more serious offences. It was reported to have saved an estimate 199,000 in the first year. At the time the British public supported this with 49% of adults supporting is decriminalisation, 36% against and 15% undecided. Its reclassification was in favour of recommendations since 1979 from the Runciman Report, calling for the classification system to be more based upon scientific evidence.