Posted: 17 April 2006 at 9:32pm | IP Logged

I'm doing some net reasearch to come up with a definitive reason to the question 'why is cannabis prohibited within the UK?', and what motivations, underlying reasons, and political social or economic forces came into play to create this criminalisation?

I already know why cannabis has been criminalised within the United States, and I also have the 'bare-bones' history of the UK criminalisation, relevant dates, details about the period prior to criminalisation, and the various laws and acts that were passed in order to outlaw it. I've also taken into account all the various disinformation, whitewash and nonsense that has been poured onto the subject in order to pacify the ignorant and unquestioning ('it creates induced Psychotic Disorder/leads on to hard drug use blah blah blah blah'....most of this sort of thing is total bollocks) 

What eludes me are the real motivations and reasons for this criminalisation within the United Kingdom. What really caused the ban? was the UK simply following the Americans, or were other forces at play?

I can make some educated guesses, however does anyone have any ideas about this? This is not intended to be a pro vs anti usage debate or mouthpiece of any sort, but rather a fact-finding mission.

Posted: 17 April 2006 at 9:53pm | IP Logged

Well i got IBS from smoking weed...

Im evidence

Mind you that bloody elf keeps trying to come out from the wastepaper bin now and then...

Posted: 18 April 2006 at 3:47am | IP Logged

I found some info here but I think the government is definitely influenced by what is going on in the US. Land of the free no more.

Posted: 18 April 2006 at 3:50am | IP Logged

How would they tax it fabs, they couldn't.

But I'm not for legalising it, it does have detremantal effects, Just look at this site

Steve

Posted: 18 April 2006 at 6:58pm | IP Logged

Granted

But to recap - legalising it / or keeping things as they are is outside the scope of this post.

Thanks for the links, it's interesting to learn how other E.U countries tackle this. However all this simply deals with the 'how'.

What I'm interested in learning, is the 'why?'.

Even if anyone has any theories it would help.

Posted: 18 April 2006 at 7:33pm | IP Logged

True. And certainly, if asked, and government minister worth his or her salt will inform you quite seriously that cannabis is illegal 'due to the health risks'....it's all for our own good don'tyaknow?

But that's a cop out, and they must be aware of this deep down in their heart of hearts? Tobacco would have been criminalised long ago if this were the case, as would booze, food additives, fat substitutes...etc. etc. etc. etc.....

Posted: 18 April 2006 at 7:37pm | IP Logged

Pruneau wrote: The only thing I can think of against Weed, is that you mix it with tobacco to smoke it.  Tobacco is bad for your health!

Yes and you smoke less tobacco if you smoke weed.  Weed also grows in your back garden and tobacco doesn't.  And lets not forget that stoned workers don't work as hard and make more mistakes.  So purely on financial grounds, allowing the people to smoke weed is a bad idea for the US government and inland revenue (or whatever its called over there)

However, as a crowd control agent, it could definitely work in their favour.

Posted: 18 April 2006 at 7:38pm | IP Logged

interesting indeed.
I have no theories, seeing as how I don't live in the UK and admitantly know very little about it, lol.

Why indeed...