| 2700
BC |
First
written record of cannabis use, in the pharmacopoeia of Shen Nung,
one of the fathers of Chinese medicine. |
| 550
BC |
The Persian prophet Zoroaster gives hemp first place in the sacred
text, the Zend-Avesta, which lists over 10,000 medicinal plants. |
| 450
BC |
The
Greek historian Herodotus describes the Scythians of central Asia
throwing hemp onto heated stones under canvas: 'as it burns, it smokes
like incense and the smell of it makes them drunk'. |
| 100
BC |
Chinese
make paper from cannabis and mulberry. |
| AD
45 |
St Mark establishes the Ethiopian Coptic Church. The Copts claim that
marijuana as a sacrament has a lineage descending from the Jewish
sect, the Essenes, who are considered to be responsible for the Dead
Sea Scrolls. |
| 70 |
Roman
Emperor Nero's surgeon, Dioscorides praises Cannabis for making "the
stoutest cords" and for it's medical properties. |
| 400 |
Cannabis
cultivated for the first time in England at Old Buckeham Mare. |
| 500 |
First
botanical drawing of Cannabis appears in 'Constantinopolitanus'. |
| 600 |
Germans,
Franks, Vikings, etc. make paper from Cannabis. |
| 800 |
Mohammed
allows Cannabis, but forbids alcohol use. |
| 1000 |
The
English word 'Hempe' first listed in a dictionary. Moslems produce
hashish for medical and social use. |
| 1150 |
Moslems
use Cannabis to start Europe's first paper mill. Most paper is made
from Cannabis for next 850 years. |
| 1484 |
Pope
Innocent VIII singles out cannabis as an unholy sacrament of the Satanic
mass. |
| 1494 |
Hemp
paper making starts in England. |
| 1545 |
Spanish
bring Cannabis cultivation to Chile. |
| 1554 |
Spanish
bring Cannabis cultivation to Peru. |
| 1563 |
Queen
Elizabeth I decrees that land owners with 60 acres or more must grow
Cannabis else face a £5 fine. |
| 1564 |
King
Philip of Spain follows lead of Queen Elizabeth and orders Cannabis
to be grown throughout his Empire from modern-day Argentina to Oregon. |
| 1606 |
British
take Cannabis to Canada to be cultivated mainly for maritime uses. |
| 1611 |
British
start cultivating Cannabis in Virginia. |
| 1619 |
Virginia
colony makes Cannabis Cultivation Mandatory, followed by most other
colonies. Europe pays Hemp bounties. |
| 1631 |
Cannabis
used for bartering throughout American Colonies. |
| 1632 |
Pilgrims
bring Cannabis to New England. |
| 1753 |
Cannabis
Sativa classified by Linneaus. |
| 1776 |
Declaration
of Independence drafted on Cannabis paper. |
| 1783 |
Cannabis
Indica classified by Lamarck. |
| 1791 |
President
Washington sets duties on Cannabis to encourage domestic industry.
Jefferson calls Cannabis "a necessity" and urges farmers to grow Cannabis
instead of tobacco. |
| 1807 |
Napoleon
signs the Treaty of Tilset with Czar Alexander of Russia which cuts
off all legal Russian trade with Britain. Britain blackmails and press
gangs American sailors into illegally trading in Russian Hemp. |
| 1808 |
Napoleon
wants to place French Troops at Russian ports to ensure the Treaty
of Tilset is complied with. The Czar refuses and turns a blind eye
to Britain's illegal trade in Cannabis. |
| 1812 |
19th
June America declares war on Britain. 24th June Napoleon invades Russia
aiming to put an end to Britain's main supply of Cannabis. By the
end of the year the Russian winter and army had destroyed most of
Napolean's invading force. |
| 1835 |
The
Club de Hashichines, whose bohemian membership included the poet Baudelaire,
is founded. |
| 1839 |
Homeopathy
journal American Provers' Union publishes first of many reports on
the effects of Cannabis. |
| 1841 |
Dr.
W.B. O'Shaunghnessy of Scotland works in India then introduces Cannabis
to Western medicine. In the following 50 years hundreds of medical
papers are written on the medical benefits of Cannabis. |
| 1845 |
Psychologist
and 'inventor' of modern psychopharmacology and psychotimimetic drug
treatment, Jacques-Joseph Moreau de Tours documents physical and mental
benefits of Cannabis. |
| 1857 |
'The
Hasheesh Eater' by Fitz Hugh Ludlow is published. Smith Brothers of
Edinburgh start to market a highly active extract of Cannabis Indica
used as a basis for innumerable tinctures. |
| 1860 |
First
Governmental commission study of Cannabis and health conducted by
Ohio State Medical society. |
| 1870 |
Cannabis
is listed in the US Pharmacopoeia as a medicine for various ailments. |
| 1876 |
Hashish
served at American Centennial Exposition. |
| 1890 |
Queen
Victoria's personal physician, Sir Russell Reynolds, prescribes Cannabis
for menstrual cramps. He claims in the first issue of The Lancet,
that Cannabis "When pure and administered carefully, is one of the
of the most valuable medicines we possess" |
| 1895 |
The
Indian Hemp Drug Commission concludes that cannabis has some medical
uses, no addictive properties and a number of positive emotional and
social benefits. First known use of the word 'marijuana' for smoking,
by Pancho Villa's supporters in Sonora Mexico. The song "La Curaracha"
tells the story of one of Villa's men looking for his stash of "marijuana
por fumar" |
| 1910 |
African-American
'reefer' use reported in jazz clubs of New Orleans, said to be influencing
white people. Mexican's reported to be smoking Cannabis in Texas.
Newspaper tycoon Randolph Hearst has 800,000 acres of prime Mexican
Timberland seized from him by Villa and his men. Could this be the
reason why his newspapers subsequently ran many stories portraying
Negroes and Mexicans as frenzied beasts under the influence of 'Marijuana'. |
| 1911 |
Hindus
reported to be using 'Gunjah' in San Francisco. South Africa starts
to outlaw Cannabis. |
| 1912 |
The
possibility of putting controls on the use of Cannabis is raised at
the first International Opium Conference. |
| 1915 |
California
outlaws Cannabis. |
| 1916 |
Recognising
that timber supplies are finite, USDA Bulletin 404 calls for new program
of expansion of Cannabis to replace uses of timber by industry. |
| 1919 |
Texas
outlaws Cannabis. |
| 1923 |
The
South African delegate to the League of Nations claims mine workers
are not as productive after using 'dagga' (Cannabis) and calls for
international controls. Britain insists on further research before
any controls are imposed. |
| 1924 |
At
the second International Opiates Conference the Egyptian delegate
claims that serious problems are associated with Hashish use and calls
for immediate international controls. A Sub-Committee is formed and
listens to the Egyptian and Turkish delegations while Britain abstains.
The conference declares Cannabis a Narcotic and recommends strict
international control. |
| 1925 |
The
'Panama Canal Zone Report' conducted due to the level of Cannabis
use by soldiers in the area concludes that there is no evidence that
Cannabis use is habit-forming or deleterious. The report recommends
that no action be taken to prevent the use or sale of Cannabis. |
| 1928 |
September
28th. The Dangerous Drugs Act 1925 becomes law and Cannabis is made
illegal in Britain. |
| 1930 |
Louis
Armstrong is arrested in Los Angeles for possession of cannabis. |
| 1931 |
The
Federal Bureau of Narcotics is formed with Anslinger appointed as
its head. |
| 1937 |
Following
action by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and a campaign by newspaper
magnate William Randolph Hearst, a prohibitive tax is put on hemp
in the USA, effectively destroying the industry. Anslinger testifies
to congress that 'Marijuana' is the most violence causing drug known
to Man. The objections by the American Medical Association (The AMA
only realised that 'Marijuana' was in fact Cannabis 2 days before
the start of hearing) and the National Oil Seed Institute are rejected. |
| 1938 |
The
February edition of US magazine Popular Mechanics (written before
the Marijuana Transfer Tax was passed) declares 'Hemp - the New Billion
Dollar Crop.' |
| 1941 |
Cannabis
dropped from the American Pharmacopoeia. Popular Mechanics Magazine
reveal details of Henry Ford's plastic car made using Cannabis and
fuelled from Cannabis. Henry Ford continued to illegally grow Cannabis
for some years after the Federal ban, hoping to become independent
of the petroleum industry. |
| 1943 |
Both
the US and German governments urge their patriotic farmers to grow
hemp for the war effort. The US shows farmers a short film - 'Hemp
for Victory' which the government later pretends never existed. The
editor of 'Military Journal' states that although some military personnel
smoke Cannabis he does not view this as a problem. |
| 1944 |
New
York Mayor LaGuardia's Marijuana commission reports that Cannabis
causes no violence at all and cites other positive results. Anslinger
responds by denouncing LaGuardia and threatens doctors with prison
sentences if they dare carry out independent research on Cannabis. |
| 1945 |
Newsweek
reports that over 100,000 Americans use Cannabis. |
| 1948 |
Anslinger
now declares that using Cannabis causes the user to become peaceful
and pacifistic. He also claims that the Communists would use Cannabis
to weaken the American's will to fight. |
| 1951 |
UN
bulletin of Narcotic Drugs estimates 200 million Cannabis users worldwide. |
| 1952 |
First
UK Cannabis bust at the Number 11 Club, Soho. |
| 1961 |
Anslinger
heads US delegation at UN Drugs Convention. New international restrictions
are placed on Cannabis aiming to eliminate its use within 25 years. |
| 1962 |
Anslinger
is sacked by President Kennedy. Kennedy may well have smoked cannabis
in the White House. |
| 1964 |
The
first head shop is opened by the Thelin brothers in the United States. |
| 1966 |
The
folk singer Donovan becomes the first celebrity hippy to fall foul
of the law. |
| 1967 |
In
July over 3,000 people hold a mass 'smoke-in' in Hyde Park in London.
The same month, The Times carries a pro-legalisation advertisement
which declares that "the laws against Marijuana are immoral in principle
and unworkable in Practice. The signatories include David Dimbleby,
Bernard Levin, and the Beatles. |
| 1967 |
The
most famous bust of all, on the home of Rolling Stone, Keith Richards,
uncovered marijuana. Richards and Mick Jagger were sentenced to prison
for respectively three months and one year. The sentences prompted
an outcry that culminated in Lord Rees Mogg's famous Times editorial
'Who brakes a butterfly on a wheel?' The convictions were quashed
on appeal. |
| 1967 |
In
New York, on Valentines Day, Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies mail out
3000 joints to addresses chosen at random from the phonebook. They
offer these people the chance to discover what all the fuss is about,
but remind them that they are now criminals for possessing cannabis.
The mail out was secretly funded by Jimi Hendrix, and attracts huge
publicity. |
| 1968 |
A
Home Office select committee, chaired by Baroness Wootton, looks at
the 'cannabis question'. Its report concluded that cannabis was no
more harmful than tobacco or alcohol, and recommended that the penalties
for all marijuana offences be reduced. Campaign against Cannabis use
by US Troops in Vietnam - Soldiers switch to heroin. |
| 1969 |
Incoming
Labour minister Jim Callaghan rejects the Wootton recommendations
and introduces a new Misuse of Drugs Act, which prescribes a maximum
five years' imprisonment for possession. The Act remains in force
to this day. |
| 1970 |
Canadian
Le Dain report claims that the debate on the non-medical use of Cannabis
"has all too often been based on hearsay, myth and ill-informed opinion
about the effects of the drug." Marijuana Transfer Tax' declared unconstitutional
by the US Supreme Court. |
| 1971 |
Misuse
of Drugs Act lists Cannabis as a Class B drug and bans its medical
use despite the recommendation of the Wootton Report that "Preparations
of Cannabis and it's derivatives should continue to be available on
prescription for purposes of medical treatment and research". President
Nixon declares drugs "America's public enemy No. 1". |
| 1972 |
The
White House passes a $1 billion anti-drug bill and Nixon again declares
drugs America's public enemy No. 1". The US Government Shafer report
voices concern at the level of spending used to stop illicit drug
use. From 1969-73 the level of spending rose over 1000 percent. |
| 1973 |
President
Nixon declares "We have turned the corner on drug addiction in America'.
Oregon becomes the first state to take steps towards legalisation. |
| 1975 |
Hundreds
of Doctors call on US Government to instigate further research on
Cannabis. Supreme Court of Alaska declares that 'right of privacy'
protects Cannabis possession in the home. Limit for public possession
is set at one ounce. |
| 1976 |
Ford
Administration bans government funding of medical research on Cannabis.
Pharmaceutical companies allowed to carry out research on synthetic,
manmade Cannabis analogues. Holland adopts policy of tolerance to
Cannabis users. Robert Randal becomes first American to receive Cannabis
from Federal supplies under a Investigational New Drug (IND) program.
Ford's chief advisor on drugs, Robert Dupont declares that Cannabis
is less harmful than alcohol or tobaeeo and urges for it's decriminalisation.
Disturbances erupt at the end of the Notting Hill carnival. BBC News
reports: 'Scores of young black men roamed the streets late into the
night, openly smoking marijuana joints and listening to the non-stop
pounding of reggae music'. |
| 1978 |
New
Mexico becomes first US state to make Cannabis available for medical
use. |
| 1980 |
Paul
McCartney spends ten days in prison in Japan for possession of cannabis. |
| 1983 |
UK
convictions for cannabis possession exceed 20,000, having risen from
just under 15,000 in 1980. US government instructs American Universities
and researchers to destroy all 1966-76 Cannabis research work. |
| 1988 |
In
Washington, DEA Judge Francis Young concludes at the end of a lengthy
legal process that "Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest
therapeutically active substances known to man". He recommends that
medical use of marijuana should be allowed, for certain life- or sense-threatening
illnesses. The DEA administrator rejects the ruling. US Senate adds
$2.6 Billion to federal anti-drug efforts. |
| 1989 |
Outgoing
president Reagan declares victory in War on Drugs as being a major
achievement of his administration. Secretary of State James Baker
reports that the global war on narcotics production "is clearly not
being won." |
| 1990 |
The
discovery of THC receptors in the human brain is reported in Nature. |
| 1991 |
42,209
people are convicted of cannabis offences in the UK. 19,583 escape
with cautions. |
| 1993 |
Hempcore
become the first British company to obtain a license to grow Cannabis
as the Home Office lift restrictions on industrial hemp cultivation. |
| 1994 |
Home
Secretary Michael Howard increases maximum fines for possession from
£500 to £2,500. Germany becomes the first European country apart from
Holland to decriminalise possession of 'small quantities of cannabis
for occasional use'. The Liberal-Democrat conference votes for a Royal
Commission, yet the tabloid press report that they support legalisation!
Key rings with leaves taken from Hempcore's first Harvest are illegally
sold in such publications as 'Viz'. The Home Office are aware of the
situation but do not prosecute Hempcore who could have been facing
15 years and an unlimited fine. Association of Cannabis Therapeutics
talks to Department Of Health about possibility of Legalising Cannabis
for Medical use. |
| 1995 |
Channel
4 dedicate 8 hours of programming to Cannabis on Pot Night. The BBC
respond with blatant anti-cannabis propaganda on Panorama. 10 millionth
cannabis arrest in the US in July. Labour shadow minister Clare Short
says the subject of decriminalisation should be discussed. She is
immediately denounced by other leading Labour Politicians. |
| 1995 |
UKCIA
website is launched |
|
1997
|
The
newspaper The Independent on Sunday launched a "Decriminalise
cannabis" campaign. They, like us, believed that a change would
come with the newly elected Labour government, they were wrong, but
they did organise a big demonstration in London in March of 1998,
before dropping the campaign. These large demonstrations became an
annual event thereafter, although no longer organised by the newspaper.
|
|
2000
|
After
four long years of attempted repression of cannabis under the first
Labour Administration of Tony Blair, the climate of opinion began
to change. In September of 2000, at the Tory party conference, the
then shadow Home Secretary, Anne Widdecombe to make her keynote speech
which was to be in the tradition of firm support for the issue of
law and order. She announced that the next Conservative government
would have a "crack down" on cannabis and she even proposed
on the spot fines for simple small scale possession. The media and
the police tore the speech apart as unworkable and even undesirable.
Several Tory MP's admitted past use, the crack down on cannabis was
over. |
| 2001 |
At
the sart of the new administration in June 2001 the police in Lambeth,
South London announced that they would no longer give anyone found
in possession of cannabis a criminal record and the issue of legalisation
became a major issue in the campaign for the leadership of the Conservative
party. We began to hope change was close |
| 2001 |
October:
The government sets up a Select Committee to look at drugs policy.
When giving evidence the Home Secretary (David Blunkett) announces
his intention to move cannabis from class B to class C, making possession
a non-arrestable offence. |
| 2004 |
January:
The long awaited reclassification finally happened, but the law relating
to Class C drugs was changed so as to make most of the changes meaningless.
The government spends 1 million pounds on an advertising campaign
to tell people nothing had changed and Cannabis is still illegal. |
| |
|
