It would be impossible to explore and discuss the 1960’s without mentioning dope, weed, pot, marijuana – or whatever the latest terms used these days to describe the hugely popular drug, cannabis. Always a regular feature in the psychedelic, flower-power haze of the hippy culture which exploded onto the scene in the early 1960s, spirited by peace and love, cannabis was originally adopted (stolen!) from the popular African-American jazz and R&B pop culture which was spreading rapidly across the UK. Men, women, teenagers, even the elderly were rolling, lighting and puffing away on this new phenomenon.
Music♪
Just like today, during the 1960s people were heavily influenced by ‘pop’ music and the super-star musicians associated with them. Just as Snoop Dog’s message ‘smoke weed everyday’ has influenced millions, 60s musical sensations Bob Dylan and The Beatles were ‘getting by with a little help from’ a very special friend; both their revolutionary new sound and taste for cannabis reached millions of fans across the globe. Not only was it common knowledge amongst fans and their contemporaries that teen heartthrobs, The Beatles were raging stoners who were regularly photographed spliff-in-hand before performances, in the studio and amongst fans, even making metaphorical cameos of the drug in their song lyrics! Despite the smoke-choked dressing rooms and forgetting song lyrics live on stage, marijuana lent itself to producing ‘more mellow and contemplative’ music which promoted the hippy scene and inspire love, laughter and freedom.Cannabis and the Law
You might think from the blasé manner in which the popular drug was seen, smoked and encouraged so favourably by those in the music industry that it wasn’t illegal at all. In fact, cannabis is thought to have been first used in China as far back as 6000BC and prescribed by doctors for Queen Victoria’s ailments in 1890 was eventually banned for recreational use across the UK as part of the Dangerous Drugs Act in around 1928. ‘Convictions for possession of marijuana almost doubled in Britain from 1965 to 1966, and then doubled again in 1967’ with numbers increasing into the 1970s. The revised 1965 Dangerous Drugs Act was then altered to suit parts of the UN Single Convention. The laws relating to all illegal drugs intensified, this led to a huge crack-down on any and all drugs circulating the UK. ‘Convictions for cannabis offences rose by 79% in a year - in 1967 they rose another 113%.’, the government had taken a clear stance against cannabis, regularly raiding known popstars and celebrities in order to condemn and criminalise their behaviour publicly. Echoing recent events, the police who were responsible for enforcing these strict new rules were thought to abuse their power ‘to stop and search anyone they suspected of carrying drugs, [in order to] to harass black people and ‘longhairs.’
Cannabis and the Future
Unfortunately there were few political parties or large organisations outwardly seeking to legalize cannabis in the 1960s. Naturally, campaigns against harsh, unfair convictions and the racist attitude of police officers arose in cities such as London. It was not until both government and medical inquiries were made into cannabis in the beginning of the 1970s, there was little evidence to support each opposing side. However, evidence was gathered, recently, which supported cannabis as medically beneficial to alleviate symptoms of diseases such as multiple-sclerosis and have been found to work in combination with some cancer treatments. Ultimately this wealth of modern evidence led to a monumental change within the US state legal system; allowing each state to decide upon their position to legalize cannabis either for medical purpose, recreational use, or both. UK government is still less confident in legalizing cannabis but a host of strong arguments petition regularly, we’ll just have to wait and see!
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