In 1997, The Independent ran a campaign to decriminalise cannabis. It had the support of a diverse mix of prominent names and led to a 16,000-strong march in Hyde Park. It was credited with influencing the Government's subsequent decision to downgrade the classification of cannabis from B to C.
Perhaps we should have taken more notice of track three on the album, Insane in the brain. Even if that was flippant at the time, it was prophetic. The Independent now apologises for its campaign and rescinds many of the arguments it advanced 10 years ago. This is not because they were invalid but because the type of cannabis used today is dramatically different from what was in use then. Today's skunk, favoured by cannabis users now, is 25 times stronger than the resin sold a decade ago.
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