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The Vienna Declaration

History of Release: 1960s

History of Release
1967
The summer of Love. Rock 'n' Roll and youth culture explodes into the generation gap. Mick Jagger busted. Outraged at the treatment handed down to hippy drug users by police and courts, art students, Caroline Coon and Rufus Harris found Release. In the studio of Coon's basement flat in Shepherds Bush, the worlds first 24 hour drugs and free legal advice telephone line is installed. Britain's first legalise pot rally in Hyde Park where Coon and Harris give out Release's first "know your rights" bust cards. Organised by Steve Abrams (SOMA) and financed by the Beatles, the Times newspaper carries the first Cannabis Law Reform advertisement, signed by the great, the good and the groovy. Dangerous Drugs Act passed with minimal debate in Parliament.
1968
Release moves to an office/drop-in centre on two floors in London's Princedale Road. Oz magazine is next door. Revolution is in the air as international youth takes to the streets protesting against the Vietnam war. Release gives evidence to both the Wootton Advisory Committee on Drug Dependency and the Deedes committee on Police Powers of Search and Arrest.
Release's reputation as a "friend of a generation" is reinforced by support from people as diverse as Judge Charles Wyzanski and the Vera Institute of Justice in the U.S.A, to Jeffrey Archer MP, David Bailey and Germaine Greer. Civil rights work now extends to panoply of youth issues including under-age runaways, homelessness, squatting and abortion advice. Britain's first liberal abortion law attracts hundreds of women from abroad to seek Release's advice.
1969
"A giant step for mankind" as Neil Armstrong lands the Eagle on the moon. Back on earth the Wootton Committee's call for Cannabis Law Reform is rejected by Labour Home Secretary James Callaghan.
Royal Albert Hall refuses Release use of the venue for a benefit as "not being an organisation with which we wish to deal".
The All-Nighter, roving clubs, UFO, Middle Earth and Implosion continue to help Release with an underground "community" tax - 6 pence from every ticket sold. The Release Report on Drug Offenders & the Law details police corruption and excessive sentencing by courts. Scotland Yard tries and fails to suppress the report.
George Harrison donates £5,000.

1960s - 1970s - 1980s - 1990s - 2000s

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