Better drug laws now
“Better drug laws now” campaign playing cards issued by Release, United Kingdom.
A campaign pack issued by Release, an organisation which claims to be the UK centre of expertise on drugs and drug law. It campaigns for better drug laws to achieve a more effective legal framework to address drug use in society, and the decriminalisation of possession of an illegal drug for personal drug use. This pack depicts well-known British and international political figures, below which are their comments on drugs / drug use. All appear to have experimented with drugs at some point in their life.
Another pack was issued by Release under the title "Nice people take drugs" with the same figures portrayed, but not necessarily on the same cards as the above edition. See the boxes►
Above: “Better drug laws now” campaign playing cards issued by Release, United Kingdom. Undated, c.2012.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Activity for Better drug laws now
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Playing Politics 2010
“Playing Politics ’10: With no expenses spared” featuring caricatures by Oliver Preston, published b...
B-Deck
“B-Deck” scurrilous playing cards poking fun at a former UK prime minister.
Don’t come back
“Don’t come back” playing cards produced by Hounslow NHS Primary Care Trust and Feltham Young Offend...
Night & Day playing cards
‘Night & Day’ playing cards produced by London Underground, United Kingdom
Youthscape playing cards
Two packs of playing cards offering emotional help and support to young people.
Take Control : Drugs
Take Control : Drug advice playing cards produced by Safer Publications, United Kingdom, 2007.
Covid-19 playing cards
Covid-19 playing cards designed by Stacey Kelly, United Kingdom, 2020.
Political playing cards (2015)
Political playing cards produced by Oliver Preston at the time of the 2015 UK Parliamentary election...
Shape Up
“Shape Up” playing cards designed by Anthony Harris published by Figure Dynamics in 1985.
Pack of Diets
“Pack of Diets” healthy lifestyle playing cards by Waddingtons Games for Figure Dynamics Ltd. in 198...
Think smoking heroin is safe?
“Think smoking heroin is safe?” harm minimisation playing cards.
Lose the smoke Keep the fire
“Lose the smoke Keep the fire” playing cards to help quit smoking, published by Nicotinell, 2007.
War on AIDS
War on AIDS playing cards published by ActionAid, United Kingdom, c. 2004.
Regime Change Begins at Home
“Regime Change Begins at Home” playing cards designed by Noel Douglas, c. 2003.
Sky News Politipack
Cartoons of British political figures on playing cards published to promote Sky News' coverage of El...
Coffinnails: Smoking Kills
“Coffinnails: Smoking Kills” playing cards highlighting the impact smoking has on life and health, 2...
52 ways to stop smoking
“52 ways to stop smoking”, offering positive help for anyone who wants to give up smoking.
House of Commons Playing Cards
House of Commons playing cards designed to serve as a civic guide to the UK Parliament.
Liberal Democrats Playing Cards
Liberal Democrat MPs shown on playing cards at the time of the annual Party Conference in September ...
Pack of Prejudice
A political pack produced by the Countryside Alliance about a ban on hunting.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
-playing-cards-with-wüst-courts/images/rijks-1.465ba2b2.jpg "Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts")
