WHSmith mulls legal action against WHSpliff.net

Don't hold your breath

WHSmith is musing over whether to take legal action against a pro-cannabis Web site which bears a remarkably similar name to the high street stationer's brand.

WHSpliff.net was set up in August and campaigns for the legalisation of cannabis in the UK.

Under the catch line "we don't sell stationery - we aim to make you stationary!" the site lays out the arguments for the legalisation of the drug.

Writes Mike Cottee, Webmaster at WHSpliff.net: "Whilst the fact remains that we are able to kill ourselves with the consumption of both tobacco and alcohol, lining the pockets of both big business and government, we are not legally able to enjoy the far less harmful substance known as cannabis. There is an estimated six million regular cannabis users in the UK facing arrest for a "crime" that has no victim."

WHSmith has yet to decide whether it will take legal action against the site. A spokeswoman for WHSmith told El Reg: "Clearly, this site has nothing to do with our business. But we are looking at the implications this has for our brand. We have an obligation to protect our brand."

WHSpliff.net has launched a range of T-shirts - with catchy lines such as "Prohibition doesn't work... let's turn over a new leaf" and "Legalise it...let the good times roll" - to help fund the running of the site.

With so many dotcoms going up in smoke, here's hoping that WHSpliff.net doesn't make a complete hash of its ecommerce operation. ®

Related Stories

Dope e-tailer launch goes all to pot
Cannabis e-retailer claims moral righteousness
Dope dealers drive eBay potty
Yahoo! takes pot shot at marijuana lookalike