NCJ Number
14615
Date Published
1971
Length
454 pages
Annotation
A REVIEW OF HISTORICAL, MEDICAL, AND SOCIOLOGICAL LITERATURE ON THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA USE.
Abstract
IN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE HISTORY OF HEMP, ITS BOTANY, CHEMISTRY, AND PHARMACOLOGY. AFTER A STUDY OF THE LITERARY ACCOUNTS OF CANNABIS USE FROM GAUTIER AND BAUDELAIRE TO ALLEN GINSBERG, HE ANALYZES THE DATA ON THE ACUTE INTOXICATION - THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE - EXPLORES USER MOTIVATION FOR 'TURNING ON', AND DELVES INTO PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, TYPES OF USERS FROM CASUAL SMOKER TO 'POTHEAD', AND BUYING PATTERNS. THE AUTHOR FINDS THE EVIDENCE THAT MARIHUANA USE MAY CAUSE PHYSICAL HARM, PSYCHIC DEPENDENCE, PSYCHOSES, OR PERSONALITY DETERIORATION QUITE UNCONVINCING. HE REFUTES THE 'STEPPING-STONE HYPOTHESIS' THAT MARIHUANA LEADS TO HARDER DRUGS AND THE POPULAR NOTION THAT IT IS A CAUSATIVE FACTOR IN CRIME, VIOLENCE, AND SEXUAL EXCESS. ON THE CONTRARY, HE SHOWS THAT ITS EFFECTS ARE ORDINARILY SUBTLE AND WELL WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE USER, THAT, IN FACT, MARIHUANA IS LESS TOXIC AND ADDICTIVE THAN ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO - THE ONLY SOCIALLY USED DRUGS KNOWN TO CAUSE TISSUE DAMAGE AND, IRONICALLY, THE ONLY ONES SANCTIONED BY WESTERN SOCIETY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)