NCJ Number
45382
Date Published
1972
Length
1269 pages
Annotation
THE FIRST REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON MARIHUANA AND DRUG ABUSE IS PRESENTED; MAJOR ISSUES AND CONCERNS REGARDING MARIHUANA ARE ADDRESSED.
Abstract
THE PAPERS OF THE REPORT ARE DIVIDED INTO SIX MAJOR PARTS. PART ONE DEALS WITH THE BIOSOCIAL ASPECTS WHICH RELATE TO MARIHUANA'S EFFECT ON INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS TO THE LARGER SOCIETY. IT INCLUDES A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF TWO TYPES OF MARIHUANA USE, MEDICINAL AND INTOXICANT, WHICH CONSTITUTES A REVIEW OF MARIHUANA USE IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. ACCEPTED SOCIOCULTURAL BOUNDARIES ARE ANALYZED. REVIEWS OF THE BOTANICAL, PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIC, PHYSIOLOGIC, AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF MARIHUANA ON MAN ARE INCLUDED. PART TWO DEALING WITH SOCIAL ASPECTS, DISCUSSES PATTERNS OF THE INDIVIDUAL USER AS WELL AS THE RELATIONSHIP OF MARIHUANA USE TO VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT CRIME. THE HYPOTHESIS THAT MARIHUANA USE LEADS TO OTHER DRUGS, ESPECIALLY HEROIN, IS EXPLORED IN DEPTH. PART THREE IS CONCERNED WITH THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE MARIHUANA CONTROVERSY. IN ORDER TO PLACE MARIHUANA, A PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG, IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE, A HISTORY OF THE CONTROL OF MARIHUANA, ALCOHOL, AND TOBACCO IS PRESENTED. MARIHUANA LAWS AT THE INTERNATIONAL, FEDERAL, AND STATE LEVELS, INCLUDING STATUTES THAT REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO REPORT DRUG ADDICTION, ARE REVIEWED. TRAFFICKING AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF THE DRUG ARE DESCRIBED. PART FOUR ANALYZES LAW ENFORCEMENT BEHAVIOR WITH RESPECT TO MARIHUANA USE. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OPINIONS HELD BY OFFICIALS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THEIR BEHAVIOR TOWARD MARIHUANA OFFENDERS IS DISCUSSED. FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION-SPONSORED NATIONAL SURVEY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD MARIHUANA, OTHER DRUG USE, AND RELATED SOCIAL ISSUES ARE PRESENTED IN PART FIVE. PART SIX DISCUSSES THE MARIHUANA ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO SOCIOLEGAL POLICY PRACTICES AND DECISIONS. INCLUDED IN THE SECTION IS A DISCUSSION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL DIMENSIONS WHICH FORM THE BASIS FOR ALTERNATIVE MODELS FOR THE CONTROL OF MARIHUANA. A NATIONWIDE STUDY OF MARIHUANA EDUCATION PRESENTS POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ON A STATE-BY-STATE BASIS AND INCLUDES DESCRIPTIONS OF EXISTING MARIHUANA EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FUTURE RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS AS SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS AGENCIES, INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN RESEARCH ON MARIHUANA ARE PRESENTED. THE REPORT DOES NOT INCLUDE REFERENCES; IT DOES, HOWEVER, FULLY DOCUMENT THE METHODOLOGICAL AND SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES PRESENTED IN BOTH NARRATIVE AND GRAPHIC/TABULAR FORM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).