RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CANNABIS AND VIOLENCE - A REVIEW

• NCJ Number: 52817
• Journal: Psychological Bulletin Volume: 84 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1977) Pages: 193-211
• Author(s): E L ABEL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Sale Source: Research Institute on Alcoholism
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE CRITICALLY EXAMINES EVIDENCE DEALING WITH THE ALLEGED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CANNABIS (MARIHUANA) AND VIOLENCE AND CONSIDERS SOME OF THE VARIABLES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SUCH AN ASSESSMENT.

Abstract

FOUR DIFFERENT KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MARIHUANA AND VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN PROPOSED: (1) MARIHUANA IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF AGGRESSION, AS REFLECTED IN THE NUMBER OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUG; (2) AN UNDERLYING PREDISPOSITION TOWARD VIOLENCE MAY BE PRECIPITATED BY THE DRUG; (3) SOME PSYCHOPATHIC OR SOCIOPATHIC INDIVIDUALS ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE VARIOUS DRUGS, AMONG THEM MARIHUANA, BUT THERE IS NO CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEIR BEHAVIOR AND DRUG USE; AND (4) MARIHUANA DOES NOT INCITE VIOLENCE BUT RATHER ACTS TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR OCCURRING IN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE DRUG. THE REVIEW OF EVIDENCE ENCOMPASSES MYTHOLOGICAL AND ETYMOLOGICAL STUDIES, RETROSPECTIVE CASE STUDIES, ASSOCIATIONAL STUDIES, CRIME CATALOGING, CATALOGING AND COMPARISONS, STUDIES OF THE NONCRIMINAL POPULATION, AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES. PHARMACOLOGICAL FACTORS BASIC TO THE ISSUE OF THE EFFECT OF MARIHUANA ON AGGRESSION ARE DRUG DOSAGE, IMMEDIATE AND DELAYED EFFECTS, DURATION OF USE, POLYDRUG USE, AND DRUG ADULTERATION. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF EVIDENCE FROM ANIMAL AND HUMAN LITERATURE INDICATING THAT SPECIFIC NEUROLOGICAL MECHANISMS LYING WITHIN THE TEMPORAL LOBES AND THE LIMBIC SYSTEM ARE INTIMATELY INVOLVED INVOLVED IN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT MARIHUANA MAY LEAD TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR BY LOWERING INHIBITIONS THAT NORMALLY RESTRAIN SUCH BEHAVIOR. THE USER'S IMMEDIATE CONDITION AT THE TIME OF DRUG USE IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO AFFECT HOW HE OR SHE BEHAVES IN RESPONSE TO THE DRUG. THE LITERATURE IMPLIES THAT THE CHRONIC USE OF SUBSTANCES SUCH AS MARIHUANA IS NOT A DISTINCT SOCIAL PROBLEM INDEPENDENT OF OTHER KINDS OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)