Main points of marijuana report

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32874, 24 March 1972, Page 9

Main points of marijuana report

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 22. The major points in the report by the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse, released yesterday, as reported by United Press International, were:

Recommendations: Remove legal penalties against possession of marijuana for personal, private use, particularly in the home under both Federal and state laws. Officially discourage marijuana use, concentrating on prevention of heavy and very heavy use. Continue criminal penalties for production, distribution and public use, but make state laws uniform. Extend drunk and disorderly laws in the states to disorderly conduct associated with public use of marijuana or marijuana intoxication and punishing offenders with up to 60 days in gaol, a fine of SUSIOO, or both. Repeal Federal law barring casual distribution of small amounts of “pot” where no money exchanges hands. At die state level allow seizure of one ounce dr less in public, without making such possession an offence. Make both possession of more than one ounce and public distribution of small amounts criminal offences punishable by fines of SUSIOO each. Make drivers liable* for damage to people or property caused while under the influence' of marijuana. Findings:

Marijuana may be a passing fad among the young that society overemphasises as a problem, a symbol of rebellion that may fade away. Marijuana does, not cause violent or aggressive behaviour. If anything, it inhibits the expression of such behaviour. The overwhelming majority of users do not progress to other drugs, like heroin or L.S.D. Tobacco and alcohol are more closely associated with other drug use than is “pot.”

Present levels of use do not constitute a major threat to public health and

safety, but this conclusion should not lead to complacency. Marijuana is not an innocuous drug. About 24 ; million Americans over 11 have used marijuana at least once. Use is heaviest among the young. About 500,000 people use it heavily, meaning several times a day. Use does not vary significantly by race. There is little proved danger of physical or psychological harm from experimental or intermittent use. The risk of harm lies instead in heavy, long-term use.

Who uses it and why: There is no typical user nor any typical path that leads to use. “Parents provide the most important example of acceptable drugtaking behaviour for their children. That marijuana users frequently have medicine - taking, cigarette-smoking or liq-our-drinking parents has been demonstrated ” “Marijuana use, for many young people, has become a part of a ritual. It takes on the aspects of participating in a shared experience which for some if not all, is enjoyable in itself. For many, it becomes an even more interesting experience because it is forbidden... “The .marijuana user is not, • for the most part, a social isolationist or a sev-erely-disturbed individual in heed of treatment or confinement. Most users, yduhg or old, demonstrate an average or above-averse degree of social functioning, academic achievement and •job performance.” "Studies confirmed an association between marijuana usage and curiosity about use of other drugs, primarily for pleasure, but only-a small portion of “pot” users are likely to become persistent, frequent users of other drugs.

“The overwhelming majority of marijuana users do not progress to other drugs. They either remain with marijuana or forsake for alcohol.” Only 4 per cent of current mariju-ana-users were found to have tried heroin. Effect of use:

“No conclusive evidence exists of any physical damage, disturbance of bodily processes or proven human fatalities attributable solely to even very high doses of marijuana. . . .” "Performance of simple or familiar tasks is at most minimally impaired, while poor performance is demonstrated on complex, unfamiliar tasks,” but "the effect on personal, social and vocational functions is difficult to predict. “In most cases, the marijuana intoxication is pleasurable. In rare cases, the experience may lead to unpleasant anxiety and panic, and in a predisposed few, to psychosis.” Among students, studies indicated the majority of those who have used marijuana received average or above-average results at school.

Behaviour of users:

“The weight of the evidence is that marijuana does not cause violent or aggressive behaviour. If anything, marijuana generally serves to inhibit the expression of such behaviour . . “We conclude that some users commit crimes more * frequently than non-users, not because • they use marijuana but because they happen to be the kinds of people who would be expected to have a higher crane rate, wholly apart from the use of marijuana.. “. . . Neither the marijuanauser nor the drag itself can be said to constitute a danger to public safety. For, whatever an individual is, in all of his cultural, social and psychological complexity, is not going to vanish in a puff of marijuana smoke. “On the other hand, there should not be complacency. Marijuana is not

an innocuous drug. If marijuana should become readily available and more people tried it, this could convert what is now a minor public health concern in this country to one of major proportions.” The commission urged retention of tough penalties against growers and distributors of the drug.

Conclusion:

The commission concluded that “marijuana does not, in our considered judgment, rank very high among social concerns of the nation. We would deemphasise marijuana as a problem, while recommending an official policy of attempting to discourage its use"