October 29, 1975

Marijuana Lethal To Young People

The movement in Ohio and many other states to legalize or decriminalize marijuana may lose some of its steam when the recent report of a U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee becomes better known.

The committee, under the chairmanship of Senator James O.  Eastland, sought to determine what effect marijuana might have on the nation's security.

It is no imaginary problem.

The Senate committee undertook the study when the Army discovered that 33 military policemen charged with guarding nuclear weapons in Germany had been disqualified because of their use of marijuana.

Scientists from a wide range of disciplines were called in to testify on the effects of the drug on the human body and mind.  Their conclusions are summarized in a pamphlet that should be a must reading for every high school and college freshman in the country.

In brief, it finds that marijuana IS dangerous - particularly the Mexican and Colombian varieties now popular - and it affects young people most severely.

The consensus of the scientists who testified was that the "regular" and frequent use of marijuana has multiple effects:

• impairment of perception
• inability to pay attention
• impairment of memory
• impairment of time sense
• loss of capacity of judgment
• hallucinations.

"Chronic" use of marijuana over a period of time frequently results in a permanent impairment of mental functions, pointing to the "probability of irreversible brain damage."

For those who contend that marijuana is "no worse" than alcohol or tobacco, one scientist has some thought provoking words.  He is Prof. W.D.M.  Paton, head of the department of pharmacology at Oxford University and chairman of the British government's drug research program.

Paton outlined the toxic effects on the three "social" drugs of our era:

1. Alcohol is not taken for psychic effect it is eliminated in a few hours.  There is little or no evidence for carcinogenicity (cancer danger) or teratogenicity (deformities in pregnancies).  It occurs naturally in the body of animals, and probably also in man.  It has valid medical uses for nutrition and as a vasodilator.  It escalates only to itself.  The price for overuse is paid in later life."
2. Tobacco is taken partly for relaxation, partly to assist work, and there is some evidence of an improvement in mental function.  The nicotine in it is rapidly metabolized and noncumulative. . . .  It is the tar that is carcinogenic, and the risk can be reduced if inhalation is avoided.  It is not teratogenic.  No psychotic phenomena occur.  The price paid for overuse is paid in later life- reducing life expectancy from about 75 to 70 years."
3. Cannabis (marijuana-hashish) is taken specifically - usually by itself but sometimes with other drugs - for its psychic action.  It is cumulative and persistent.  Its tar is carcinogenic.  Experimentally it is teratogenic.  Psychotic phenomena may occur with a single dose. ...It can predispose to the use of other drugs.  THE PRICE PAID FOR ITS OVERUSE IS PAID IN ADOLESCENCE OR IN EARLY LIFE."

Senator Eastland notes that much of the argument over the harmlessness of marijuana is based on the effects of the American strain.  It is this variety that is supplied to new users to convince them it is safe and enjoyable.

However, it is estimated that the large majority of marijuana users soon discover the quicker, deeper acting South American weed.  It is the latter that now floods the country.

"The dangerous THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) drug content of the Mexican and Colombian marijuana is far greater than it is in what once was called the American variety," said the report.

The massive and pervasive nature of the marijuana-hashish epidemic certainly suggests that it is bound to present in-creasing problems for security officers in government departments and in industry, said Senator Eastland.

The report noted that America is estimated to have 30 million occasional users, 13 million regular users and 3 million daily users of marijuana.

Expert testimony from around the world concluded that lowering penalties for marijuana users while getting tough with pushers may be an exercise in futility.

"Its (marijuana's) use leads to a delusional system of thinking which has inherent in it the strong need to seduce and proselytize others," stated Dr.  Harvey Powelson.  He is professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Berkeley.

"I have rarely seen a regular marijuana user who wasn't actively pushing," said Dr.  Powelson.

It may sound compassionate even enlightened - to preach that marijuana is OK.  But it is insidious and lethal for young people.

If the estimate is correct that one out of every three young persons of college age have "tried" marijuana, then it is later than we think.

The problem seems to begin with higher levels of education.  This suggests that the solution should begin by educating the lower school classes - not making it socially acceptable.

Author: Lindsey Williams