EXPERIENCES WITH MARIHUANA IN A SAMPLE OF DRUG USERS.

The article focuses on experiences with marihuana in a sample of drug users. Public attitudes and controversy regarding marihuana currently focus around two countervailing trends, one liberal and the other punitive. On the one hand, one finds that knowledge about marihuana is relatively widespread and that an increasing number of persons have either smoked marihuana or know those who have. No less than Time magazine's 1966 Man of the Year was described as having this attribute. The emergence of the marihuana cult and "let's legalize pot" movement is a parallel development. Simultaneously there has been a demand for reconsideration or elimination of criminal sanctions against users or sellers of marihuana. In these several respects we have experienced a liberalization of attitudes. On the other hand, we find that where reasonably reliable data is available, the rate of arrests for marihuana offenses is increasing at an unprecedented rate. This pattern has been accompanied by the view that criminal sanctions be retained. Some may deplore one or the other of these trends, but trends they are. While there is disagreement among professionals regarding the dangers of marihuana use, there is general agreement that more information and research is needed.