NCJ Number
29494
Journal
Addictive Diseases Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (1974) Pages: 297-322
Date Published
1974
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THIS LITERATURE REVIEW CONCLUDES THAT THE CLASSIC CONTENTION THAT MARIJUANA CAUSES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR RESTS ON AN EXTREMELY SIMPLE-MINDED AND DISTORTED CONCEPTION OF HOW DRUGS ACT ON HUMANS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR CALLS INTO QUESTION THE METHODOLOGIES OF MANY STUDIES WHICH ARE CONTINUALLY CITED BY ADVOCATES OF THE MARIJUANA CAUSES CRIME POSITION. HE FURTHER STATES THAT IN AND OF ITSELF, MARIJUANA USE IS NOT RELATED IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY WITH CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE DRUG DOES NOT APPEAR TO 'CAUSE' ANY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF USERS TO COMMIT CRIMES, OR AGGRESSIVE, VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DOES NOT INCREASE ONE'S PROBABILITY OF ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL OFFENSES--ASIDE FROM BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. ON AN HOUR FOR HOUR, CRIME FOR CRIME BASIS, THERE IS PROBABLY NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING INTOXICATED ON MARIJUANA AND BEING 'NORMAL', NOT BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY DRUG. BY ITSELF, MARIJUANA IS NOT A POTENT PRODUCER OF BEHAVIOR, AND CERTAINLY NOT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS ARE THOSE WHO WOULD DO SO WITH OR WITHOUT THE USE OF MARIJUANA. INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT NORMALLY COMMIT CRIMES ARE NOT LIKELY TO DO SO UNDER THE INFLUENCE. AVAILABLE EVIDENCE POINTS VERY STRONGLY IN THE DIRECTION THAT THE CENTURIES-OLD BELIEF THAT MARIJUANA CAUSES CRIME IS A COMPLETE MYTH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)