NCJ Number
37995
Journal
Journal of Psychedelic Drugs Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1972) Pages: 183-191
Date Published
1972
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THIS LITERATURE SURVEY CRITICALLY ASSESSES THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE ON MARIJUANA AND CRIME ASSOCIATIONS.
Abstract
DURING THE PAST SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS SEVERAL DISTINGUISHED COMMISSIONS HAVE INVESTIGATED EVIDENCE OF THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF MARIHUANA IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND REACHED STRIKINGLY SIMILAR CONCLUSIONS: THE BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF MARIHUANA DO NOT USUALLY INCITE VIOLENT OR SEXUAL CRIMES; RATHER, THE USE OF MARIHUANA MAY REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF AGGRESSION IN MOST PEOPLE. RECENT LABORATORY AND CLINICAL STUDIES SUPPORT THESE CONCLUSIONS AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT WHILE SOME INDIVIDUALS DO COMMIT CRIMES WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MARIHUANA, MARIHUANA USERS TEND TO BE UNDERREPRESENTED IN STUDIES OF ASSAULTIVE OFFENDERS, ESPECIALLY IF A COMPARISON IS MADE WITH USERS OF ALCOHOL, BARBITURATES, AND AMPHETAMINES. SOME SUB-GROUPS OF MARIHUANA USERS DO COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY, BUT NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL VARIABLES ARE PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT INFLUENCES ON SUCH BEHAVIOR THAN DRUG EFFECTS. THUS, FUTURE ANALYSES OF MARIHUANA-CRIME INTERACTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD FURTHER IDENTIFICATION AND ELUCIDATION OF NON-DRUG FACTORS. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY INCLUDES 71 CITATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)