The modern history of marijuana dates back to the 1930’s. People didn’t care whether it was heroin, cocaine, morphine, marijuana or opium, one horror was no worse than the other. This reflected both the lackof scientific knowledge and morbid exaggeration that have characterized much of the discussion of marijuanasince that time. A large and growing body of scientific information about marijuana has now been reported inthe press. Attitudes toward marijuana are starting to become more thoughtful and sophisticated. The use ofmarijuana is still very much the drug of choice of young people. Pot smoking is no longer the deviantbehavior of a few. It is normal social practice for all kinds of people-conservatives as well as radicals, working people as well as students. A new trend in marijuana smoking is adult use. Older people also use marijuana regularly. Studies ofmarijuana use among older professional groups early in 1976 showed that in geographical areas of high use, there were numbers of professional and other upper middle class people who make fairly regular recreationaluse of the drug. Another sign of sophistication in the marijuana picture is that much more is known about it now. The newknowledge has not added up to a universally agreed-upon body of facts. Those holding opposing viewpointson marijuana disagree chiefly on whether “recreational” use is harmful, and whether its possession should belegally permissible. ...
