Scouting, Volume 69, Number 4, September 1981 Page: 34
98, E1-E24, [16] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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hese are some of the symptoms of marijuana use that all parents should be
aware of ST A significant drop in the quality of their child's schoolwork
f Passivity and withdrawal $ A reduced attention span f Secretiveness about money
f Strong overreaction to mild criticism f Neglect of personal appearance # An
impaired ability to communicate clearly f A less than normal sensitivity to the feelings
of friends and family members f A pale face, imprecise eye movements, and red eyes.
"We have no reason to assume that mar-
ijuana is any less dangerous."
As early as 1974, a study compared the
compounds in a "weak" marijuana ciga-
rette with a high-tar standard tobacco
cigarette. Aside from the fact that tobacco
smoke contains nicotine and pot smoke
contains cannabinoids, the two types of
"smokes" have roughly the same com-
pounds, including carcinogens, which are
cancer-producing agents. A number of
these are present in pot smoke in amounts
50 to 100 percent greater than in tobacco
smoke, for example, the carcinogens benz-
anthracene and benzopyrene.
In addition, elements in both types of
cigarettes irritate and inflame the lungs.
Here, too, marijuana smoke comes out
with an even "darker" picture than tobac-
co smoke. Whereas tobacco smokers use
filters, low-tar cigarettes, and such, pot
smokers consider "good pot" to be the
strongest they can get.
Generally, cigarette smokers do not
inhale smoke into the bronchial passages.
If they do, it is only for short periods of
time. In contrast, marijuana users inhale
smoke as deeply as they can, keep it in the
lower airways for as long as possible, and
exhale only when they must take another
breath. At times the inhalation is so com-
plete that no smoke is detectable in the
exhaled air.
In 1980, Dr. Forest S. Tennant, Jr.,
former director of a U.S. Army drug-abuse
program in West Germany, published the
result of lung biopsies taken from 30
soldiers, average age 20, who had smoked
hashish heavily for eight months to a year.
(The hash had a THC content comparable
to "good street pot" now smoked by mil-
lions of U.S. youngsters.) One of his find-
ings: 91 percent of those soldiers who had
smoked both hashish and cigarettes
showed squamous-metaplasia cells, a step
34
removed from "wild" or cancerous cells.
Those who smoked cigarettes only or hash
only had about 15 percent of these pre-
cancerous cells.
Other studies have shown a high in-
cidence of bronchitis and pharyngitis in
cannabis smokers, especially those who
used the stronger varieties. "Among other
pathological symptoms evidenced by
long-term cannabis smokers," says Dr.
John Hall, chairman of the department of
medicine in Kingston, Jamaica, "is em-
physema, an irreversible lung disease."
The studies mentioned in this article are
only a tip of the iceberg look at mari-
juana's damaging effects on the mind and
body. (For more information, see the
books listed at the end of this article.)
However, any reader who passes on
these facts to a chronic pot smoker—
youngster or adult—should be aware of
the most prevalent symptom of all. Psy-
chiatrist Harold Voth, of the famed Men-
ninger Foundation in Topeka, Kan., has
studied the psychopathology of marijuana
in depth for the past eight years. He puts it
this way:
"There is one symptom which seems
specific for this drug. I have seen it in
every dedicated pot smoker I have ever
treated; an adamant refusal to accept the
hard scientific evidence about the harmful
effects of marijuana. The heavy user will
'answer' the evidence by scoffing at it,
perverting it, calling it 'reefer madness,' or
simply by saying, 'I don't believe it.' "
Yet, despite this denial syndrome, per-
sistent "doses" of information on the
harmful effects of marijuana have proven
to be an essential element in getting young
smokers off of pot.
Other essential elements—parental and
school firmness in detecting and fighting
the use of marijuana—will be explored in
next month's issue of Scouting. ■
SUGGESTED READING FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For the three titles listed below write:
American Council on Marijuana (ACM).
767 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022.
Marijuana Today (revised edition) by
George K. Russell, Ph.D. (Myrin Insti-
tute). A compilation of medical findings
for the layman. $3.
Keep Off the Grass by Gabriel Nahas,
M.D., Ph.D. (Pergamom Press). The mar-
ijuana story from 1969 to 1980, with em-
phasis on harmful physical effects. $6.95.
Marijuana: Biological Effects and Social
Implications. Reports of 12 noted psy-
chiatrists, physicians, and organizers of
parent groups. $5.
For the following titles write directly to
the address given.
Marijuana: An Annotated Bibliography,
Volume 1, by Dr. Carlton Turner, and
associates (Macmillan, 866 Third Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10022). Comprehensive
abstracts (thumbnail summaries) of all
scientific articles and books on marijuana
published throughout the world from 1964
to 1974, includes 3,045 entries, listed al-
phabetically by author, plus a 35-page
subject index. The first complete annotat-
ed bibliography on marijuana ever pub-
lished, $14.95; discounts for bulk orders.
For Parents Only: What Kids Think
About Marijuana, a 30-minute, 16mm film
available on free loan to parent groups
and adult community organizations
(specify date needed). Contact Modern
Talking Picture Service, 5000 Park Street
North, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33709. With
film comes discussion guidebook and 25
free copies of For Parents Only booklet.
Pot Safari by Peggy Mann. Foxrun
Press, Box 1590, Cathedral Station Post
Office, New York, N.Y. 10025. $2. Infor-
mation from the research laboratories of
some top marijuana scientists. ■
September 1981 Scouting
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 69, Number 4, September 1981, periodical, September 1981; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353625/m1/36/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.