The Report of the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse
Chapter IV
social response to marihuana use
Summary
Social institutional spokesmen now commonly recognize that control of marihuana is only
partially a law enforcement problem. Opinions cluster around the propositions that society
should not be punitive on the one hand, but should not make the drug available, at least
for now. Beyond these points, however, uncertainty prevails. There is no common vision of
an appropriate social control policy.
Each institution is going about the business of control in its own way. Parents
emphasize mutual communication. The secondary schools emphasize health education. The
colleges recognize personal freedom so long as it does not jeopardize the educational
enterprise. Churches emphasize uncertainty about the moral implications of marihuana use.
The medical fraternity stresses the need for further research into the health consequences
of marihuana use. Uncertainly is the common denominator.
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