Hearing cannabis

In all of the testimony, only one person raised any substantial objection to the Anslinger proposal. Dr. William Woodward, a legislative counsel for the American Medical Association, argued that Cannabis in medical preparations had not been abused and that the new provisions would cause hardship for doctors. He was quickly hooted down. House hearings concluded with no significant changes in the proposed bill, which then sailed through... 

Although some of these recommended treatments are yet of a questionable value, we are beginning to hear new, more specific claims of its medical benefits. Cannabis is now said to be most effective in quelling glaucoma— not only does it dry up the eyes, but it diminishes intraocular pressure as well. 

The actual hearings took place in late April and early May of that year. As presented to Congress, the antimarihuana bill stipulated that all handlers of cannabis had to be registered and pay a special occupational tax. Written forms had to be submitted and filed for every transaction involving cannabis, and payment of a transfer tax of one dollar per ounce had to be paid each time the drug was delivered to an authorized recipient. 

Stronger evidence supports the notion that cannabis use alters perception, such as taste, smell, hearing and vision. In users there are clear problems of colour discrimination (Adams et al. 1976) and identification of figures hidden in pictures (Pearl et al. 1973). Perceptual changes also pertain to time sense, which is generally altered in cannabis users. As they estimate time to pass more slowly than control subjects (Tart 1971 Chait and Pierri 1992), this could explain... 

Since outlawing marijuana would make all cannabis cultivation illegal, Congress also wanted to hear testimony from representatives of the rope, paint, and birdseed industries that used hemp for their products. Representatives from the rope and paint industries testified that they could use other raw materials in place of hemp. The representative of the birdseed industry, however, said no other seeds produced the glossy feathers that hemp seed did and they wanted to keep using hemp seed. As a result of that testimony, birdseed companies later received an exemption from the Marihuana Tax Act. They were allowed to use imported hemp seeds that have been treated so they do not sprout. That exemption remains in effect today. 

Chrissie, 35, was clerked by the duty doctor while you were in teaching. She s become increasingly upset, telling the nurses she s hearing voices and has missed her usual morning dose of methadone 60 mg. They found some cannabis on her at admission. You ve been called to review. 

---