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Page 2 - Spelman Spotlight
Editorial
What’s New With Marijuana
By Stephanie Nelson
Do you know what happens to your body
each time you take a hit from a joint of mari
juana? “Reefer,” as it is commonly called,
along with other intoxicants such as liquor
and cigarettes has been used by just about
everybody at some time. The effects of
alcohol and cigarettes have been highly
publicized to the public. (Take a look on the
side of the KOOL pack.)
In addition, medical authorities made sure
we all knew that alcohol destroys brain cells.
Information on the effects of marijuana
given to the public over recent years hasn’t
been as conclusive as it could have been. As a
matter of fact it’s been confusing to me. What
are the latest findings?
Where does the public stand?
In an effort to provide up-to-the-minute
news on the use and effects of marijuana,
Norman E. Zinberg, one noted authority, has
considered report findings in which mari
juana use was examined on selected areas of
human behavior. Zinberg, who serves as a
consultant to drug research programs and as
a psychiatrist found that none of the
research conducted up to now has been
upheld by other findings or proven to be true.
Granted that the scientific studies used to.
demonstrate the ill effects of marijuana have
given the public something to fear, Zinberg
also cites controlled experiments that
provide evidence which was contrary to
these findings.
For example, during the early 70’s there
were numerous reports that illustrated the
belief that marijuana use reduces the
capacity to think straight. This
“amotivational syndrome” cited by sources
such as the Bureau of Narcotics and
Dangerous Drugs, was disputed when the
DODRH findings showed no difference
between users and nonusers.
Another significant report, the Jamaica
report, where users smoked seven to 25 joints
a day of Jamaican herb as compared to a con
trol group of nonusers, also contested that
there was no difference. In Jamaica where
the testing was done the research team found
marijuana use heavy and wide-spread. They
also found that it was used in other ways
such as brewed, rubbed on and associated
with many legends about its use in medicine.
In 1975 the Drug Abuse Council reported
that one year after legalization in Oregon, no
serious problems had arisen. At the same
time, in July of that same year, another
researcher, Reese T. Jones conducted studies
on 42 volunteers. After being given 210
milligrams of THC (approximately 50-100
joints a day) his volunteers showed tolerance
and dependence on marijuana.
Another myth about marijuana was that
smoking can lead to heroin use. This seems to
be an idea thatcauses apprehension in many
parents and users. As far back as 1963 The
Kennedy Commission, along with later
reports, disproved that theory. A very
significant study in this area was pointed out
by Mr. Zinberg. The study was done by David
F. Duncan of the University of Texas. After
experimenting with heroin addicts, Mr. Dun
can’s study showed that alcohol was the first
intoxicant used by 73 per cent of the addicts,
marijuana was rarely attributed as the first
drug. He believed nevertheless, that there is
no stepping-stone process to heroin.
Mr. Zinberg’s study published in
Psychology Today definitely deserves
checking out by smokers and non-smokers
alike. He gives recent information on the
marijuana research programs. His report
deals with the areas of general health, sex
impairment as well as brain damage and
marijuana’s effects on them. Get the facts
before you smoke!
Cadillac or Bust
Bv Shirley Henderson
For the black man in
America the epitome of success
is often said to be the big car -
preferably a Cadillac. Blacks
are known to have such a love
for big cars that they will often
have one to the exclusion of all
else, including a decent house
and food for the kids. A
phenomenon like this exists
because of the ever-present
myth that the big car equals
success in the eyes of society.
Houses are important, clothes
too are important, but a car
can turn “amouse into a man.”
This four wheeled, 16-powered,
diamond-backed „ sun-roofed,
CB radioed hunk of steel can
make or break a man in front
of his peers.
Psychologically, cars
represent a shell in which the'
driver can feel safe from all
adversities, be admired by
everyone and yet be untouched
by the problems which they
present. He is set apart in his
own small world. Advertisers
have created this myth which
equate big cars with success.
They have made a big car a
qualification for success and
those who don’t have one can
not be considered successful.
After all, a Volkswagen could
never fill the place of a
Cadillac in the American ideal
of success.
Advertisers create gorgeous
automobile ads, complete with
breathtaking views and
beautiful girls, to give a
preview of the buyer’s life and
loves after and as a result of his
new Buick or Lincoln.
This myth should not be
taken seriously, for truly the
car does notmaketheman and
the advertisers do not make
the cars, only the MYTHS.
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Spelman Spotlight
P.O. Box 50
Spelman College
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Printers: Chapman Publishing Company, Inc.
To The Editor:
Ms. Lei Charlton, Editor-in-
Chief
SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
P.O. Box 50
Spelman College
To the Editor:
On page 4 of the October, 1976
issue of the SPELMAN
SPOTLIGHT, there appears
an advertisement for a com
pany from which research
papers may be purchased. As
the submitting of work that is
not one’s own is academic
dishonesty, such an
advertisment would seem to be
in direct conflict with the goals
of Spelman College. I was
surprised that the
advertisement was accepted in
the first place and I hope that it
does not appear again.
Dr. Stephen Goldfarb
Assistant professor
Department of History
Copies to: President Donald
Stewart
Dean Edward Riley, Jr.
Dr. Goldfarb:
I will neither apologize for nor
defend the aforementioned
advertisement. However, I will
say that I was not aware that
these papers were actually
complete works. I assumed
they were research materials
which primarily gave sources
for investigating various sub
ject matter.
Since receiving your letter, I
have talked with several
instructors, particularly in the
English Department, who in
formed me that research
papers have been bought and
submitted by students as their
own. Consequently,
plagiarism is one of the most
sensitive problems in that
Department.
I did not know that these
papers had come to such wides
pread usage at Spelman. And
just as I had not considered the
advertisement seriously, I
believed others had not either.
It was merely an “ad.” It has
not been the Spotlight policy to
discriminate against
advertisers thus far. Perhaps
the staff needs to be more
selective about advertisements
that are submitted so that the
integrity of some Spelmanites
will not be compromised by
submission to such evils as
plagiarism.
Sincerely,
Lei Charlton,
Editor-in-Chief
Spelman Spotlight