MARIJUANA INFORMATION PAPER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00171R001500010018-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 4, 2005
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: September 4, 1981
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2005/12/23 : CIA-RDP83M00171 ROO1500010018-2
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIVISION AFSC )
WRIGHT.PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE OHIO 43433
4 SEP 1 w ~'.
Marijuana Information Paper
FTD/Directors FTD/DT FTD/SP Det 3/CC Det 4/CC
The attached fact sheet from the Air Force Surgeon General provides a wealth
of information dispelling many of the myths concerning marijuana usage and
highlighting the scope of the real dangers involved. It behooves everyone
to become totally familiar with the facts of this national problem. Please
give ,.t+is information the widest dissemination.
Euvlce~
DAVID S. WATROUS, Colonel, USAF
Commander
1 Atch
Ltr fm AFSC/SG dtd 26 Aug 81,
"Marijuana Information Paper,"
w/1 Atch
Cy to: FTD LOs
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 Approved For Release 2005/12/23 : CIA-RDP83M00171 ROO1500010018-2
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE. DC 20334
REPLY TO SG
ATTN OF: J
SUBJECT? Marijuana Information Paper
26 August 1981
TO: AD/CC/SG ESD/CC/SG
AEDC/CC/SG ESMC/CC/SG
AFCMD/CC FTD/CC
AFFTC/CC/SG RADC/CC
AMD/CC SAMTO/CC
ASD/CC SD/CC/SG
BMO/CC WSMC/CC
The attached fact sheet from the Air Force Surgeon General on the widespread
use of marijuana in this nation is provided for your information.
Brigadier General, USAF, MC Fact Sheet
Command Surgeon
FREDRIC F. DOPPELT .' 1 Atch
Cy to: Deputy Chiefs of Staff and
Chiefs of Special Staff Offices
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 Approves r ~A2005/ /S2Ai C -- 8N%17Q10001 0018-2
INFORMATION PAPER
-- 68% of the nation's young adults (18-25 high risk age group)
had tried marijuana in 1979
--- Compares with 4% in 1962
-- 33% have experimented with cocaine, heroin or other
hallucinogens (1979)
--- Compares with 3% in 1962
-- From 1972-1979, experience with marijuana and cocaine doubled
in 12-17 year olds and in over 25 year old
-- Of total users
---
15 million (2/3) use 5 times a month
---
Of today's high school seniors more than 10% are
daily marijuana users (20 or more times per 30 days),
consuming an average of 3/ marijuana joints per day
number peaked in 1978
-
---
Generally consider all drug use harmful except
marijuana
---
Daily use rate double among males as among females
---
Double rate among non-college bound as among college
bound
---
Black use, one-half of white
---
Not a disease of the minority
---
25% have used by 9th grade
---
Daily use evenly spread socioeconomically (in terms
parent education)
of
---
High use correlates positively with poor work, low
political values, low religious values, low self-esteem
--
Under 25 years of age, marijuana smoking at least as common
as tobacco
--
Positive correlation with increased use of alcohol,
and other illicit drugs
tobacco
*DEFINITIONS
Marijuana/Cannabis - whole plant material
Delta -9-tet ?vderoca R lebaseo005~Y/?C3 : CIA-RDP83M00171R0015~00010018-2
y - principal psychoactive
ingredient (cannabinoid) in marijuana
 -- Daily use after high school
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--- Overall, 2.6% increased daily use
Living away from home, increased use (doubled)
--- Single use twice that-of married
--- Daily use higher in families without children, lower
in families with children
--- Full time college - lowest rate daily use - 8%
--- Part-time college - ?9%
--- Unemployed - 14%
--- Employed - 13%
--- Military - 12% (slight decrease)
--- Use of other illicit drugs markedly increased in
daily "pot" users, 5-7 times
--- 51% continue as daily users 4 years after high school
(class '75)
--- However, 34% current but not daily users (class '75)
-- Junior high school statistics
--- 8th grade - 48% tried marijuana, 40% smoke cigarettes,
50% use alcohol
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS - Uniform in Pattern
-- Marijuana use fosters alteration toward family and society
in general
-- Brain damage syndrome, marked by distortion of perception
and reality
-- Regular use can cause persistent brain damage
--- Requires only 2 joints per week for 3 months
--- Consistent with demonstrated brain wave changes
--- Effects not limited to period of intoxication
--- Mental confusion, inability to concentrate, diminished
attention span, loss of will power, impaired concept
formation, impairs short-term memory
--- Inhibits comprehension, judgment, learning
--- Paranoia - suspicious
--- Regression - total withdrawal
Loss of motivation - closely related to reduction in
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 -
EFFECTS ON SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE - Dose Dependent
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--
Effect correlates strongly with intelligence level of user
--
Driving skills deteriorate
--
No safer than alcohol - reinforced by alcohol (additive effect)
--
Distortion visual/auditory perception
--
Hazardous effects also associated with flying
PHYSICAL EFFECTS
-- Lungs and respiratory system
--- Chronic cannabis (THC) smoking produces sinusitis,
bronchitis, emphysema and other respiratory
difficulties in a year or less - equivalent to 10-20
years cigarette smoking
THC and tobacco smoke - greater damage than tobacco
smoke alone
--- Lung cancer potential equal to tobacco
Reproductive effects
--- THC in female
---- Concentrates in ovaries
---- Irregular menstrual cycles
---- Toxic to young fetus or unborn child
THC in male
---- Enlargement and tenderness of the breasts
---- Impotence
---- Testosterone levels reduced by 44%
---- Chronic use - affects sperm - decreases count,
increases abnormalities, affects mobility and
physical characteristics
PHARMACOLOGY
-- Quick effect - respiratory route
--- i4 seconds from puff to brain
--- 28 seconds intravenous
--- 10-20 minutes orally
-- Blood level present at least 72 hours
--- 3 joints per week maintains chronic blood level
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--- Levels variable according to method of intake and form
and potency of mat-Pr; A 1
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otency varies - as much as 10 fold
---
Early 1960s - 0.2% pure THC
---
1970s
- 1% pure THC
---
1980s
- 3-4% pure THC
Increased potency - increased effects
--- Data of 1960s not comparable to data of today
Addiction potential
Likelihood current use to daily use
---- Alcohol - 9% who drink, drink daily
---- Tobacco - 58% who smoke, smoke daily
---- Marijuana - 29% who smoke, smoke daily
Mild withdrawal symptoms on abstinence
---- Irritability
---- Insomnia
---- Loss of appetite
Profound psychological dependence
Not just recreational drug
---- To stop requires professional help
AIR FORCE CONSIDERATIONS
-- All of the above applicable to Air Force
--- First term airmen
--- Recruits
---- Most directly from high school
--- Air Force data similar in under 25 years of age
-- Conditions fostering use
--- . Youth
Away from home
--- Most unmarried
--- Most males
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