http://exhibits.library.stonybrook.edu/mfp/files/original/5c3938099fa95bed671afc5c34e755b6.pdf edafd67c9f8783982b5ebce1215bafb0 PDF Text Text \w‘lz’l‘T-VIWJ' wanna. "7w. :II'J" rim!) :wv-—u»7mr'rrmmmm “Wan-r mum «a: 0le A. v' «Ix-urn: wwwmmw ' October 24, 1969 Editor New New Dear York Times York, New York Sir: recent change in the Federal Government's position regarding penalties for possession of marijuana is indeed salutary. But your support of the Administration's change in position was combined with support for another commission to study marijuana - the bill suggested by Senator Moss and Congressman Koch. Such a commission is unnecessary and wasteful of funds; it can serve only to delay the research efforts which already have been stimulated by the National Institute of Mental Health, but which remain unfunded. The There have been many studies of the “marijuana problem” beginning with the Indian Commission in the last century up to the extensive English Marijuana Commission Report of 1968. Each commission finds we lack facts regarding the effects of short term and long term use of cannabis. Is cannabis addictive? Does it lead to use and addiction of opiates? Does cannabis use lead to permanent brain damage? In 1965, NIMH arranged a meeting of stimulate proposals to scientists to elicit answer these questions. Many of the recommendations have already been implemented and studies are in progress. The recommendations included the development and of defined strains of cannabis with high content of some of the presumed active components of cannabis, such as the tetrahydrocannabinols. Projects to provide rapid assays for the components of cannabis, and animal studies to determine the long term toxic effects have been proposed. Studies have been elicited to measure the effects of acute and chronic smoking of cannabis on perception, mood, affect and driving. Some proposals have been elicited to study the sociology of cannabis use, including patterns of contageousness. Proposals have not been limited to studies in the U.S., for scientists have suggested investigations in areas like the Near East, where cannabis use has been long standing and more socially acceptable, to determine the incidence and severity of chronic brain syndromes or other toxic effects. �Editor, New York Times -2~ October 24, 1969 We have recently been advised that many proposals may not be funded because of limitations in the contract fonds of NIH”. Considering the number of scientists NIMH has been able to stimulate to look at the marijuana problem, the need seems more for additional funds to allow scientists, grantees and contractors of NIMH to carry out studies already approved by expert committees which remain unfunded. Surely, this is a more worthwhile approach than the allocation of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars once again to decide what should be studied. Sincerely yours, Max Fink, H.D. Professor of Psychiatry Birector, Division of Biological Psychiatry New York fiedical College MF:kp � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Correspondence Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Correspondence to: New York Times Editor Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context mfp-05-00-023-5-447 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1969 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource <a title="Fink, Max, 1923-" href="http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79039548" target="_blank">Fink, Max, 1923-</a> Subject The topic of the resource Correspondence -- Correspondence Relation A related resource The Max Fink Collection Description An account of the resource Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a title="IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED" href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/" target="_blank">IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED</a> Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries. Stony Brook University Libraries (State University of New York). Language A language of the resource en-US Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Correspondence