Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-16

of this sect we're known not only in
Asia, but in Europe. This branch of
the Shiite sect, the 1smalites, got, its
name from the members addicted to
hashish.
To the Greeks the plant was known
as "Nepenthe. Homer lauds it in
his Odyssey" Its effect upon the
Malays, according to the Narcotic Bu-
reau, has been anything but laudable.
Natives of the Malay Peninsula have
been known, while under its influ-
ence, to rush out and engage in vio-
lent and bloody deeds, with complete
disregard for their personal safety or
the odds arrayed against them. To
run amok" in the Malay Peninsula
is synonymous with saying one is
under the influence of this drug.
Legend, which appears more truth
than poetry, says Mohammedan lead
ers in their wars against the Crusaders
utilized the services Of individuals ad-
dicted to hashish for secret murders.
Now, as to effect:
Despite the fact that medical men
and scientists have disagreed upon the
properties and some are inclined
to minimize the harmfulness, the
records offer ample evidence that it
has a disastrous effect upon many
of its users" says the Narcotics Bu-
reau. Recently we have received
many reports showing crimes Of
violence committed while under the
influence"
In what the Treasury calls the
most heinous crime of 1888" Victor
Licata, marihuana user of Tampa,
Fla, murdered his mother, father,
sister and two brothers while they
were asleep. The recent murder Of
Michigan State policeman was COM
mitted by "muggles" smokers Rounded
up in the Midwest not long ago was q
gang of bank robbers with more than
80 hold-ups to their discredit. AL
were addicts. In Colorado, q man
under the influence of marihuana
attempted to shoot his wife, killed
her grandmother instead, and COM
mitted suicide. New Orleans was
startled In the Summer Of 1890 by
wave of bank hold-ups. Arrested, the
youthful perpetrators were found to
be "reefer men"
THE plea that q criminal 10 insane
while under the influence Of
marihuana has not held water In the
courts. Counsel for a 25-year-old
Puerto Rican, arraigned in Baltimore
two years ago on charge Of crimi-
nally assaulting a lO-year-old girl,
entered a plea Of not guilty on
grounds Of temporary insanity caused
by marihuana, but the defendant
was adjudged sane and sentenced to
hang.
Habitual marihuana users are said
to develop delirious rage, during
which they are temporarily, at least,
irresponsible and liable to commit
violent crimes. Prolonged use Of the
narcotic frequently lands the smoker
in straitjacket.
DR.. Bouquet observed that the
marihuana "drunkard" often will feel
as If his legs and arms had grown to
Gargantuan proportions. He will have
fits of spasmodic laughter His sense
Of sound is affected, and a horror Of
noises assails him. Brightly colored
spots and figures appear before his
eyes. He sees motley, animated
Lilliputian elves, small impish crea-
lures of this sort and that.
The Imagination runs riot. Colored
FREEZER men" in Atlanta have been
known to imagine themselves possessed
OF the ability to ny. They throw
themselves from roof tops-and are
picked up in baskets.
THE drift toward chronic condi-
ton is very gradual" DR.. Bouquet
states. 1.-THE subject becomes less and
less fit for work; he is completely in
different to everything and the small
est effort becomes painful. At times
gay, talkative and friendly, he abruptly
becomes detected, irritable and hostile
Appetite disappears and the
addict rapidly becomes emaciated."
It is still not known whether mari
huana Is habit-forming in the &C.
cepted sense Of the term. Unlike
opium, it can be broken" without
withdrawal symptoms. Deprived
abruptly of opium, the addict will
suffer terribly, not Just mentally, but
physically. Not 20 with marihuans
or cocaine.
A motorist drunk with marihuaua
Is just Is dangerous, perhaps more
90. than one drunk with alcohol. say
Anslinger.
TEN years ago thsre was little 4.
Legal tsadlc tn mnrthuana sxcep.