National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse

801 19th Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

March 22, 1972

To The President and Congress of the United States:

As Chairman of the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, I am pleased to submit to you our first year Report in conformance with the mandate contained in Section 601 of Public Law 91-513, The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.

This Report "Marihuana, A Signal of Misunderstanding" is an all-inclusive effort to present the facts as they are known today, to demythologize the controversy surrounding marihuana, and to place in proper perspective one of the most emotional and explosive issues of our time. We on the Commission sincerely hope it will play a significant role in bringing uniformity and rationality to our marihuana laws, both Federal and State, and that it will create a healthy climate for further discussion, for further research and for a continuing advance in the development of a public social policy beneficial to all our citizens.

Whatever the facts are we have reported them. Wherever the facts have logically led us, we have followed and used them in reaching our recommendations. We hope this Report will be a foundation upon which credibility in this area can be restored and upon which a rational policy can be predicated.

By Direction of the Commission

Raymond P. Shafer

The President

The President of the Senate

The Speaker of the House

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Marihuana, A Signal of Misunderstanding