Dr. Lester Grinspoon, M.D.
Professor Emeritus, Harvard University

Dr. Grinspoon has been studying cannabis since 1967 and published two books on the subject. Marihuana Reconsidered published by Harvard University Press, 1971. Marihuana. the Forbidden Medicine, co-authored with James B. Bakalar, published by Yale University Press, 1993; the revised and expanded edition appeared in 1997.

His other books include The Speed Culture: The Use and Abuse of Amphetamines in America, Cocaine: A Drug and its Social Evolution, Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered, and Psychedelic Reflections.

"These kinds of marijuana experiences, which I like to call "enhancement", are often misunderstood and under-appreciated -- not only by non-users, but even by some users, especially young people who are interested mainly in promoting sociability and fun. Most of marijuana's powers of enhancement are not as immediately available as its capacity to lift mood or improve appetite and the taste of food. Some learning may be required, and one way to learn is through other people's experience.

"I have posted as the first essay on the web site www.marijuana-uses.com 'To Smoke or Not to Smoke: A Cannabis Odyssey', an essay about my personal involvement with this issue. I identify myself as a cannabis user, but contributors who wish to remain anonymous can; some may want to use a pseudonym. Most contributors will know what they want to write and how to go about it. However, for those who are in doubt, I suggest you read a few of the essays to get a sense of some of the ways these ideas can be presented.

"I hope you will be interested in submitting a contribution. Accounts judged to be useful will be posted on this website as they arereceived. If and when the collection is of a quality and quantity which would justify publication as an anthology, a book proposal will be written."

Come out of the closet! Join the Cannabis Consumers Campaign. Excerpted from www.cannabisconsumers.org.