TYPES OF EFFECTS BY MINIMAL
LEVELS OF INTOXICATION
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| Figure 24-1. CUMULATIVE DISTRIBUTIONS: TYPES OF EFFECTS BY MINIMAL LEVELS OF INTOXICATION |
| Just | Fairly | Strongly | Very Strongly | Maximum | |||||
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| FORGET START OF CONVERSATION | |||||||||
| NEW QUALITIES TO SEXUAL ORGASM | |||||||||
| EASILY SIDETRACKED | |||||||||
| MORE HERE-AND-NOW | |||||||||
| SEE PATTERNS IN NORMALLY AMBIGUOUS VISUAL MATERIAL | |||||||||
| TIME PASSES MORE SLOWLY | |||||||||
| DISTANCE IN WALKING CHANGED | |||||||||
| SPONTANEOUS INSIGHTS ABOUT SELF | |||||||||
| MORE CHILDLIKE, OPEN TO EXPERIENCE | |||||||||
| DIFFICULT TO READ | |||||||||
| PHYSICALLY RELAXED | |||||||||
| NEW QUALITIES TO TOUCH | |||||||||
| MOVEMENT EXCEPTIONALLY SMOOTH WHEN DANCING | |||||||||
| TOUCH MORE EXCITING, SENSUAL | |||||||||
| GREATER SPATIAL SEPARATION BETWEEN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS | |||||||||
| DEEP INSIGHTS INTO OTHERS | |||||||||
| VISUAL IMAGERY MORE INTENSE | |||||||||
| APPRECIATE VERY SUBTLE HUMOR | |||||||||
| HARD TO PLAY ORDINARY SOCIAL GAMES | |||||||||
| LESS NOISY AT PARTIES THAN WHEN STRAIGHT | |||||||||
| LESS NEED TO FEEL IN CONTROL OF THINGS | |||||||||
| MORE TOLERANT OF CONTRADICTIONS | |||||||||
| INVARIABLY FEEL GOOD FROM TURNING ON | |||||||||
| TASTE SENSATIONS HAVE NEW QUALITIES | |||||||||
| EASY TO GET TO SLEEP AT BEDTIME..?.?.?.* | |||||||||
| UNDERSTAND WORDS OF SONGS BETTER | |||||||||
| ENJOY EATING A LOT | |||||||||
| LESS NOISY AT PARTIES THAN WHEN TIPSY OR DRUNK | |||||||||
| NEW, SUBTLE QUALITIES TO SOUNDS | |||||||||
| CAN COME DOWN AT WILL | |||||||||
| Just | Fairly | Strongly | Very Strongly | Maximum | |||||
Marijuana users usually test the quality of the marijuana they
are buying. This is done either by smoking a fixed amount of it
and rating the level of intoxication reached or by smoking until
a desired level of intoxication is reached and noting how much
marijuana was required. While each marijuana user probably has
certain idiosyncratic effects he uses to judge how intoxicated
he is, some of the characteristic effects presented in Figure
24-2 probably function commonly as a guide to level and thus to
the potency of the marijuana.
Because so few characteristic effects have a minimal level above
the Strong level, Figure 24-2 does not provide useful information
about what else, in addition to these characteristic effects,
may occur at the higher levels of intoxication. Such data is found
in the final two sections of this chapter.
| Just | Fairly | Strongly | Very Strongly | Maximum | |||||
| NAUSEA | |||||||||
| MYSTICAL & PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES | |||||||||
| IDENTITY CHANGES | |||||||||
| LOSS OF CONTACT | |||||||||
| MEMORY ALTERATIONS | |||||||||
| INTERNAL BODY AWARENESS | |||||||||
| DRIFTING, LOSS OF CONTROL, INEFFICIENCY | |||||||||
| INTENSIFIED IMAGERY, FANTASY, HALLUCINATIONS | |||||||||
| SPACE TIME ALTERATIONS | |||||||||
| AFTEREFFECTS | |||||||||
| INSIGHTS INTO SELF AND ALTERATIONS IN COGNITIVE PROCESSES | |||||||||
| FOCUSING, CENTERING, EFFICIENCY.?.?.* | |||||||||
| GREATER SENSITIVITY AND SUBTLETY IN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS | |||||||||
| SENSORY ENHANCEMENT | |||||||||
| RELAXING, QUIETING, OPENING | |||||||||
| RESTLESSNESS | |||||||||
| Just | Fairly | Strongly | Very Strongly | Maximum | |||||
Restlessness includes six effects[3]
indicating restlessness, a desire to move about to do things.
Comments by informants indicated that these types of effects probably
do not fit the minimal level model; i.e., restlessness is often
a transitory phenomenon of the very low levels of intoxication
and is replaced by relaxation and lethargy as soon as the user
becomes more intoxicated. This is indicated by the use of question
marks on the graph.
Relaxing, quieting, opening includes 52 effects
indicating feeling physically relaxed, content, open to whatever
happens, less striving, less active.
Sensory enhancement includes 72 items dealing with new,
enhanced, or more subtle qualities of sensory perceptions of the
external world.
Greater sensitivity and subtlety in interpersonal
relationships includes 26 items dealing with feelings of
insights into others, increased empathy with them, and the ability
to interact in very subtle and sensitive ways, to play subtle
"games" Focusing, centering, efficiency
includes 28 items dealing with focusing more clearly on tasks
at hand, being more here-and-now, being centered in oneself in
a situation rather than pulled off balance, and feeling more capable
and efficient at tasks. This is another category of effects that
probably does not fit the minimal level model in all respects,
with feelings of inefficiency being more likely at the higher
levels of intoxication.
Insights into self and alteration of cognitive
processes includes 32 items dealing with heightened awareness
of one's mental processes and one's personality characteristics,
often including the awareness of alteration in functioning of
these processes.
Aftereffects includes some 14 effects occurring the day
following a session of marijuana intoxication, without regard
as to whether these are desirable or undesirable. Space/time
alterations includes 37 effects dealing with changes in perception
of space, spatial relationships, and time.
Intensified imagery, fantasy, hallucinations includes
41 effects indicating greatly intensified imagery in all sensory
modalities, intensified and more absorbing fantasy activity, synesthesia,
and visual hallucination.
Drifting, loss of control, inefficiency includes
36 effects reflecting an inability to concentrate, to perform
tasks well, or to recall desired memories.
Internal body awareness includes 65 effects dealing
with enhanced awareness of sensations and processes inside one's
body.
Memory alterations includes some 19 effects concerned with
false memories, deja vu, alterations in memory retrieval, state-specific
memory, and the like. Simple worsening or bettering of recall
has been included in the inefficiency or efficiency categories
above.
Loss of contact includes 29 effects dealing with
loss of contact with the external environment or one's own body,
often resulting from absorption in internal activities.
Identity changes includes 9 effects dealing with temporary
changes in personality, archetypal qualities to events, and changes
in the relationship of self-concept to the body.
Mystical and paranormal experiences includes 12 effects
dealing with spiritual experiences and ostensibly paranormal effects
such as telepathy.
Nausea includes 2 effects dealing with the feeling of nausea
and actual vomiting.
Considering the relation of types of effects to minimal level
of intoxication as a whole, then, we see the following:
At the lowest levels there may be a mild restlessness, but this
is replaced with relaxation, calmness, and quieting at only slightly
higher levels. Sensory enhancement begins at low levels, coupled
with feelings of being centered and efficient. While this sensory
enhancement persists through all levels, feelings of efficiency
may be replaced by those of inefficiency, inability to concentrate
on a task, at Strong levels.
The Fairly/Strongly level also is characterized with feelings
of insight into one's own and others' psychological processes,
so that both thought and social interaction seem very subtle,
clever, and different. Some aftereffects the next day follow intoxication
at the Fairly/Strongly level, increasingly so at the very high
levels.
At the Strong level major alterations in the perception of space
and time may occur, and the user can become very absorbed in an
inner world of thought, fantasy, and intensified bodily sensations,
although social interaction is still easily possible.
At the Strongly/Very Strongly level and higher, memory is altered
in its functioning, and the user may become so absorbed in inner
experience that he temporarily loses contact with his own body
and/or the
environment. Mystical and ostensibly paranormal experiences sometimes
occur.
Nausea and vomiting (both rare effects) may occur at the maximal
level.
Effects Beginning at the Just/Fairly Level:
HIGHER PEOPLE GET ME HIGHER (Q121)
LESS NOISY AT PARTIES THAN WHEN DRUNK (Q110)
REMEMBER MORE OF WHAT IS READ (Q20)
HEAR MORE SUBTLE CHANGES IN SOUNDS (Q24)
EASIER TO READ THAN WHEN STRAIGHT (Q19)
Effects Beginning at the Fairly Level:
LEARN A LOT ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES (Q138)
Invariably feel bad when intoxicated (Q166)
Colors get duller (Q2)
HARD TO PLAY ORDINARY SOCIAL GAMES (Q106)
CONTOURS GET SHARPER (Q10)
LESS NOISY AT PARTIES THAN WHEN STRAIGHT (Q109)
EASIER TO ACCEPT WHATEVER HAPPENS, LESS NEED TO CONTROL (Q170)
EASIER TO ACCEPT CONTRADICTIONS (Q137)
CRAVE SWEET THINGS TO EAT (Q46)
REMEMBER LESS OF WHAT IS READ (Q21)
TALK A LOT MORE THAN WHEN STRAIGHT (Q117)
WORK AT TASKS WITH EXTRA ENERGY AND ABSORPTION (QI79)
INVARIABLY FEEL GOOD WHEN INTOXICATED (Q165)
NEW QUALITIES TO TASTE (Q39)
FEEL THE WORLD IS IN BAD SHAPE (Q215)
EASY TO GO TO SLEEP AT BEDTIME (Q197)
UNDERSTAND THE WORDS OF SONGS BETTER (Q25)
MORE SOCIABLE (Ql15)
ENJOY EATING AND EAT A LOT (Q44)
Effects Beginning at the Fairly/Strongly Level:
DISTANCES SEEM GREATER (Q52)
MEMORY FOR OTHERWISE FORGOTTEN EVENTS IS WORSE (Q152)
SEE PATTERNS, FORMS IN OTHERWISE AMBIGUOUS VISUAL MATERIAL (Q13)
TIME PASSES MORE SLOWLY (Q58)
LESS SOCIABLE (Q116)
PICTURES ACQUIRE A THIRD DIMENSION OF DEPTH (Q4)
STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY COMPANIONS (Q120)
TALK A LOT LESS (Q118)
DISTANCES IN WALKING CHANGED (Q51)
SPONTANEOUSLY HAVE INSIGHTS ABOUT MYSELF (Q139)
WORK ON TASKS LESS ACCURATELY, JUDGED BY LATER EVALUATION (Ql44)
INHIBITIONS LOWERED (Ql73)
SMELL HAS NEW QUALITIES (Q47)
VISUAL IMAGES AUTOMATICALLY ACCOMPANY THINKING (Ql48)
SMELLS RICHER, MORE UNIQUE (Q48)
THINK IN A MORE INTUITIVE FASHION (Ql49)
SURFACES SEEM ROUGHER, FORM INTERESTING PATTERNS (Q34)
BETTER PERSON TO MAKE LOVE WITH WHEN STONED (Ql27)
PLEASANT, WARM TINGLING INSIDE BODY (Q81)
DREAMS MORE VIVID (Q201)
PAIN MORE INTENSE IF CONCENTRATED ON (Q89)
MORE INVOLVED IN ORDINARY TASKS (Q217)
OBJECTS SEEM HEAVIER (Q35)
FEEL MORE CHILDLIKE, OPEN TO EXPERIENCE (Q207)
CLOSER MENTAL CONTACT WITH PARTNER WHEN MAKING LOVE (Ql25)
MORE DIFFICULT TO READ (Q18)
PLAY CHILDISH GAMES (Q105)
FEEL THE WORLD IS IN GOOD SHAPE (Q214)
PHYSICALLY RELAXED (Q99)
IDEAS MORE ORIGINAL, CREATIVE THAN WHEN STRAIGHT (Q145)
INSIGHTS ABOUT MYSELF IF I DELIBERATELY TRY TO HAVE THEM (Q14O)
MEMORY FOR OTHERWISE FORGOTTEN EVENTS BETTER (Q151)
MOVEMENTS VERY SMOOTH, COORDINATED (Q100)
NEW QUALITIES TO TOUCH (Q31)
COMPULSIVE DESIRE TO GET HIGHER (Q176)
SURFACES FEEL SMOOTHER, SILKIER (Q33)
FEEL EMOTIONS MORE WEAKLY (Q162)
EVENTS AND THOUGHTS FLOW MORE SMOOTHLY (Q61)
TOUCH MORE EXCITING, SENSUAL (Q32)
DREAMS LESS VIVID (Q202)
NEED FOR SEX GOES UP (Ql22)
GOOD MEMORY FOR PERIOD OF INTOXICATION (Ql58)
GET PHYSICALLY RESTLESS, WANT TO MOVE AROUND (Q98)
GREATER SEPARATION BETWEEN INSTRUMENTS WHEN LISTENING TO STEREO (Q29)
EMPATHIZE STRONGLY WITH OTHERS (Qll4)
FEELS AS IF MIND IS WORKING MORE EFFICIENTLY (Ql41)
VIVID TASTE IMAGERY (Q45)
DEEP INSIGHTS INTO OTHERS (Q113)
SAY MORE PROFOUND THINGS (Q111)
AUDITORY IMAGERY MORE VIVID (Q27)
VISUAL IMAGERY MORE VIVID (Q8)
APPRECIATE MORE SUBTLE HUMOR (Q146)
MOOD BEFORE INTOXICATION AMPLIFIED BY INTOXICATION (Ql60)
PLAY VERY ELABORATE GAMES (Ql47)
WORK ON TASKS MORE ACCURATELY, JUDGED BY LATER EVALUATION (Q143)
NEW COLORS, SHADES OF COLOR (Q1)
SALIVATE A LOT (Q42)
MARKED INCREASE IN SEXUAL DESIRE IF SITUATION IS APPROPRIATE (Ql24)
GROUP TAKES ON A SENSE OF UNITY WHEN STONED (Qll2)
SLEEP MORE REFRESHING THAN USUAL (Ql99)
MORE VISUAL IMAGERY WHILE READING (Q22)
RETASTE FOOD WHEN BELCHING (Q43)
Effects Beginning at the Strongly Level:
BODY FEELS LIGHT, FLOATY (Q79)
BODY FEELS HEAVY (Q80)
LOSE AWARENESS OF BODY UNLESS STRONG STIMULUS OCCURS(Q70)
VISUAL DEPTH MAGNIFIED (Q14)
SPACE BECOMES AN AUDITORY SPACE (Q30)
Others seem dead, lifeless (Q119)
POOR MEMORY FOR PERIOD OF INTOXICATION (Ql59)
DEJA VU (Q63)
FEELS AS IF MIND IS WORKING LESS EFFICIENTLY (Ql42)
LONG TIME DELAY BETWEEN CHEWING AND TASTING (Q41)
Less desire for sex (Q123)
VIVID TACTUAL IMAGERY (Q37)
EVENTS AND THOUGHTS FOLLOW JERKILY (Q62)
SKIP INTERMEDIATE STEPS IN PROBLEM SOLVING (Ql33)
TIME PASSES MORE RAPIDLY (Q59)
VERY AWARE OF BREATHING (Q73)
SOUND OF OWN VOICE CHANGES (Q28)
FOCUSED SIGHTS VERY REAL, OTHERS DIM—VISUAL CENTRALITY (Ql2)
World looks flat, lacks depth (Q5)
MOVEMENTS AWKWARD (Q 101)
DROWSY EARLY IN EVENING (Ql98)
FEEL WEAKER (Q96)
DISTANCES SEEM SHORTER (Q53)
FEEL UNIQUE, NO ONE IS LIKE ME (Q188)
THINGS IN PERIPHERY LOOK DIFFERENT (Q9)
AWARE OF HEART BEATING (Q92)
FEEL STRONGER (Q95)
SPONTANEOUSLY REMEMBER THINGS LONG FORGOTTEN (Q150)
LESS AWARE OF BODILY COMPONENTS OF EMOTION (Q164)
VIVID SMELL IMAGERY (Q50)
NEW QUALITIES TO TEMPERATURE (Q38)
PAIN EASY TO TOLERATE IF ATTENTION DIVERTED (Q88)
GIVE LESS THOUGHT TO CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIONS (Ql31)
FEEL VERY POWERFUL. CAPABLE (Ql90)
NEW QUALITIES TO SEXUAL ORGASM (Q128)
OBJECTS SEEM LIGHTER (Q36)
CAN MEDITATE MORE EFFECTIVELY (Ql93)
EASILY SIDETRACKED, FORGET TO FINISH TASKS (Q175)
MORE HERE-AND-NOW (Q136)
GIGGLE A LOT (Ql74)
NEW MEANING TO COMMONPLACE SAYING, EVENTS (Ql35)
FEEL EMOTIONS MORE STRONGLY (Q161)
EXCELLENT CONTROL OF FANTASIES (Ql78)
MORE AWARE OF BODILY COMPONENTS OF EMOTION (Ql63)
Effects Beginning at the Strongly/Very Strongly Level:
SPACE TAKES ON A SOLID QUALITY (Q56)
AWARE OF INTERNAL ORGANS NORMALLY UNAWARE OF (Q75)
FORGET START OF SENTENCE (Q154)
LOSE SENSE OF SEPARATE SELF, AT ONE WITH WORLD (Q189)
MUSCLES DEVELOP A TREMOR (Q86)
PERSONALITY CHANGES A LOT WHILE STONED (Q185)
IN TOUCH WITH A HIGHER POWER (Q177)
POOR CONTROL OF FANTASIES (Q177)
LOCATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN BODY SHIFTS (Q77)
SO ABSORBED IN FANTASY THAT ATTENTION MUST BE GOTTEN FORCIBLY
(Q129)
VISION BLURRY (Q11)
CAN'T THINK CLEARLY, THOUGHTS SLIP AWAY BEFORE GRASPED (Q134)
EVENTS BECOME ARCHETYPAL (Q191)
INNER VISIONS AS REAL AS NOCTURNAL DREAMS (Q218)
THINK I'VE SAID SOMETHING WHEN I'VE ONLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT (Ql56)
THINGS GET NEAR OR FURTHER AS I LOOK AT THEM—DEPTH JIGGLE (Q15)
VIBRATION OR TINGLING IN BODY, NOT PHYSICAL TREMOR (Q85)
VERY AWARE OF INTERNAL ORGANS WHILE DEFECATING OR URINATING (Q78)
BODY FEELS LARGER (Q90)
BODY FEELS SMALLER (Q91)
Sleep poor and restless (Q200)
POWER, FORCE, ENERGY SENSATIONS IN BODY (Q82)
FEEL ISOLATED FROM THINGS AROUND ME (Q107)
CAN CONVERSE INTELLIGENTLY DESPITE SHORTENED MEMORY SPAN (Q155)
Smell sensations broken into components (Q49)
FORGET START OF CONVERSATION (Q153)
FINISH PHYSICAL TASK EVEN THOUGH MENTALLY LOST TRACK OF (Q130)
BODY PART ATTENDED TO STANDS OUT MUCH MORE (Q71)
SENSUAL QUALITY TO VISION (Q3)
FEEL ISOLATED FROM PARTNER WHILE MAKING LOVE (Q126)
OTHERS HAVEN'T NOTICED I'M STONED (Q212)
FEEL PARANOID, SUSPICIOUS ABOUT OTHERS WITH ME (Q108)
So AWARE OF PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS IT MUST BE TELEPATHY (Q65)
TASTE SENSATIONS DIVIDED INTO COMPONENTS (Q40)
Effects Beginning at the Very Strongly Level:
CAN'T COME DOWN QUICKLY ABOVE THIS LEVEL (Q205)
BODY NUMB (Q76)
GET SO LOST IN FANTASY IT TAKES A WHILE TO REORIENT AFTER (Q55)
ANOTHER PERSON'S FACE WILL CHANGE AS I WATCH IT (Q16)
CAN COME DOWN AT WILL IF NECESSARY (Q184)
OBJECTS VIBRATE OR PULSE AS IF THEY HAD A LIFE OF THEIR OWN (Q 17)
Parts of body have moved by themselves (Q182)
SENSE OF BALANCE ERRATIC (Q103)
Tremble a lot in hands after having been stoned (Q102)
HARD TO GET ORGANIZED NEXT DAY (Q209)
Can perform magical operations to affect things or people (Q68)
AURAS AROUND OBJECTS (Q7)
INNER TRIPS, FANTASIES AS REAL AS REALITY (Q208)
Possessed by a good force (Q181)
LOSE CONTROL OVER THOUGHTS (Q183)
OTHERS HAVE NOTICED I ACT DIFFERENTLY WHEN STONED (Q211)
PROLONGED BLANK PERIODS (Q219)
FELT SHAPE OF BODY DOESN'T CORRESPOND TO ACTUAL FORM (Q69)
SYNESTHESIA: SOUNDS HAVE VISUAL IMAGES ASSOCIATED (Q216)
Worry about losing control (Q171)
Aware of energy flowing in spine (Q83)
THINK SOMETHING IS A MEMORY THAT TURNS OUT TO BE A FANTASY (Q157)
DIFFICULT TO GET TO SLEEP AT BEDTIME (Q196)
Do antisocial things that hurt others (Q172)
Precognition, able to foretell future (Q66)
Effects Beginning at the Very Strongly/Maximum Level:
Possessed by an evil force (Q180)
MERGE WITH OBJECT OR PERSON CONTEMPLATED (Q186)
HAVE LOST ALL CONSCIOUSNESS OF BODY DURING FANTASY TRIPS (Q94)
TIME SEEMS TO STOP (Q60)
AURAS AROUND PEOPLE (Q6)
HALLUCINATIONS (Q23)
Aware of chakra centers along spine (Q84)
Sounds are blurry, indistinct (Q26)
Effects Beginning at the Maximum Level:
Felt nauseated and vomited (Q210)
Felt dizzy or nauseated (Q74)
LOST ALL CONSCIOUSNESS OF BODY, FLOATED IN LIMITLESS SPACE (Q93)
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