WRITTEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRAINING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON'S ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE INSTITUTE, THE ARTICLE STATES THAT MARIHUANA POLICY REMAINS IN THE LATE 1970'S AS ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY DEBATED ISSUES IN THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE FIELD. AN HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MARIHUANA USE, OFFENSES, AND LAWS CONCERNING IT IS GIVEN. MARIHUANA'S EFFECTS ON HEALTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL, ARE OUTLINED, INCLUDING POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS. IN 1970, THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MARIHUANA AND DRUG ABUSE WAS ESTABLISHED TO INVESTIGATE THE DRUG, ITS USE AND EFFECTS, AND THE EFFICACY OF EXISTING LAW REGARDING ITS USE. AFTER 2 YEARS OF INTENSIVE STUDY, THE COMMISSION CONCLUDED THAT 'MARIHUANA USERS ARE ESSENTIALLY INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THEIR NONMARIHUANA-USING PEERS BY ANY FUNDAMENTAL CRITERION OTHER THAN THEIR MARIHUANA USE.' FOLLOWING THIS OPINION, ENDORSEMENTS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR POSSESSION OF MARIHUANA CAME FROM MANY PROFESSONAL GROUPS INCLUDING THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATON. ULTIMATELY, THE WHITE HOUSE ALSO GAVE ITS SUPPORT. PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS ALSO REFLECT THIS TREND, ALTHOUGH MANY POWERFUL OPPONENTS TO DECRIMINALIZATION REMAIN. STATES THAT HAVE DECRIMINALIZED POSSESSION OF MARIHUANA HAVE EXPERIENCED NO INCREASE OR DECREASE IN USE LEVELS. ALSO THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT MARIHUANA USE WAS CONTRIBUTING TO BROADER PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN THE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS DIVERTED FROM INCARCERATION TO DRUG TREATMENT FACILITIES WERE NOTED IN THE STATES OF CALIFORNIA AND MINNESOTA FOLLOWING DECRIMINALIZATION. MARIHUANA ARREST DECREASES HAVE LED TO COST REDUCTIONS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. TODAY, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, SEVERAL BILLS DECRIMINALIZING MARIHUANA POSSESSION ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN CONGRESS. ALL THE FACTORS CITED INDICATE THAT MARIHUANA IS BECOMING INSTITUTIONALIZED AS A RECREATIONAL DRUG IN AMERICAN CULTURE AND THAT MARIHUANA AND THE LAW WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY DEBATES IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. (MJW)