Forensic Science Gazette - What's in a Name? - Vol. 5 No. 5

Sep 29, 2026

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The document examines forensic-science reporting in Dallas, addressing both botanical/terminology issues and practical criminal procedure. It discusses how Cannabis names vary across legal and scientific contexts, tracing classification history and highlighting how legislative wording can shape courtroom outcomes. It also outlines an integrated system for handling sexual assault victims, detailing response steps, hospital treatment, specialized training, and the contents and use of criminal assault kits for evidence collection.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Pages11

Reading Time28 min

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THE FORENSIC SCIENCE GAZETTE

WHAT’S INA NAME?

RAPE VICTIMS AND CRIMINAL ASSAULT PROCEDURES IN DALLAS COUNTY

From The SOUTHWESTERN INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES Dallas Texas WHAT’S INA NAME? -William T.Lowry,Ph.D. "What's ina name?That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet." Romeo and Juliet -William Shakespeare Cannabis is probably the most widely diversifiedof all the psychoactive,drug-producing plants.It isdiversified in its growth,scientific terminology,andcommon terminology.Legally,however,its control islimited to one specific name,Cannabis sativa L. In North America,Cannabis is commonly knownas marihuana or marijuana.In India,it is known asbhang,ganja and charas.The common name in Algeriaand Morocco is kif,while in South American the namesdagga,machona and liamba are heard.Other namesheard around the world are kabak in Turkey,takrouri inTunisian and djoma in Africa.The American drugculture has extended Cannabis terminology to muggles,reefer,joints,weed,Texas tea,tea,gage,loco-weed,sticks,grass,boo,jive,rope,gates,goof-butts,mooters,Mary Jane,pot,and possibly others that this author isunaware of.However,no matter what terms are used,the meaning remains the same-except in a court of law. Scientists have contributed their share of namesfor Cannabis.It all began in 1753 when Linnaeusclassified Cannabis sativa.After that classification cameas follows: 1772-Cannabis lupulusScopoli1783-Cannabis indicaLamarck*1792-Cannabis foetensGilibert*1796-Cannabis erraticaSievers1812-Cannabis macropsermaStokes1905-Cannabis generalisKrause1908-Cannabis americanaHoughton1917-Cannabis gigantiaCrevost1924-Cannabis ruderalisJanischewsky*1936-Cannabis pedemontanaCamp1960-Cannabis intersitaSojak*Incorrectly classified alterations brought by centuries of cultivation,have ledmany to believe that they all were mis-claseified. EDITOR'S NOTE From this list of twelve species,three and possiblyothers are incorrectly classified.These errors inclassification,in addition to biological and ecological THE FORENSIC SCIENCE # GAZETTE Few people in the United States have beenconcerned about the botanical classification of Cannabis.On June 10,1937,when Congressional debate was inprogress concerning the Marihuana Tax Act,numerousrepresentatives of the American Medical Associationtestified as to the pharmacological properties ofCannabis.Little consideration however,was given to thebotanical status during this debate.Prior to the 1937Marihuana Tax Act,forty-six states had laws againstmarihuana,provided by a federal option in the UniformAnti-Narcotics Act.At this time,marihuana waserroneously designated as a narcotic and there were atleast twenty-eight medicinal products on the marketprepared from Cannabis.The federal legislators,failingto solicit botanical consultation,defined marihuana asCannabis sativa L.,even though prior to this enactment,in 1915,Cannabis indica was defined as a poison in thefederal law.This statute remains.Thus the states andfederal legislative enactments for the control ofmarihuana caused a legal terminology issue to be placedon this plant from which the monotypic concept wasborn. Legal logic has been lacking until recently whenfederal court rulings began handing down decisionsbased on legislative intent-to control marihuana nomatter what people,both in the lay and scientificcommunities,called it.Fortunately,the states have beenusing the logic of these federal rulings in application totheir marihuana cases.The courts are now beginning torealize that this plant has more aliases than the top tencriminals in the history of our country.Hopefully thelegislators will too. We wish to apologize for an error in the Vol.5,No.5,December 1974 issue.The name of the author,Dr.Charles S.Petty,M.D.was left off the article“TheMedical Examiner Views the Standard Certificate ofDeath”. 2 ## RAPE VICTIMS AND CRIMINAL ASSAULTPROCEDURES IN DALLAS COUNTY -I.C.Stone,Ph.D. Chief,Physical Evidence Section Since February 1,1973,an integrated system forhandling criminal assault victims has been in effect.Withthe exc

FAQs

How does legislative terminology affect the handling of Cannabis in court?

Federal court rulings focus on legislative intent to control marihuana regardless of what people call it. The document notes that legal language choices helped create a terminology dispute tied to botanical classification.

What prompted the document’s discussion of Cannabis scientific naming?

It traces historical taxonomic classifications beginning with Linnaeus in 1753 and subsequent reclassifications, arguing that cultivation and later interpretation have led to confusion over whether species were misclassified.

What are the main steps in the Dallas County rape victim response process?

After a victim reports an assault, a patrol unit takes an initial report and transports the complainant to the Parkland Memorial Hospital emergency room. If requested, a female officer meets the victim, and trained staff then provide treatment and evidence collection using prepared assault kits.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by awa