The Sciences - Vol. 5, No. 10 - March 1966 - Hashish

Sep 21, 2026

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An issue of The Sciences from March 1966 presents an article on hashish (cannabis), tracing its historical associations and everyday forms of use. It explains the term’s origin, describes how cannabis is cultivated and regulated, and outlines patterns of consumption worldwide. The text discusses psychological effects, disturbances in perception, and possible links to criminal behavior, then adds medical and bodily consequences such as appetite changes, cardiovascular effects, eye irritation, and diuretic action.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

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In Buoyant Spirits

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The Hash Called Hashish

THE SCIENCES ALSO IN THIS ISSUE CONTROL OF CONSCIOUSNESSHASHISH BIOGRAPHY 7:CHARLES DARWINADVANCES IN ARTIFICIAL HANDSPREHISTORIC SKULL SURGERYTHE DESERT RAT PUBLISHED BYTHE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES The SciencesVol.5,No.10,March,1966HASHISH AT the time of the Crusades,a certain Mohammedan sect wasorganized to bring terror to the Christian infidels.Because theyoung men of this sect committed their secret murders under theinfluence of hashish,they were called “hashishin”-or hashish eaters.Although the sect was crushed in the thirteenth century A.D.,theterm hashishin is believed by some to still survive-in our Englishword“assassin”. Hashish is the Arabic word for the drug cannabis,a drug morefamiliarly known to the western world as marijuana.By whatevername cannabis is called,it is certainly one of the oldest drugs knownto man.Chinese surgeons employed it as an anesthetic 2000 yearsago,and its euphoric effects are described by the 5th century,B.C.Greek historian,Herodotus. Cannabis is a term applied to the resin-containing parts of thehemp plant,Cannabis sativa-namely its flowering and fruiting tops.Quite apart from the drug it yields,the hemp plant's tough fibersgive it commercial importance,and the plant is cultivated in manyparts of the world.In the United States,it is grown under federalsupervision and control,but really stringent controls are almostimpossible when one is dealing with a plant which grows wild by theroadside or thrives in a vacant lot. The abuse of cannabis is more widespread throughout the worldthan that of any other drug,according to Dr.G.Joachimoglu(Uni-versity of Athens and Drug Supervisory Body,United Nations, Geneva).Most habitués smoke cigarettes in which the resin is mixedwith tobacco leaves.The hookah,or narghile,represents the Easternstyle of smoking hashish.In a few parts of the world-northern Africaand southern India-cannabis preparations are eaten or chewed. The user of hashish has little or no tendency to increase theamount of drug taken,nor does he develop physical dependence onit as does the morphine or heroin addict,who suffers serious sym-toms when his drug is withdrawn.But the use of cannabis is gen-erally recognized throughout the world to be detrimental to boththe individual and to society.In the United States it comes withinthe scope of the Harrison Narcotic Act.As Dr.Joachimoglu pointedout,hashish users commit crimes more commonly than non-users.Aside from the criminal tendencies it may bring forth,the hashishhabit is not harmless.It provokes severe pathological and psychicdisturbances and psychoses may follow. Generally speaking,the hashish habit is a social one.The symp-toms depend both on the psychological condition of the subject andon the surroundings and company.In Greece the habit is indulgedin certain haunts known to the addicts and often even to the police.Although the narghile is commonly employed,in recent years thelong cigarette-"reefer"-has been imported from western countriesand is becoming more popular.American users,who also smokereefers,often stage so-called “pot parties”. # IN BUOYANT SPIRITS The euphoria which hashish typically engenders was well ex-pressed by the French psychiatrist Moreau,who tried out the effectsof the drug on himself near the close of the Nineteenth century. “I felt that the sun lighted every single thought crossing mymind,"he wrote."Every move of my body was a source of delightThoughts could be interrupted easily,while,on the other hand,theyremained clear and could be alternated vividly and rapidly.Therewas no time element.Seconds became centuries,and one could coverthe whole world at one step.Everything was full of wonderful aromasand harmony;everything was lively,full of movement and speech.Even tones acquired a bodily substance and delightful pictures werepresent everywhere.Symptoms developed in the following succes-sion:(1)a feeling of well-being;(2)disturbance of concentrationof thoughts;(3)wrong perception

FAQs

What historical origins and meanings are associated with hashish?

The text links “hashishin” to a Mohammedan sect during the Crusades and connects the term to the English word “assassin.” It also discusses cannabis as an Arabic term and contrasts it with Western names such as marijuana.

What psychological and perceptual effects does the article describe?

It describes euphoria followed by sleep, then disturbances such as disrupted concentration, altered perception of time and place, more acute hearing, delirium, and illusions. These are attributed to the drug’s direct action on the brain.

What additional physical consequences and medical effects are mentioned?

The article notes increased appetite for sweets during recovery, transient rises in heart rate and blood pressure, lowered body temperature, eye vessel dilation, inflammation of arteries elsewhere, and a diuretic effect with selective excretion of sodium and bicarbonate.

Sep 21, 2026

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