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On Being Stoned
Charles T. Tart, Ph. D.
Chapter 22. Aftereffects
A FEW OF THE ITEMS dealt with possible aftereffects of marijuana
intoxication, even though aftereffects were seldom mentioned in
the pilot interviews.
MAJOR AFTEREFFECTS
Memory for Periods of Intoxication
Two questions (158 and 159), already discussed in Chapter 14,
dealt with memory for the period of intoxication. Both improved
and worsened memory were common effects, occurring with equal
frequency, but worsened memory tended to begin at the higher levels
of intoxication.
Memory for material read while intoxicated was discussed in the
same chapter. Poor memory was a common effect, improved memory
an infrequent one. Levels of intoxication did not differ significantly,
although comments from informants suggested that the very lowest
levels of intoxication were associated with improved memory, but
all levels above this with worsened memory for read material.
Changes in Religious, Philosophical Values
In Chapter 19 we found that 25 percent of the users reported spiritual
experiences that had had a long-term religious effect on them,
and 22 percent reported that getting intoxicated with marijuana
had acquired a religious significance. Other users indicated their
dislike of the term "religious" but indicated that insights
about themselves and the world during intoxication had greatly
affected their philosophy of life.
Sleep
As discussed in Chapter 20, ease in going to sleep after being
intoxicated for an evening is a characteristic effect, and having
an especially refreshing night's sleep is very common. The converse effects
were infrequent and rare, respectively, and occurred at much higher
levels of intoxication.
Trembling
"I tremble a lot in my hands for a while after having
been stoned" was added to the questionnaire as a validity
scale item, as I had never heard of such an effect in pilot interviews.
It turned out to be a rare effect in this sample (71%, 20%, 7%,
0%, 1%), associated with Very Strong levels of intoxication among
the few who rated it (1%, 1%, 7%, 9% 7%).
Next Day's Activity
"I find it very hard to get organized or accomplish anything
I want to the day after smoking grass. (Circle lowest level at
which this occurs)" is an infrequent effect (39%, 27%,
23%, 6%, 3%), which mainly begins to occur at the Very Strong
level for those who could rate it (0%, 6%, 15%, 19%, 15%). It
is reported as occurring more frequently by older users (p
<.05), and less frequently by Heavy Total users (p
<.05 overall and Users of Psychedelics (p <.01).
The College-educated indicate higher levels of intoxication for
this aftereffect (p <.05).
LEVELS OF INTOXICATION FOR AFTEREFFECTS
Figure 22-1 orders the various aftereffects by level of intoxication.
The overall ordering is highly significant (p <<<
.0005).
FIGURE 22-1. INTOXICATION LEVELS, AFTEREFFECTS
| Just | Fairly | Strongly | Very
Strongly | Maximum |
|
Type size code:
CHARACTERISTIC
COMMON
INFREQUENT
Rare |
|
| | Tremble in hands after
|
| | HARD TO ORGANIZE NEXT DAY
|
| | DIFFICULT TO GET TO SLEEP
|
| Sleep poor, restless
|
| | | | POOR MEMORY FOR PERIODS OF INTOXICATION
|
| | | GOOD MEMORY FOR PERIODS OF INTOXICATION
|
| | | SLEEP PARTICULARLY REFRESHING |
| | WORSENED MEMORY FOR READ MATERIAL
|
| | EASY TO GO TO SLEEP...?.* |
| BETTER MEMORY FOB READ MATERIAL..?.* |
|
*There is some question whether this effect is available at all
levels above the minimal one.
At the lower levels, we have some aftereffects that can be characterized
as desirable, namely, ease of going to sleep, particularly refreshing
sleep, and good memory for periods of intoxication. Poor recall
of material read is the major exception to this.
At the Strong level we have the only other common aftereffect
beginning to occur, poor memory for periods of intoxication.
At the higher levels there are a number of undesirable aftereffects,
all infrequent or rare.
MODULATING FACTORS
The relatively linear effects of various background factors on
aftereffects of intoxication are summarized in Table 22-1.
TABLE 20-1
EFFECTS OF BACKGROUND FACTORS ON AFTEREFFECTS
| BACKGROUND FACTORS | EFFECTS |
|---|
| More Drug Experience | More frequent:
Good memory for period of
intoxication
Good memory for read material
More Intoxicated for:
Sleep particularly refreshing | Less frequent:
Hard to organize next day
|
| Older | More frequent:
| Less frequent:
Poor memory for read material |
| More Educated | | Less frequent:
Good memory for period of
intoxication
Less intoxicated for:
Hard to organize next day
Easy to go to sleep |
| Males | | Less frequent:
Good memory for period of
intoxication |
| Meditation | More frequent:
Spiritual experiences while intoxicated
Religious significance to getting
intoxicated | Less frequent:
Poor memory for read material
|
| Therapy & Growth | More frequent:
Good memory for read material | Less frequent:
Poor memory for read material |
SUMMARY
There are very few aftereffects reported for marijuana intoxication,
and many of these occur infrequently or rarely.
There is nothing comparable to the hangover of alcohol intoxication,
although finding it hard to get organized and accomplish things
the next day infrequently follows intoxication at the very high
levels. This occurs less frequently among more experienced users.
It is easy to get to sleep and sleep is usually very refreshing
following periods of intoxication.
The aftereffect hardest to assess is the long-term alteration
of religious and philosophical beliefs of the users. Insights
and spiritual experiences occurring during intoxication initiate
many such changes.
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