“There has been little evidence in Canada to support an association of cannabis with crimes of violence. Nor is there any suggestion that cannabis users are obliged to engage to any significant extent in a career of petty crime to support their habit in a manner similar to that of heroin addicts or even ‘speed freaks’. The use of cannabis, under present conditions, does involve exposure to contact with criminal elements and may encourage a certain amount of delinquency or anti-social behavior in some users. But we do not believe there is evidence to support a generalization in this regard. Many users of cannabis exhibit high ethical standards, apart from their wilful violation of the drug laws.”
-The Report of the Canadian Government Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs – 1972
John Lennon and Yoko Ono meeting with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in Canada before testifing in front of the Le Dain Commission, circa 1969
Project E206
In 1969 Canada’s Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau wanted his government to take a look at cannabis in hopes of easing the harsh drug laws. Under Gerald Le Dain, ‘The Le Dain commission’ was formed to study cannabis.
Over a 3 year period intensive studies were done with every aspect of cannabis use. Many star witness both celebrity and scientific testified before the commission.
The studies done and much of the information left unpublished buried in oblivion…
“A truckload of Canadian medicinal marijuana from a plantation in Ottawa in 1971. More than a ton of marijuana was prepared for experimental research”
On a Government owned farm called the ‘Central Experimental Farm’ in Ottawa, Canada, Farmer Ernie Small would grow a field of cannabis for the Canadian government to study.
This Government cannabis would go on to supply multiple government studies, many of which would never be published…
Some of these Government studies actually sold this cannabis to the test subjects, like in the case of Project E206 for 50cents a joint….
Marijuana is harvested in the Canadian governments Central Experimental Farm Ottawa, Canada 1971
The Le Dain Commission would oversee 120 projects examining the physiological, psychological and behavioral effects of marijuana and other illegal drugs.
Some of these projects would be preformed by third parties like ‘The Addiction Research Foundation’ out of Toronto. Lead by Psychologist C.G. Bill Miles the Foundation would study the long-term effects of marijuana smoking in both male and female volunteers.
Psychologist C.G. Bill Miles lead ‘Project E206’
Psychologist C.G. Miles would first study 6 males in the foundations cannabis experiments…
“For his pilot study, Miles enlisted six unemployed male volunteers and assigned them to make wooden stools while smoking increasingly potent doses of weed for 70 straight days.
Miles wanted to see how productive the men were when they were stoned, how motivated they were to assemble small stools with sea grass seats for $2 a pop.
The study initially found a slight dip in productivity that was reversed when the men unexpectedly went on strike, demanding higher pay. When their wage increased, to $2.75 per stool, so did their output.”
Miles conclusion of the study was interesting…
“Evidence shows that the inability or unwillingness to earn following high cannabis consumption can be overcome by an economic incentive,”
-C.G. Miles
Rome News-Tribune – Feb 28, 1971
Project E206 would be run much in the same way in which Miles first tests were preformed…
“The women were quickly split into two groups in two different areas of the hospital. Half of them — the experimental group — were required to smoke increasingly potent doses of marijuana twice a night, while the other half — the control group — did not. Both sides could buy as many relatively mild joints as they wanted for 50 cents apiece at a store that also sold alcohol, junk food, toiletries, cigarettes and magazines.”
“The women were required to cover the cost of their existence, except for their bed and water, for 98 days. Whatever money they earned and did not spend on food, clothing or entertainment, they could keep. A $250 bonus awaited those who stuck with the experiment until the end. Those who quit early would lose the extra payout and up to 75 per cent of their savings.
They made their living on a primitive-looking wooden device, a Guatemalan backstrap loom, on which they wove colourful, fuzzy, woollen belts with knotted tassels. For every belt that passed inspection — it had to contain at least two colours and measure 132 centimetres in length — the women received $2.50.”
Although similar in testing protocol the study would never be published leaving the participants wondering what the tests were for…
Control group of girls in project E206, 1972
The Le Dain Commission ended with their findings presented in ‘The Report of the Canadian Government Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs – in 1972’
Among other changes the Commission recommended the decriminalization of both the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use…
“The use of cannabis is a problem but so also is the present use of the criminal law to suppress it. It is clear that the law has had no serious effect on this issue. There can be no doubt that the law on the books is at extreme variance with the facts. It is simply not a feasible policy in the long run.”
– The Le Dain Commission conclusion
Still shot from ‘Reefer Madness’