Boston Quote by Marilyn Ferguson
“Never have so many been so high so often. When a Boston research group decided to compare the effects of marijuana on experienced and inexperienced users, it took them two months to line up nine student subjects who had never used marijuana.”
About This Quote
Source Study: Harvard University Research on Cannabis, 1993
Recruiting inexperienced marijuana users is extremely difficult, indicating low prevalence or reluctance among that group.
In simple terms: Finding people who have never tried weed is hard for researchers.
Key Takeaway
Expect challenges when studying rare or hidden populations.
Themes
research
substance use
sampling
methodology
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
academic
methodological
When to use this quote
- public health studies
- survey design
- clinical trials
Key Concepts
statistics
behavioral science
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can researchers improve recruitment of hard‑to‑reach groups?
- What alternative methods could assess effects without direct participants?
A Different Perspective
Low participation may bias results, limiting conclusions.
![“General Systems Theory, a related modern concept [to holism], says that each variable in any system interacts with the other variables so thoroughly that cause and effect cannot be separated. A simple variable can be both cause and effect. Reality will not be still. And it cannot be taken apart!…” quote by Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bc0/marilyn-ferguson-4496_brain_general-systems-theory-a-related-modern_294850.jpg)
![“It was when Boston invited us to do a parade one November, and I was the only [Star Wars] cast member skeptical of the willingness of people to come out to see us five actors drive by in antique cars in the Boston rain. Well, it was the first time I really understood the show's popularity.” quote by John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/098/john-ratzenberger-11869_actors_it-was-when-boston-invited-us-to-do-a-pa_67396.jpg)
