Lester Grinspoon (June 24, 1928 – June 25, 2020) was an American psychiatrist and longstanding associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard University who is best known for his groundbreaking work on the science and social policy of cannabis, psychedelics and other drugs, prompting his ensuing commitment to the reformation of harmful drug policies.
[2] He was founding editor of The American Psychiatric Association Annual Review and Harvard Mental Health Letter.
[4] After dropping out of high school, Grinspoon worked as a merchant mariner before resuming his education at Tufts University, earning an undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1951.
He "had no doubt that it was a very harmful drug that was unfortunately being used by more and more foolish young people who would not listen to or could not believe or understand the warnings about its dangers.
"[11] He has testified before Congress, and as an expert witness in various legal proceedings, including the deportation hearings of John Lennon.
[12] In 1990 Grinspoon won the Alfred R. Lindesmith Award for Achievement in the Field of Scholarship from the Drug Policy Foundation.
[15][16] Despite "a career that included pioneering research on schizophrenia, dozens of books and papers, and leadership roles at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center and other prestigious institutions," Grinspoon was denied promotion to full professor in 1975 and 1997.
Grinspoon's allies believe "an undercurrent of unscientific prejudice against cannabis among [Harvard] faculty and school leaders doomed his chances"; in 1975, a dean confided to him that the promotions committee "hated" Marihuana Reconsidered because it was "too controversial."
Dan Adams of The Boston Globe has characterized Grinspoon as "no Timothy Leary [...] He was an earnest academic who wore a tie, and insisted he never promoted the use of marijuana, but rather the elimination of draconian prohibitions.
"[17] Former colleagues Ming Tsuang and Joseph Coyle have maintained that the denial of Grinspoon's promotion was likely predicated on his perceived neglect of "original research" in favor of "[synthesizing] the work of others".
Grinspoon also appeared in the Canadian documentary The Union: The Business Behind Getting High and discussed the pharmaceutical characteristics of marinol, as well as his writing experiences with Carl Sagan.