NCJ Number
73040
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 93-99
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Based on an analysis of drug use patterns among University of Vermont students, this article argues that marijuana should be legalized rather than decriminalized to prevent youthful experimenters from entering a deviant subculture.
Abstract
The study sample included 358 females and 156 males. Five background variables and six drug use variables were examined in depth. Results showed that drug use has become a positive value within the student culture. No strong association was found between any of the background variables and the drug use variables, although males smoke and sell marijuana somewhat more than females. Marijuana use has become a normal part of student life among men, women, athletes, good students, and others. Furthermore, frequent use of marijuana is strongly associated with marijuana selling, the use of other illicit drugs, and selling of those drugs. Data support the hypothesis that the need to go through illegal channels to obtain marijuana leads to progressive involvement with the drug subculture. Legalization of marijuana would both break this network and would avoid forcing youth into the deviant subculture in order to pursue a behavior pattern which is, from all indications, less dangerous than the establishment's use of alcohol. Nine references are listed.