NCJ Number
10211
Date Published
1955
Length
5 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF THE WAYS IN WHICH MARIJUANA USERS LIMIT THEIR USE OF THE DRUG ACCORDING TO THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF POSSIBLE SANCTIONS FROM OTHERS SIGNIFICANT TO THEM.
Abstract
PERSONS LIMIT THEIR USE OF MARIJUANA IN PROPORTION TO THE DEGREE OF THEIR FEAR, REALISTIC OR OTHERWISE, THAT NONUSERS WHO ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM WILL DISCOVER THAT THEY USE DRUGS AND REACT IN SOME PUNISHING WAY. THIS KIND OF CONTROL BREAKS DOWN AS THE USER DISCOVERS THAT HIS FEARS ARE EXCESSIVE AND UNREALISTIC, AS HE COMES TO CONCEIVE OF THE PRACTICE AS ONE WHICH CAN BE KEPT WITH RELATIVE EASE. EACH LEVEL OF USE CAN OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE PERSON HAS REVISED HIS CONCEPTION OF THE DANGERS INVOLVED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ALLOW IT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)