Attitudes about Marijuana and Political Views

Abstract

Beliefs about the legalization of marijuana were compared with political views for a Boston sample of 1350 high school and college students users and nonusers of the drug. Conservatives more likely agreed than liberal nonusers of marijuana that users and sellers should be severely punished and less likely agreed that present penalties for users were too severe. However, for those Ss with some marijuana experience, no significant association occurred between political beliefs and response to these statements. Results suggest that, with regard to attitudes about legalization of marijuana and political views, experience with the drug is an important factor.