An Examination of the Impact of Legal Sanctions on Adolescent Marijuana Use a Panel Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the impact of appearance in juvenile court on perceptions of self, associations with peers who use marijuana, beliefs that the law is morally binding on oneself, and fear of legal sanctions for the use of marijuana, and subsequent self-reported marijuana use. A basic model specifying relationships among these variables is derived from both labeling theory and the deterrence approach. Findings from panel data collected at, two points in time from high school students (n=378), and data from juvenile court records provide not support for the hypothesis of specific deterrence and only marginal support for labeling theory. Additional findings point to the group nature of marijuana use and indicate that with the group context the potential impact of appearance in juvenile court is largely negated. Finally, no support is found for the hypothesis that the fear of legal sanctions is an effective deterrent to use. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.