The Imputation of Motives for Marijuana Behavior

Abstract

The motives imputed to marijuana use and nonuse by both users and nonusers were investigated by means of open-ended questions. Verbal responses were categorized to symbolize typal vocabularies of motive, and these categories were tabulated against behavioral, social, experiential, and attitudinal variables. The results indicated that frequency of marijuana use and favorableness in drug attitude are the key factors that influence the degree to which different vocabular explanations are offered. Current users most often say that personal experience and personal reward are the motives behind use of the drug, and that legal sanctions and psychomedical effects largely account for its nonuse. Nonusers with unfavorable attitudes tend to verbalize emotional relief and psychological dependence as the motivations for use, and emotional independence for nonuse. Some of the vocabularies of both of these groups are emphasized by former users and nonusers with favorable attitudes. Interpretations of the data in terms of sociological theories of motives are presented.