Changes in Reactions to Deviance: The Issue of Legalization of Marijuana

Abstract

This paper examines the changes in societal reactions to deviance and some of the factors which might propt such changes. As an example, the issue of legalization of marijuana is examined. Data used are from two national sample surveys conducted in 1973 and 1976. It is found that factors which promote tolerance of nonconformity are also important in promoting changes in societal reactions to deviance. Generally, younger, better educated, less religious, and more tolerant respondents are more likely than others (although substantial gains have been made in most social categories) to favor legalization of marijuana. It is suggested that changes in reactions to deviance occur partly depending upon the exposure to a given deviant act and the situated context, and partly on the basis of those factors which promote tolerance of nonconformity.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ARRESTS Variations in Pretreatment Arrests of Clients in Drug Treatment Programs

“…It should also be noted that those biases found to be relevant were somewhat lower than would be found for other types of arrests. For example, while in a national sample males were about five times more likely to be arrested than females (Singh and Adams, 1979), results of this study indicated that males were only one and one-half times more likely to have been 326 CRIMINOLOGY I NOVEMBER 1981 arrested than females. Whet her being involved in a drug subculture is the explanation for this equalization of sexes is yet to be tested.…”

“…Second, although drug arrests increased well over 1000% from 1960 to 1974, there was a decline of about 7% in drug arrests from 1974 to 1975 (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1977; Singh, 1978). Third, arrests for possession of marijuana, which constituted approximately 70% of all drug arrests in 1975, have dramatically declined due to decriminalization trends and moves toward legalization of marijuana (Singh et al, 1979). Fourth, depending upon the seriousness and immorality label assigned to a given type of drug use (Duster, 1970), arrest patterns can also vary based on the type of substance abuse.…”