On Being Introduced to Marijuana: Expectations,Effects,and Experiences of Past and Current Users

Abstract

For a sample of 530 marijuana users, categorized according to five use patterns (trial, past, occasional, regular, and daily users), data were analyzed relative to six variables pertaining to being introduced to marijuana. The general findings were 1) Age: the more frequent the use of marijuana, the younger the S when he started use; 2) the great majority of Ss were introduced to marijuana by close friends or girl/boy friends and extremely few by persons relatively unknown to them; 3) by far the most common reason given by all groups for trying marijuana was “curiosity.” Very few Ss tried it out of fear of being rejected by ones' friends or to release inhibitions; 4) Ss were not drawn to try the drug out of some expectation that it was going to have some specific and sought after effect—the most common expectation was “no particular expectation,” 5) the more usual reaction to a first marijuana experience is that of mild effects and generally enjoying the experience; 6) the greater the interest expressed in continuing use of marijuana after the first experience, the greater the eventual frequency of use of the drug.