ondary data. The required data were collected, reported, and published by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (1987). The data were collected by the National Opinion Research Center. The data used in this study were collected through the conduct of national probability sampling polls (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1987). Both cluster and strata procedures are included in the sampling process. Sample sizes relevant to the data used in this study were as follows:
1. The 1973 sample included 1,504 persons, while the 1975 sample included 1,490 persons, and the 1976 sample included 1,499 persons. All provided a 95 percent confidence level.
2. The 1978 sample included 1,532 persons, while the 1980 sample included 1,460 persons, and the 1983 sample included 1,599 persons. All provided a 95 percent confidence level.
3. The 1984 sample included 1,473 persons, while the 1986 sample included 1,470 persons, and the 1987 sample included 1,466 persons. All provided a 95 percent confidence level.
Four research hypotheses were formulated for this study. These hypotheses were as follows:
1. It is hypothesized that the overall trend in public opinion toward the legalization of marijuana use is toward opposing legalization.
2. It is hypothesized that gender differences with respect to the legalization of marijuana use did not change during the period of analysis.
3. It is hypothesized that ethnic/racial background differences with respect to the legalization of marijuana use did not change during the period of analysis.
4. It is hypothesized that, with respect to age differences with respect to the legalization of marijuana use:
a. for those individuals aged 30 years old and older, the trend is toward opposing legalization.
b. for those individuals under age 30, opinion is volatile, and long term projection is uncertain.
The statistical significance of the trends...