Revisiting the Outsiders: Innovative Recruitment of a Marijuana User Network via Web-Based Respondent Driven Sampling

Seth S Crawford

doi:10.4236/sn.2014.31003

Abstract

This study uses an innovative, network-based recruitment strategy (non-monetary, web-based respondent driven sampling) to gather a sample of il/legal marijuana users. Network-driven effects amongst marijuana users are examined to test the explanatory validity of several theories of social deviance. The study finds that respondent driven sampling techniques lack effectiveness without primary monetary incentives, even when meaningful secondary incentives are utilized. Additionally, the study suggests that marijuana user networks exhibit strong homophilic attachment tendencies.

Highlights

Aside from using marijuana, are there any substantial differences between regular marijuana users and the general population? Does the composition of marijuana users’ friendship networks affect their use of the drug? What do these friendship networks suggest about relations with non-users? Are there any differences between illegal marijuana users and licensed medical marijuana users? can individual-level factors explain the varying rates of medical marijuana patient participation between geographic areas? This study addresses these questions using a survey of marijuana users in Oregon—a location ripe for investigation along these lines
The results offer some insight into the population of Oregon marijuana users
The study suggests that Oregon marijuana users are not significantly different from the general population in many substantial ways, though their deviations—outside of marijuana use—are in socially acceptable and rewarding ways

Summary

Introduction

Aside from using marijuana, are there any substantial differences between regular marijuana users and the general population? Does the composition of marijuana users’ friendship networks affect their use of the drug? What do these friendship networks suggest about relations with non-users? Are there any differences between illegal marijuana users and licensed medical marijuana users? can individual-level factors explain the varying rates of medical marijuana patient participation between geographic areas? This study addresses these questions using a survey of marijuana users in Oregon—a location ripe for investigation along these lines. Does the composition of marijuana users’ friendship networks affect their use of the drug? What do these friendship networks suggest about relations with non-users? Oregon has one of the highest rates of marijuana use in the US, with the most recent estimate indicating that 14.09% of individuals over 12 years old have used marijuana in the last year (compared to the US average of 10.2%) [1]. Even with a firmly entrenched federal prohibition on marijuana, there is a strong possibility that Oregon’s quasi-legalization (through its medical program) makes the likelihood of more candid responses from respondents possible. Respondents answered questions relating to their social characteristics, health concerns/problems, political ideology, drug abuse potential, and their community’s acceptance of marijuana use. I provide an overview of pertinent literature and theoretical expectations, outline the methods used to assemble the sample and analyze collected data, discuss the findings, and describe possible future research directions

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion