SPECIFICALLY, A SET OF VARIABLES (E.G., AGE, SEX, AND RACE OF RESPONDENT, METROPOLITAN INFLUENCE, TOLERANCE) IS EXAMINED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHANGES IN SOCIETAL REACTIONS. THE STUDY IDENTIFIES GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD PREFER OUTRIGHT LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA AND THE TESTS CHANGES IN ATTITUDES AMONG DIFFERING CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE, OR SOCIAL AUDIENCES, OVER A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. DATA USED ARE FROM TWO NATIONAL SAMPLE SURVEYS CONDUCTED IN 1973 AND 1976. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT FACTORS WHICH PROMOTE TO 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 TO FAVOR LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA, STILL, SUBSTANTIAL GAINS HAVE BEEN MADE IN MOST SOCIAL CATEGORIES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CHANGES IN REACTIONS TO DEVIANCE OCCUR PARTLY BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO A GIVEN DEVIANT ACT AND ITS SITUATED CONTEXT AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF THOSE FACTORS WHICH PROMOTE TOLERANCE OF NONCOMFORMITY. AN INCREASED TOLERANCE OF MARIJUANA USE AND APPROVAL OF LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA MAY ALSO BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO FACTORS NOT CONSIDERED IN THIS STUDY. NOTES, TABULAR DATA, AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJW)