College students' expectations regarding the physiological, psychological, and social effects of marijuana were investigated. A sample of 210 undergraduates stated their expectations about the effect of the drug by answering a series of structured-response type questions. Also, Ss provided background information related to their expectations about marijuana. Overall, the data suggest that students' expectations about the effects of marijuana were largely contrary to research findings and tended to discount potentially harmful consequences of the drug. Marijuana use was considered an educational issue, and decriminalization of it was strongly favored. Users, occasional users, and nonusers differed significantly in expectations about marijuana effects which lent support to hypotheses based on the theory of cognitive consistency. Of interest were sex differences on selected background variables. Women as compared to men seemed to hold more disapproving attitudes about the use of marijuana, reported greater difficulties in obtaining the drug, used it less frequently, and knew fewer marijuana smokers. Expectations about marijuana should be taken into account when trying to develop relevant drug education programs. (Author/JLL)