Growing up all I heard is that "Marijuana is the gateway drug" meaning that it is the door to all the hardcore drugs. Even though I have seen many people fall thru these cracks and get hooked on crack and coke among other things I don't believe that Marijuana is such a bad thing. I have not personally used it but I know many people who have. I believe that is addictive but not to a bad extent. Yeah they get cranky when they don't have it but it doesn't take a rehab program and sezier like withdrawls to get off of it. And I believe it is easier to stop smoking weed than it is Cigs. If they would legalize it the cost would go down and it wouldn't be such a gateway drug...... They try other drugs when their drug of choice isn't available or costs too much at the time.
What are your opinions?
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Well, it's one of several of the so-called "Gateway drugs," along with alcohol, inhalants, and tobacco, but it doesn't necessarily mean that people who smoke marijuana will automatically become addicted to other substances. However, statistical analysis shows that people who smoke marijuana are much more likely to become addicted to other substances, even when controlling for contaminating factors in the data.
I see no reason for marijuana to be illegal. It's never been proven to have any long term health risks, and when used responsibly it is no more dangerous than alchohol.
But the relationship certainly isn't causal. People who are willing to try marijuana are more likely to be willing to try other drugs than people who are not willing to try marijuana.
I agree, the drug should be legal!
I think that is is only concidered the gatway drug because it is illegal. If it werent illegal then people could pick it up at a store not from a dealer and the demographic of people who use have to be willing to break the law so if it were legal more people would smoke it. And sometimes one can get into situations which could lead to otehr drugs. If it were legal then those situations wouldn't happen as often or at all.... My point is it should be legal because it would be safer. It can be whatever you want it to be if you want it to be the gateway drug it can be. It also can teach valuable skills:
http://www.progressiveu.org/155111-marijuana-teaches-math-and-business-s...
There's a place in L.A that has a vanding machine to sell medicinal marijuanna. It was in the news. Marijuanna isn't a gateway drug, new studies show there's not much difference between regular smoking and marijuanna.
Jennee you have said what i have been saying for a long time. Marijuana is a gateway drug because it is illegal, and that is the only reason. Just as robbing a store is a gateway to robbing a bank... but no one seems to get this. Look at the dutch... since they legalized marijuana it has actually had a reverse gateway effect.
Marijuana is far less addictive than tobacco (which is about as addictive as heroin btw) and less addictive than alcohol. It has been shown to cause less damage to your body overall than both of these. I don't know how this country can condemn this plant, but look away when 14 year olds are hacking up lungs because of cigarette addictions. Its disgusting the hypocrasy and alternate agendas this country has
The gateway effect is created by prohibition. Unscupulous dealers try to get you on something that will addict you and keep you coming back.
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