- NEW!
by debyszoo on January 30th, 2007
I think it is sort of a gateway but not for any chemical reason. I think the reason for it is that potsmokers usually hang and party with people who use other drugs. Once a person is a regular potsmoker, alot of people against drugs dont want to hang with them and certainly dont want drugs at their parties so that leaves only parties with a variety of drugs present. I also think that once a person starts smoking pot, it tears away that taboo that says 'drugs are bad' and once you cross that line, its alot easier to do more stuff. When I was a teen, it happened to me and many people I know. Thats why I write this.
by janacide on January 29th, 2007
No,I think that people need to be responsible for thier own actions.Is a hunting rifle a gateway to automatic weapons?You decide.lol(Sorry to laugh,but it just seems silly)
by Tantric on January 29th, 2007
It is a Myth that Marijuana's is a Gateway Effect to harder drugs.
The over-changing nature of the statistical relationship between use-rate for marijuana and cocaine indicates the absence of a causal link between the use of these two drugs. Therefore, even in reducing marijuana use it would not guarantee a proportional reduction in the number of people who use cocaine.
While the gateway theory has enjoyed popular acceptance, scientists have always had their doubts," people who are predisposed to use drugs and have the opportunity to use drugs are more likely than others to use both marijuana and harder drugs, Marijuana typically comes first because it is more available.
by navyvet1 on January 29th, 2007
Not unless you want it to be
by debsmooth on January 29th, 2007
No. I think being hopelessly self-destructive has more to do with it. I know loads of potheads with jobs, families, mortgages. They lead boy scout troops, work trauma in the hospital and teach at the university level. Pot is no worse than alcohol and may be better in many ways. The gateway drug idea is just silly propaganda. I no longer use pot but never ever while I was using it did I feel the need to develop a crank habit or a smack habit. or a coke habit
by Athrael on February 9th, 2007
Its like asking if coffee is a gateway drug, after all the next thing you know you are doing cappuccinos and if you like the "speed" effect of that then you graduate to other 'uppers' (speedy drugs, E, tina, etc).
Yes many addicts have tried pot, many tweakers (speed/meth users) still smoke pot to ease them through the sketch and crash. But there are far, far many more who smoke pot and never "graduate" to other drugs.
Those who do "graduate" or find their drug of choice stop using pot - not because pot isn't a decent drug because the effects of pot is not what they are looking for. This holds truer for speed users who are in search for the "up high" not the "down/mellow high".
Addicts don't know what their drug of choice is when the first enter the drug world. Until they try their drug of choice. Pot makes a "safe" first drug of choice because it is not as harsh as say Heroine, crank, coke.
Alcohol could be called a "gateway drug" considering that that is really the first drug people try, most often it is used along with other drugs.
by kitty loves you on February 2nd, 2007
Not the drug itself but maybe the circle of people you have to associate with in order to obtain the drug. E.g You visit X to buy some weed, he knows of Y who can sell you some base, who knows of Z who can get you some ectascy...
by Elleonora on February 8th, 2007
Nope, it can be for some people, but for others (i think most) it is just fun, or even medicine.
by AliasAnonymous on February 8th, 2007
i think everyone's situation is different. i never smoked pot - i went straight for the hard stuff way back when. pot was like one of the last things i tried as a young adult. i think people say it's the "gateway drug" because people think if you are willing to try an illegal drug such as pot - which isn't as damaging as persay crack or heroin or whatever - then you will become willing to try anything else that is illegal. i don't really believe in that.
by danmyme on February 2nd, 2007
I have some friends that have (some still do) smoked pot. Some of them are just ocassional smokers, some full-time. I know that for some of them smoking pot got them into situations where they have been led to harder, more dangerous drugs. But I have know others to get hooked on the same hardcore drugs without ever touching marijuana. I think that it just depends on the person, if they have an addictive personality, and what all they have or will experience. Naturally pot will get some into worse drugs, but I think that friends and environment can do just as much harm.
by NotYourAvgPsycho on February 2nd, 2007
Well I certainly hope so! If not, I've wasted entirely too much time with it!
psst! you seen my Doritos?
by worshiptool on February 27th, 2007
No, Ive smoked pot and pot along hasnt pursued me to take any heavier drugs. This common myth was passed around during the "reffer maddness" error to insist on the band on legal pot (which was only wanted due to racism. Mexians were widly known for smoking marijuana and to encourage them to move to diffrent areas a group of people decided to cut of thier legal pot supply). Studies by the goverment even show a large number of people who take heavier drugs havent even smoked marijuana, but rather started with alcohol
by anonymous on February 21st, 2007
Not always. But it is certainly a rather convenient gateway to meeting people who deal other drugs
by laceelee on February 15th, 2007
I don't. I know a lot of people that smoke a little grass and don't try other drugs.
by Pothead01 on February 10th, 2007
Pot isn't really an addictive or Gateway drug. If you are a heavy smoker and not satisfied with the effects, i suggest that you move on to rehab before the drugs get to you. If anything else, stick to marijuana. Test out new bongs or new smoking styles.
by hershey_squirter_ on February 9th, 2007
No, I believe ignorance of the facts and bad choices stemming from that leads to drug use beyond marijuana.
by anonymous on January 29th, 2007
Definitely. Thats how I got started on other drugs.
Weed got boring, so I moved on to snorting both cocaine and heroin. Those drugs almost destroyed my life,...so in turn I can say that weed almost destroyed my life.
Im just happy I dont touch any of that crap anymore.
by Bridget on April 28th, 2009
well you certainly feel like you are going places :o) +5
by Cantras on February 26th, 2008
I think it leads to it in the sense that I tend to buy crisps when I'm in a petrol station. I'm already in the shop, may as well get some food.
PETROL IS A GATEWAY DRUG. BAN IT NOW BEFORE YOUR CHILDREN BECOME CRISPS ADDICTS.
Seriously, though, that's one reason I've heard for selling it legally-- takes it out of the hands of those who might go "hey, man, I'm all out, but see how you like this."
by jin jang on July 20th, 2007
Because they are misinformed and don't like others using marijuana.The media overplays the apparent dangers of it being a gateway drug without any facts to back it up.
by Smart2 is back! Did you miss me? on July 20th, 2007
Because "most people" who would say that are sheeple who will believe anything that mainstream media tells them. I have smoked weed for 40 of my 58 years and I never gateway-ed into anything else, although it wasn't for lack of opportunity. I dislike alcohol and find that weed provides me with a better buzz than shoving a blowfly up my nose. :)
by Cannabis its just a plant on July 20th, 2007
It's a myth:
Most really don't anymore. There are still some but it is recognized by most that it really isn't a gateway to harder drugs.
In the U.S. 70 million people have tried marijuana.... and most likely they didn't go on to harder drugs or we would see a hell of a lot more cocaine and heroin addicts than we do now.
Alcohol and cigarettes are usually the first drugs tried anyways. This would make them the "gateway drugs".
This question is one example of how a lot people feel about the gateway myth. Read a few answers:
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/128379
by Jade on April 16th, 2007
No. If people go on to other drugs, they would have done it anyway..pot has nothing to do with it. Due to the fact that a lot of people do other drugs in addition to pot tend to associate with each other, makes other drugs more accessible. Saying that pot smoking leads to other drugs is just as false as saying that it is addictive. I used to smoke it and it never caused me to "move up the drug ladder" and I never felt I couldn't do without it.
by fallore on April 2nd, 2007
According to these links:
http://www.rand.org/news/press.02/gateway.html
http://www.greenstateproject.com/2006/12/06/12-year-study-marijuana-not-repeat-not-a-gateway-drug/
as well as my common sense and experience:
No.
by Icebox April on March 14th, 2007
PFFT. That's like saying french fries are the gateway to fattier foods. Nobody MAKES people smoke pot, and if they do, nobody MAKES them do anything else. It's all personal choices. I know plenty of people that started with pot and yes, they moved onto evenutally doing meth and all kinds of crazy shit. but I know just as many people who started out on speed and coke and then settled down to pot and booze and are completely fine now. The majority I know that started with pot (if they stuck with it) maybe experimented with one more thing or something, but basically THEY STUCK TO IT. If someone wants to do hard drugs, that doesn't have anything to do with them smoking pot now, because it isn't one. Drugs don't force you to do other drugs. It's your choice.
by jennyb on March 7th, 2007
No, to be honest, I've been smoking pot for years and have never tried any others, I have never felt the need to, I don't want to get into that so I think its a personal choice if you want to get into other drugs. I chose not to.
by punished? on March 1st, 2007
I think pot smokign is what you make of it really. the addiction factor and gateway thing are all dependant on the person. i know plenty of people who somke pot on occasion only they are not chronic and dont touch other drugs. its an individual response.
you see it in everything though. there are the people who can smoke tobacco only occassionaly take it or leave it and those who go thru withdrawls in mere hours.
adreniline junkies are likely the most comparable to drug addicts. many people participate in one or two extreem activites (i myself do back country snowboard and high level mountaineering - whih some consider extreem) and stick with that. but there are some who just cant seem to find enough new challenges to get that rush (my roomy who started those sports with me is now trying free climbing, wants to base jump etc cause the thrill from hiking and boarding has faded).
everyone can control their own fate when it comes to things liek that. if you know you are subject to addiction then best to stay away, if you can control yourself easily then do as you please.
but yes i do think many a time it is simply used as an excuse by bystandards to explain the activity of others.
by Anonymous on March 1st, 2007
Hell. No. That is ridiculous. Weed does not lead to other drugs. I've been smoking pot for 6 years and have not tried anything else. If you have a weak personality and give in easy it will probably lead to other drugs. But if you are not a pussy you will just do what you want to do and not blame it on something other than yourself. Legalize Pot! "And givin the weed to the killas (they) forget why they Killin"
by Icebox April on February 28th, 2007
Not any more than drinking alchohal or any other thing like that. It's a persons choice. Pot doesn't make you do anything you're vehemently apposed to. I know people of potheads who just smoke and smoke and smoke and won't even TOUCH anything else. won't even drink, won't even try cigs. nothing. that's their thing and they don't stray from it. but i do know people that just wanted bigger, stronger, faster, crazier highs and eventually are doin meth and getting carted off to jail or treatment.
it's all about choice.
by glamorgirli on February 17th, 2007
I would think the people who try marijuana are more likely to try another drug. I'm not saying it is a gateway drug but the people that do drugs are more experimental in the first place.
by Someguy on February 13th, 2007
Some people, no matter if the can swim or not will wade to the deep end of the pool and drown. Whether pot is a gateway drug depends on the person.
Are you smart enough to stay in the shallow end (pot) or will you wade to the deep end of the pool (God knows what)?
by Abbyguy on February 10th, 2007
Speaking from past experience, Yes. You become unhappy with the high you get everytime from pot and you think that trying something different would be cool and a other and so on and so on...
by my2kids on February 8th, 2007
yes but only because the people who deal the pot are usually involved in other things also as their isnt much money to be made in dealing pot anymore.
but i dont think so if you grow it yourself.
by stubborn9 on January 29th, 2007
People i know that smoked it.A big percentage after the fact either experimented,used or abused harder drugs.
by BenjaminMiller on November 22nd, 2006
Many people feel that since more and more marijuana is needed to produce the same same feeling the first time you were high, that you will move on to bigger and more dangerous drugs.
by mirror I rorrim on April 28th, 2009
no
by Jadey - Vive la difference on April 28th, 2009
It is as much a gateway to other drugs as going to the pub for a couple of pints of beer with your mates is a gateway to alcoholism.
Everyone makes choices, or is affected by other factors in their lives. Choosing to smoke skunk doesn't necessarily mean that you will be led on to other things. It probably increases your chances though.
by DeeCee is disgusted with Posers. on April 28th, 2009
Same here. Any drug is a gateway drug if you're down enough to be dragged to the rest of them.
The most dangerous ones, tho, are cigarrettes and alcohol. But of course, they're legal and pay taxes...
by ChuckExAnon on April 28th, 2009
I wouldn't say so, xJimmy. Users have likely passed through many other "gateways" before trying marijuana, the cigarette gateway, for example.
On the other hand, for many, marijuana may have been the gateway to the use of the more destructive illegal narcotics.
+5
by skel1977 on April 28th, 2009
I dont think so. I have smoked it all my life and never touched another drug besides alcohol
by Spirit of the Nomad on September 23rd, 2008
To scare people into not trying it for fear of becoming addicted to harsher more addictive drugs, what people somehow manage to miss is that you have to make a choice to try other drugs. Pots not the problem, people need something to blame their problems on.
by Penal Colony is wicked marrying Andy on February 26th, 2008
I can tell you from personal experience, no. A person's initial decision to do drugs comes from them, not the drug.
by CalvinCD on April 22nd, 2007
Yes. Most people start with it and either end with it or move on to bigger things. Wait, I think I've answered this before. Just refer to that.
by Midnighttoker on April 22nd, 2007
for some people yes. they are weak.
by Jlo on April 22nd, 2007
No,people are going to try what they want to try and people are going to do what they want to do. If you want to to smoke pot that's what you're going to do; if you want to smoke, snort, or whatever another kind of drug then that is what you're going to do...Pot is not the "magic key" to open the gate into the world of drugs...I know many people who just smoke & I know people who do other stuff that have never even smoked pot. I mean if you are determined to try x, (or anything else) are you going to go hunt down the "pot man" first so you can open the "gate"?
by silo singare on April 16th, 2007
Marijuana is a particularly potent drug up there with oxycodone, methaqualude, & methamphetamine. Let's not kid ourselves, how can marijuana be a 'gateway' to other drugs when it is unto itself a gateway to the 'nihilistic void'. I would sooner have my daughter smoking freebased cocaine than use marijuana; the former drug is metabolized in hours, whereas THC, like a viscious alien, pervades the system for several weeks. What is all this rubbish about stronger drugs? Every drug is a potential primer for abject misery.
by Anonymous on April 8th, 2007
Personally, I tend to agree with what scientists who study this type of thing say. The gateway theory was long ago discredited, so I'm inclined to agree with the studies. If anything, I'd say that cigarettes and alcohol are more to blame - since they are legal and easily available.
by daisymae19 on April 8th, 2007
yes and no...
pot itself is not going to make you crave stronger drugs (anymore then drinking wine will make you want a straight shot of whiskey), but because it is illegal pot becomes part of the illicit drug trade world and makes the person more likely to become involved with other drugs because of that...
by staffie on April 5th, 2007
yes definitly in my opinion. everyone i know who smoked weed as ended up on something else. i realise everyone makes their own choices but from what ive seen i defintly think it is a gateway to other drugs
by younghusstla101 on March 24th, 2007
SOMTIMES IT CAN VERY WELL BE A GATEWAY DRUG. BUT LETS FACE IT I'D RATHER MY CHILD DO MARIJUAUNA THEN A LINE OF COKE OR A HIT OF HERION
Is it illegal to grow weed?
by Answerbag Staff on July 18th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
Where is it legal to grow weed?
by Answerbag Staff on June 4th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
Is possession of hemp seeds legal in the U.S.?
by Answerbag Staff on April 27th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
As a grand prize winner of the Price is Right, you have won a lifetime supply of marijuana. What do you say?
by CosmicWunderkind on January 5th, 2012
| 5 people like this
You walked into your bedroom and discovered bags of marijuana on your bed, your first thought?
by June on January 12th, 2012
| 13 people like this
You're reading Why do most people say that marijuana is a gateway drug?
- which can also be phrased in the following ways:
Your favorite Q&A site is on Facebook! Become a fan to connect with the ever-growing community of Answerbaggers, share your thoughts and find out what Answerbag's up to next!
Comments
This is why pot should be decriminalized maybe?(Great honest answer by the way;)
by janacide on January 30th, 2007
Nice answer.
by Jodie44 on February 2nd, 2007
Great answer. I agree that the criminalisation of pot is one of the biggest factor in the "gateway effect".
by Im Alec has abandoned this account on February 8th, 2007
I'm in total agreement as to the only reason it could be labeled "gateway", and one of the best reasons to decriminalize it!
by Capt. Jack Sparrow GALCIY on June 8th, 2007
Perfect answer!
by Veda on December 21st, 2007
good answer, makes sense.
by diana on June 12th, 2008
totally agree 100%, story of my like unfortunatley.
by jesspage on June 5th, 2010