is pot really a gateway drug? poll inside

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: eagle
Yes, kind of. Hardly anyone who smokes agrees, but I kind of do. I mean after I smoked some weed, stuff didn't seem as bad, like "oh I'd never do that" but it's not like I need to move on to harder drugs cause I was so addicted or whatever they tell ya.

I can agree with that.

 

[Marshallj]

If there's any real gateway drug I'd say it's alcohol because it helps people escape reality (soberness). Once they become dependent on being in another state for enjoyment, it's only a matter of time before they try something else.

I don't think that everyone that drinks tries pot, and I don't think that everyone that tries pot tries harder stuff.

I've known people that were destined to be alcoholics/potheads/drug addicts... it was in their personality even before they tried any of that stuff. They did everything to excess and couldn't control themselves.


Personally, I do not have an addictive personality. I have tried pot and much harder drugs, but I had no desire to keep doing them. I'm able to control myself.

 

[Windogg]

Dell drugs beat Gateway drugs anyday.

Windogg

 

[Demosthenes]

look... if you guys want to argue the whole argument that even minor substance abuse will lead someone to harder drugs that they might have not done otherwise, then I bet the vast majority of marijuana cases tried alcohol beforehand. and if someone wants to argue that marijuana and alcohol are intrinsically different simply because one is illegal, then I don't really care anymore. they're both substances that can be used rarely, moderately or severely. and they both have their own set of consequences (good AND bad) that will come about from their use.

oh btw my substance history..... I smoked marijuana, tried ecstacy, tried painkillers.. and I have come to the conclusion that tons of pot is just fine by me. I don't need hard drugs, and you sure as hell won't ever find me even considering coke/crack/heroin..

 

[hdeck]

you need an option "i haven't, but i've known lots of people who have and it led them to do more serious drugs."

 

[stormbv]

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc - It came after therefore it was caused by.

I think the Gateway Theory is just another piece of government propaganda.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I have used it before .. maybe a dozen or so times ... and well I never had the urge to take anything "more hardcore" unless you count Shrooms (only tried once), or Liquor (used to drivk like a fish).

I do not think Marijuana is a "gateway" drug really. The only way that i could see it as one is that you way hook up with people who are involved in other things, and curiosity may get out of hand.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

The only thing marijuana leads to is Doritos.

- M4H

 

[chrisms]

Could anyone argue the gateway theory if pot weren't illegal, and was sold in stores instead of by drug dealers?

I say no, i t couldn't. Blame the government if pot is in fact a gateway drug.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: XZeroII

Originally posted by: stevens
Ive done harder things but it wasnt becuase of pot. I think pot is the easiest to get and thats why its many peoples firsts.

I would argue this, but there is no point. You pot heads don't listen to logic or reason anyway.

Come on now, you're smarter than that. You know not to throw generalizations around like that.

He said "other than it's smoke", which is correct. There is no evidence(Has there even been any studies?) that cannabis is dangerous in any way if you eat it.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

The gateway theory, as it relates to psychadelics and other arguably not-so-harmful drugs, is an incorrect concept because 1. these things are not all necessarily all that bad for you, 2. they are a in fact a good thing to experience in many ways IMO, 3. if you try pot, you usually have an eagerness to try these things in the first place, the reason you are trying them is not because pot made you; pot only reassured you. The true desire came from within and no buzzword or law enforcement policy is going to be able to tackle that.

The gateway theory, as it pertains to drug ABUSE, is also a bad concept because here, again, the drive comes from within. People who go on to harder drugs do so because there is something in their lives which makes them not enjoy sober reality. They are perhaps just bored, or perhaps they have deep emotional and/or mental issues (TONS of people do). They do not go on to other drugs because of pot, pot is not the driver, it is the vehicle. You can't stop a pissed off driver even by taking away their car; they will find another car. These people need to feel good, and pot does that to a young person with no past drug experience. Many people find it unsatisfactory after a certain amount of time and move on to whatever does the job.

Pot is not the problem, people are the problem, and so long as humans exist on this earth, there will be people with problems, and those people will seek mind-altering substances or activities.

 

[milagro]

Originally posted by: hdeck
you need an option "i haven't, but i've known lots of people who have and it led them to do more serious drugs."

and another one that says "i've known what amounts to hundreds of people over the years that live productive lifestyles, run very successful companies, involve themselves with the community, raise productive well-adjusted(and smart) children, serve in politics, invent things, have won nobel prizes, are the best musicians ever, and they've never gone on to do more "serious" drugs outside of caffeine, sugar, alchohol, and birth control."

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: Kiyup
This gateway theory needs to be abolished.

You choose to have a beer.

You choose to drink a six pack.

You choose to polish a fifth on Sunday morning before noon.

You choose to take a toke.

You choose to smoke a pipe.

You choose to snort some coke.

You choose to smoke crack.

And so on.

thats pretty much how it goes. smoking pot dosen't make you want to shoot up. but it could lead to curiousity, which in turn could lead to freebasing coke, shooting H, ect.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
The gateway theory, as it relates to psychadelics and other arguably not-so-harmful drugs, is an incorrect concept because 1. these things are not all necessarily all that bad for you, 2. they are a in fact a good thing to experience in many ways IMO, 3. if you try pot, you usually have an eagerness to try these things in the first place, the reason you are trying them is not because pot made you; pot only reassured you. The true desire came from within and no buzzword or law enforcement policy is going to be able to tackle that.

The gateway theory, as it pertains to drug ABUSE, is also a bad concept because here, again, the drive comes from within. People who go on to harder drugs do so because there is something in their lives which makes them not enjoy sober reality. They are perhaps just bored, or perhaps they have deep emotional and/or mental issues (TONS of people do). They do not go on to other drugs because of pot, pot is not the driver, it is the vehicle. You can't stop a pissed off driver even by taking away their car; they will find another car. These people need to feel good, and pot does that to a young person with no past drug experience. Many people find it unsatisfactory after a certain amount of time and move on to whatever does the job.

Pot is not the problem, people are the problem, and so long as humans exist on this earth, there will be people with problems, and those people will seek mind-altering substances or activities.

Bravo, give this man a cookie.

(or a bag of dorito's)

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

(or a bag of dorito's)

hehe, funniest thing I've seen all night

 

[Looney]

Where's the option where you did harder drugs first, then went to pot?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic
Where's the option where you did harder drugs first, then went to pot?

(hank hill voice) Damn boy, you bass ackwards!

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: Eli
(or a bag of dorito's)

haha

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: Eli
(or a bag of dorito's)

haha

screw dorito's. little debbie fudge brownies + milk = (but with red eyes )

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Bah, brownie bites, big ass chocolate chocolate chip muffins, beef jerky (gas station junk food, basically )

 

[Tom]

Of course it is. It's an introduction to a culture.

People don't decide to use drugs out of the blue. How would they even know they existed ? Drug use comes from being part of a group that uses drugs. As it happens pot,alcohol,speed,and some others are all gateways into the culture. Chances are excellent that at least some of the people in the group will be more hard core and want to experiment more. They in turn will encourage others in the group to do likewise. Some will and some won't.

And then there is the fact about dealers. If you are buying pot for a long enough time from different dealers you will eventually be offered other stuff. Lots of people will decide not to go there, but that doesn't alter the pot as a gateway fact.

The fact that some people get to harder stuff without using pot first also doesn't change that fact.

But, what difference does it make anyway if it is or isn't a gateway drug ?

 

[yobarman]

im smokin right now

 

[MichaelD]

Posting this question here is kind of irrelevant due to the main age group you have here, which is under 25.

At that age, most are still "in the party scene and I smoke weed and toot now and then and I'm fine doooooood." They have no real responsibility and don't see the big picture. YET.

Most people that have pulled their head out of their @ss and stopped messing around w/that crap are over 25...WAAAAAAY over 25 and have real jobs, real bills to pay, real children to feed and a career on the line...the poll is flawed due to WHERE it's being polled at.

Good idea though.

Oh, they call it ALL, DOPE for a reason.

 

[apoppin]

Since this has been asked in different form over and over, I am just going to post my opinion:

Pot IS a gateway drug . . . It DOES lead to possible experimentation with other drugs (than if the person has NEVER tied MJ). . .



. . . but then alcohol and tobacco are ALSO "gateway drugs".

 

[Ns1]

i smoke it, but it was not a gateway drug