Is Weed A Gateway Drug?

[Alex]

Thought this deserved it's own topic.

I personally believe, for the younger, more impressionable, that weed is a gateway drug. Probably for those 12-16.

You're not going to see a thirty-something weed-smoker start doing cocaine because he enjoys weed, once in a while.

I blame, more or less, the youth culture surrounding weed. It's the gateway, imo.

[Noone]

Well, In most cases it is a gateway drug... well, specially for young people.

I practically agree with u.

[ErrolFlynn]

Life is a gateway drug.

[V-Dogg]

It's not so much the drug as it is the mind of the person who does it. The reason so many minors start with pot and move to harder drugs isn't because they started with pot, but because they're stupid. There are some (not many) smart minors. I know a couple people who smoke pot but would never do any harder drugs (and never have). I myself plan to try pot, but not before i'm 18. And even then I might stick with white sage.

IMO calling pot a gateway drug is yet another way to shift the blame from the person who makes the decisions to something else. People really need to take responsibility for their actions. I can agree with saying that something can have an influence on people and their decisions, but ultimately it's the person that makes the choices and I think that people need to recognize that.

[Memento Mori]

I have never heard of someone doing something harder, with having use cannabis at some point in their life.

[anna karina]

it can be
thats it really

[ErrolFlynn]

I have never heard of someone doing something harder, with having use cannabis at some point in their life.

Are you deaf?

[Memento Mori]

As it happens.....

[A Prophet Of Fortune]

I think the whole idea of a gateway drug is/was just propaganda. There has been numerous studies with equally reputable and reliable people conducting them but it's never been established one way or the other if marijuana, alcohol or tobacco are gateway drugs.

I think the reason people try 'harder' drugs are as varied as they are numerous and to generalize about "gateway's" is just stupid and further more confuses the issue about drug abuse and how to help those who suffer from the illness.

[c4m]

I'm 15, and I toke up now and then, but there's no way I'm doing anything harder than shrooms, and I don't even have the desire to do them. I haven't blazed since April, though.
I agree with V-Dogg wholeheartedly. It's up to the individual to make the decision.

[Big!]

I'm 15, and I toke up now and then, but there's no way I'm doing anything harder than shrooms

That statement kind of proves a point.

It is still my contention that alcohol and tobacco are more apt to be gateway drugs than marijuana, if such a thing exists as others here argue against. They're more easily obtainable at younger ages. I'd be interested in seeing the statistics on how many children with parents who smoke have tried tobacco. Or those with parents who drink who have tried alchohol. It's in the home and more tempting to impressionable minds.

Big!

[Memento Mori]

The great thing about tobacco is the fact that just about everyone starts earlier than the legal age. I was talking to someone who smokes the other day, who is the first person I have met who started at the age of 16 - which, up until this October, was the legal age to purchase tobacco, cigarettes, etc. The average age seems to be between 12 and 14.

[Big!]

I smoked my first cigarette a age 5.

Big!

[c4m]

Same with my friend. In Albania, apparently it's the normal shit.
I've taken a drag on a cig, just as an after-toke. I wouldn't take it up, though.

[porche2122]

As an avid weed smoker i would say that pot is not a gateway drug. People say pot is a gateway drug just to scare others away from it. I agree with the earlier statment that it really depends on the person and their upbringings, i do pop pills every now and again and that is only by choice but i'll never do anything else.

[TombStone]

I'm 15, and I toke up now and then, but there's no way I'm doing anything harder than shrooms.

That's what i said at your age...Thruth is, if you hang around in the streets smoking weed, you see alot more drugs then any other person. Sooner or later you or your friends will start trying it if you're around it constantly.

It's deffinitly a gateway drug, but only because of the fact you're in different circles than the average man. Not because you want something better than weed, that's bulshit.

[Noone]

I smoked my first cigarette a age 5.

Big!

me too... really.

[Memento Mori]

I hate smoking. With a passion. Never done it. Never will.

[Noone]

I dont smoke now though...

[V-Dogg]

That's what i said at your age...Thruth is, if you hang around in the streets smoking weed, you see alot more drugs then any other person. Sooner or later you or your friends will start trying it if you're around it constantly.

It's deffinitly a gateway drug, but only because of the fact you're in different circles than the average man. Not because you want something better than weed, that's bulshit.
I disagree with this. I've been around people when they're shooting up or snorting coke (not the smartest thing in the world, I know) and I don't even smoke pot. Being in such situations could influence people to do such things, but it all comes down to willpower and whether or not the person really wants to.

I hate smoking. With a passion. Never done it. Never will.
I just hope you're not the type that yells at smokers.

[Memento Mori]

Nah. I just fucking hate it. Words cannot describe how pleased I was when the smoking ban came in.

[Noone]

I dont hate it... hmm, most of my friends smoke.
I dont.

[V-Dogg]

My opinion on smoking is that people should have the right to do it, but they should be warned of the dangers (but given both sides). I don't agree with smoking bans. I can understand places having 'no smoking' rules, but sometimes it's just bullshit. For example, in Washington State it's illegal to smoke within 25 feet of any doors or windows (which makes the nearest place to smoke about dead center of the road). And i'm not sure if this is just for Tacoma or if it's for all of Washington, but it's also illegal to smoke in bars (WTF?).

Personally, i've tried cigarettes and I can't stand the taste. But I do smoke herbal cigarettes (about one or two a fortnight).

[Memento Mori]

Over here it's illegal to smoke in any public place, and it's fucking great.

[Je$t]

I do not believe that "smoking weed" is actually a gateway drug. Why you ask? Because smoking weed, does not ACTUALLY lead you to snort cocaine. IF you want to snort coke, you will. Smoking some herb has no affect on you doing a different drug or not. For me, weed was one of the last drugs I tried. I mean, I was popping prescription pain killers WAY before I ever started smoking weed. But what I'm saying is. Just because I smoked weed, didn't mean I was going to try heroin. Only reason I've done other "harder" drugs, is because I wanted to see what the feeling was like, what all of the hype was that I had heard about it. From personal experience, I didn't get exposed to other drugs, BECAUSE of marijuana, I got exposed to them, because I wanted to try them. But yeah, my opinion = Marijuana is NOT a gateway drug.

[Memento Mori]

This reminds me of the old AB discussion of 'virtual drugs'.

[V-Dogg]

This reminds me of the old AB discussion of 'virtual drugs'.
I-Doser? Yeah, I remember that. I still have all that on my comp. I've even got a few I-Doser files converted to .wav files and burned to CD. I find that they're great for insomnia.

[Memento Mori]

Ah they were great fun, while the novelty lasted. I don't have the files though anymore.

[Je$t]

I can get it again, if you'd like it. Lol.

[c4m]

Lol, I had that a while ago. Wasn't from Albumbase, though. I got it from Grasscity.

[Alex]

It's only a gateway if you're heavy into smoking. You will want a better high, and it will desensitize you to drugs. You'll be comfortable with them.

But yeah. I smoke weed when I drink if someone has some, and I'm offered, and that's about all.

[Je$t]

Good. IF I come to Halifax, we're smoking out. Got it? Good.

[Alex]

If you come to Halifax, I'll have a 24 pack and a couple grams ready.

[Big!]

I get high on life.

Big!

[Je$t]

I get high on psycho-actives, so what?

[Big!]

I drink lots of coffee with a Red Bull chaser.

Big!

[Alex]

I'm an energy-drink fiend.

[Big!]

Me too, it comes with being an overworked university student.

Big!

[Alex]

Drop out. Convenience store clerk for the win.

[Je$t]

Drop out. Convenience store clerk for the win.

Rofl@that. That's awesome.

I only drink two kinds of energy drinks; GREEN Monster, and Redbull. That's IT.

[Big!]

If I worked at a convenience store, I would be closer to the Red Bull supply. I don't think that would work.

Big!

[Alex]

Rofl@that. That's awesome.

I only drink two kinds of energy drinks; GREEN Monster, and Redbull. That's IT.
Monster's great.
I'm a fan of Full Throttle, and some others that taste like Green Tea and dont fucking make me crash.

[Je$t]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of green tea, but it's good sometimes.

[Big!]

They now have 16.8 ounce cans of Red Bull in some stores around here. That makes 3 sizes now available here, 8, 12, and 16.8 oz. I'm still hoping for 2-liter bottles.

Big!

[V-Dogg]

I like Propel (more of a fitness water though) and XS Energy (all natural energy drink with no crash).

[Alex]

Crashing sucks.

[V-Dogg]

Yeah. That's why I don't usually drink energy drinks. I especially hate coffee. Not only does it taste like shit, but it has absolutely no effect on me. Only time I tried it I double-brewed it. Lasted about 10 minutes and I pass out soon afterwards.

[anna karina]

a handful of pro-plus washed down with 2 cans of red bull (or for the brits, more cans of red rooster for the same price right), wired.

[Memento Mori]

Relentless FTW. Cheaper than Red Bull, and you get more.

[mrnicksta]

It's not so much the drug as it is the mind of the person who does it. The reason so many minors start with pot and move to harder drugs isn't because they started with pot, but because they're stupid. There are some (not many) smart minors. I know a couple people who smoke pot but would never do any harder drugs (and never have). I myself plan to try pot, but not before i'm 18. And even then I might stick with white sage.

IMO calling pot a gateway drug is yet another way to shift the blame from the person who makes the decisions to something else. People really need to take responsibility for their actions. I can agree with saying that something can have an influence on people and their decisions, but ultimately it's the person that makes the choices and I think that people need to recognize that.

exactamundo my friend!

there are no gateway drugs. if you take smack then the likelihood is that you're not going to give a fuck about smoking a little bit of weed. whoever coined the term 'gateway drug' most likely purposefully misinterpreted the fact that probably 90% of people who use harder drugs than weed actually smoke weed, as a sign that weed is the centre of all drug (ab)use

if gateway drugs did exist though, then surely alcohol or nicotine would be examples of this phenomena since i bet nearly everyone who supposedly was ushered into the world of drugs by cannabis tried those first

i think a lot of it is to do with the fact that most people (in their ignorant ways) don't consider alcohol and nicotine as drugs

[kenz]

ye i think its jus if your likely to try weed then your likely to try other stuff. simple as really

[mrnicksta]

^^ doesn't really make weed a gateway drug though, it just shows that if you're not bothered by the stigma of illegal drugs, then you're as likely to try other drugs as you are cannabis. the blame cannot be shifted onto the drugs, only the users

[Memento Mori]

If I walk through a gate into a garden, it is not the fault of the garden, because I chose to go there. But I am there because of the gate, becuase I walked through it to get there. But, of course, I could have jumped over the hedge.

[Noone]

^^ nice explanation MM...

(I'm not being sarcastic this time).

[anna karina]

^^ nice explanation MM...

(I'm being very sarcastic this time).

[Noone]

Nice comment Nessa ;)

[Hippopotamus]

^^ nice explanation MM...

(I'm being very sarcastic this time).

Hahahaha nice one

But, no sarcasm, good explanation indeed!

[Noone]

well, it surely is...

a true answer to this thread.

[anna karina]

no it really isnt its a load of shite

[mrnicksta]

lol it's not that bad, the analogy just sums up pretty much all that has been said so far, but it doesn't provide anything new to the discussion

[anna karina]

it doesnt really you should have something in there about the garden having MINES IN IT so its POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS but also there is a playground with like swings and slides and stuff which is fun BUT ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FUN GARDEN PLAYGROUND

[kenz]

^^ doesn't really make weed a gateway drug though, it just shows that if you're not bothered by the stigma of illegal drugs, then you're as likely to try other drugs as you are cannabis. the blame cannot be shifted onto the drugs, only the users


thas wot im sayin, it aint a gateway drug. jus if u try weed ur more likely to try other stuff. its in ur personality

[mrnicksta]

it doesnt really you should have something in there about the garden having MINES IN IT so its POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS but also there is a playground with like swings and slides and stuff which is fun BUT ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FUN GARDEN PLAYGROUND

don't forget there's a war going on on one side of the garden, and there's AIDS epidemic on the other side, and that there are rows of gardens all slightly different from the rest, where the grass may indeed look greener

lol

[Memento Mori]

it doesnt really you should have something in there about the garden having MINES IN IT so its POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS but also there is a playground with like swings and slides and stuff which is fun BUT ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FUN GARDEN PLAYGROUND

OK. So instead of a garden, it's now a playground on the Korean border.

[V-Dogg]

OK. So instead of a garden, it's now a playground on the Korean border.
XDXDXD Nice, dude.

[SwadeLazer]

In a way i think it is, not the drug itself, but just the kind of lifestyle and culture it gets u into. Once u start smoking, u hang with other kids that smoke too, and eventaully people who do other drugs. And basically you find out how harmless a lot of other drugs are, and how the hype and paranoia u see on tv and the media about drugs is a lot of bull. Thats what kind of happened to me, I started out with weed, now ive done pretty much every drug from a to z, and i dont mind trying new ones either.

[Cacteur]

In a way i think it is, not the drug itself, but just the kind of lifestyle and culture it gets u into. Once u start smoking, u hang with other kids that smoke too, and eventaully people who do other drugs. And basically you find out how harmless a lot of other drugs are, and how the hype and paranoia u see on tv and the media about drugs is a lot of bull. Thats what kind of happened to me, I started out with weed, now ive done pretty much every drug from a to z, and i dont mind trying new ones either.

I don't think smoking weed necessarily leads you into that lifestyle. I know what you are getting at, but not all stoners mess with other shit. If you score your weed off the street, or off dealers who are into making money, then you'll probably start trying other things, but if you find yourself an old hippy stoner grower, you'll be fine mate... and, you'll get much better shit that the street guys peddle. :thumbsup:

[shifted]

Well, I have tried it twice, interesting experience but nothing special, and I don't care for trying anything else... I don't think it is a getaway drug, you need harder stuff for that.

[Kenshi]

it depends on the type of person, ive never tried anything else, but i know people who have because of weed. some people smoke weed so much or maybe not a lot but they still end up wanting something harder for some reason others are perfectly content with just smoking weed. the first time i smoked weed was 4 years ago, and i never really felt like i wanted to try some new shit i dont think its worth it because a lot of other stuff is easier to get addicted to with weed its just a mind thing at first

there is my essay

[kuul]

its a gateway drug to me cause its like goin to a new high school and the first person u click wit that shows you the ins and outs... i started smokin in high school and you ended up introducin yourself to the drug culture through weed, cause a lot of people smoke weed i ended up kickin it wit a lot of people i prolly wouldve never fucked wit...i dont do shit now but when i was poppin like that i smoked weed daily, sniffed powder, popped pills, drank liquor daily, sniffed some meth once on some bullshit, shroom, and prescription drugs

[greddie]

i used to think i wasnt... but it is... but alcohol is really

[ozosborn]

I completely agree. Weed opens the door to other drugs but IMO that door can be closed easily. And the real culprit that no one seems to address is alcohol. I believe that alcohol should be illegal and marijuana should be in "Coffee Shops".

Alcohol causes 2 million deaths annually, while marijuana kills nobody! Something is seriously fucked up here!!!!

[Rudolf]

i used to think i wasnt... but it is... but alcohol is really

I completely agree. Weed opens the door to other drugs but IMO that door can be closed easily. And the real culprit that no one seems to address is alcohol. I believe that alcohol should be illegal and marijuana should be in "Coffee Shops".

Alcohol causes 2 million deaths annually, while marijuana kills nobody! Something is seriously fucked up here!!!!

You guys don't know what your talking about, I have an independent expert that can tell you that there is nothing wrong with alcohol :D

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/6406/homerdrunk1de1e02.jpghttp://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3971/homersimpsonbeer126611e.jpg

[ozosborn]

Rudi jokes aside,
How do you really feel? I see that you have not posted in this thread before.

[Rudolf]

Whilst I did smoke a little bit of weed when I was very young (experimenting), drugs did not hold any great interest with me, nor could I be bothered chasing the next supply or hanging around with the drug scene members.

During my working life I found no use for illegal drugs nor would I be stupid enough to pursue their use in a social environment due to my employment.

My generational drug of choice was alcohol, which I gave away 12 years ago along with smoking tobacco.

I admit, I have seen many problems associated with alcohol, I have seen domestic violence, abuse, deaths and any combination of horrific aftermaths of alcoholic induced fits of rage and anger.

I am not going to lecture anyone on the for and against, suffice to say, there is a problem with alcohol and to say otherwise is just pain ignorant of the facts.

The same can be said for drugs, be it illicit or otherwise.

There is a time and place to indulge in your choice of stimulant, be it, an illegal substance or otherwise.

Regardless, I just hope that the Pilot in charge of the airplane I am traveling on, or the taxi driver that is taking me to a destination, or any other occupation that involves interaction with other individuals, in the course of their employment are not incapacitated nor, have their judgment impaired to such a degree, that they place my life or those around me in jeopardy, because they are under the influence of a drug that alters their normal perception.

I am no expert on the subject if weed is a gateway drug or not, I am sure there is a great volume of written research on this matter, but you have to wonder, is an individual genetically susceptible to forming a habit due to inducing chemicals into the body and does one habit lead to another? If so, is it due to social upbringing, encompassing all the normally associated conditions, parents, peer group, economic situation, etc


I like to say each to their own in their pursuit of relaxation. As for me nowadays, nothing beats a good cuppa.

[ozosborn]

Thanks Rudi. :)

I believe that one is genetically susceptible to habits be it drugs, alcohol, tobacco, food, sex, or anything you can thing of.

But I also believe that one can break habits if need be. I have done a lot of shit and I have had to walk anyway from all of it at one time or another. And I never felt "withdrawl" or a need to smoke a joint, take a shot, or smoke a cig. So maybe its just me, but I think the human body can overcome a lot of things.

[Rudolf]

I agree that different individuals have different tolerance or ability to "walk away" from drugs known to be habit forming.

Personally, I found tobacco to be hard, yet giving away alcohol to be easy, even after being such a heavy user over a long period of time.

[Cacteur]

I reckon the gateway is sex. I was a good, quiet, hard working little student but once I had my first wank everything went to shit!!! http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/Smilies/party.gif

[greddie]

i generally have a rather addictive perosnality. and not just with drugs and alcohol, anything, once i do it a couple fo times i get right into it... even if its a bird, a computer game, some music, DMT, a certain brand of drink, a new phrase... all that shit, once i do it once i get pretty hooked on it and use/say/fuck/have/make it loads and then stop after a while. same with cigs. i started smoking them in secondary school and had stopped by teh time i was in college. and even now its only weed, i dont smoke roll ups... not since before the smoking ban came in. i found it increadably easy to stop these things, even when i stop weed for a bit, it comes so naturally and i dont crave it. i once stoped for 3 months, no feelings of withdrawel or addiction. great stuff.

osborn, did u know it takes 3 days to make or break a habbit?
(source: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - Robin S. Sharma)

And some people have addiction built into them, if their parents were tear away nutcases always hitting up the crack pipe, of course there is gonna be a bit of that in them. People are wired up certain ways and if thats whats gonna get em going, they dont always have a chance to stop it.

but in my general experience, booze leads to weed which leads to other drugs.
the people i know who dont take drugs have never even smoked a joint, or only had a few cheeky tokes when they have been drunk.
as your growing up, you dont even notice the gateway untill your through it.

[xsocalx]

I reckon the gateway is sex. I was a good, quiet, hard working little student but once I had my first wank everything went to shit!!! http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq122/Cacteur/Smilies/party.gif

Agreed! :sex: smileysex

[Kenshi]

yeah greddie i know what you are saying about the weed. i quit for a couple of months and felt great about, i could sit next to a blunt being smoked and not want to hit it. no withdrawals nothing, i didnt have any weed for a week and then just decided to go with it. i eventually started again because my friends and i decided i dont need to stop now im still young. but i feel when i need to quit i can, and i will be fine the weed plays tricks on you tho, quittin and now smoking again do you feel better when you are high greddie? i feel that way now, but when i wasnt smoking i felt being sober was fine, but when the marijuana is in system recently i feel like it would be better to be high

and thanks greddie i downloaded that book

[Cacteur]

....... i eventually started again because my friends and i decided i dont need to stop now im still young........

That's funny you know. When I travelled through Asia, ( ie: Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran etc... ) countries that have been using cannabis for millennium, locals often commented how stupid us Westerners were, using it when we were young.

The general consensus for them was that you do not use it when you are young and healthy, you use it when you get old and spend your final days sitting on the porch in the sun, getting smashed. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it. ;)

[rasaqboy]

perfectly said

[rasaqboy]

18 years ago? damn how old are you?

[mrstrange]

Lol. Thats kind of rude way to ask a female how old they are Rasaq.

[stereoblind]

The general consensus for them was that you do not use it when you are young and healthy, you use it when you get old and spend your final days sitting on the porch in the sun, getting smashed. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it. ;)

I might have to try that in 20 years.
To see what I've been missing, perhaps.

[rasaqboy]

ok, then how old is rudi

[stereoblind]

ok, then how old is rudi

He will be one hundred and eleventy years old next month.
He has definitely been there and back again.
:lmao:

[greddie]

isn't rudi as old as time and space itself?

[rasaqboy]

25???

[mainehussle]

im avid of smoking weed but i agree with weed being a gateway drug. I've be smoking ever since i could remember and I've been around almost every drug you can think of. It just depends on the individual try harder drugs

[zhade]

Well one thing i want to see Marijuana is not a drug its a govermental claimed drug. the defintion for a drug is a man made chemical substance. marijuana is a natural herb :D

[greddie]

Greddies main Reason Why People See Weed as a Gateway Drug:

When you are young, you can't buy Alcohol or Tobacco from shops because these are controlled drugs and are sold through regulated channels were one has their age verified by an official before they are allowed to buy the product. If you are not old enough, then you are not allowed to buy the product.

Mr. Dealer, who lives on Crackhouse Way and stands on the corner or Drug Boulevard and 4th selling drugs to the, He doesn't give a fuck how old you are and as long as you have the cash, he will supply you with the drugs you want.

Because Weed is dumped into the same group as all the other drugs and is Criminalised, Little Joey and Jane have to go to Mr. Dealer to get their weed. And as Mr. Dealer doesnt give a fuck about little Joey and Jane, he will take their money and sell them the weed.

But as we know, Mr. Dealer also sells Crack Cocaine and E Tablets and has sometimes been known to sell Heroin to the kids.

So when Joey and Jane visit the unregulated supply or Mr. Dealer, he sees they have more money and offered them other drugs. They may very well take them, I mean, they are naive after all, and surely someone who sells weed, cant be a bad person, i mean... weed is pretty harmless after all, so maybe the other drugs he has on offer are also pretty harmless.

So yeah, weed becomes a gateway drug.

If it was legalised and regulated, people may not see it this way....



(Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1039647/ )