What precisely is meant by "Gateway drug"?

Question

What im wondering is does Marijuana actually cause a physical need for other drugs, or is it a lie. Something inbetween?

Answer 1

Gateway drug

The gateway drug theory is the belief a lower classed drug can lead to the use subsequent abuse of "harder", more dangerous drugs. The term is also used to describe introductory experiences to addictive experiences. Some believe tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana are gateway drugs.

Some research suggests that serious drug abusers adopt an atypical drug use sequence with use of other drugs initiated before marijuana or alcohol. There are many pharmacological similarities between various drugs of abuse. Individual social histories show that "hard" drug users do progress from one drug to another, but the reasons are not clear enough to generalise a gateway.

Answer 2

I don't think there is much evidence that it causes a physical need, and most people who use marijuana do not go on to other drugs, just like most people who drink occasionally do not become alcoholics, or try other drugs. What smoking marijuana can do is introduce you to the drug culture where you might get tempted to try other drugs. But that is mainly because it is illegal.

Think about this: almost all heroin addicts started out life drinking milk. Does that mean milk is a gateway drug? There is a difference between a cause and a precedent.

Answer 3

Only stupid people let themselves get addicted..that is all. If you don't want to be addicted to something...DONT ******* DO IT...that is all there is to it. People are addicted to their ideas of addiction, and there are many variables when it comes to addiction, so each person has a different mind. I smoke weed, and have smoked weed every day for years now, and I have tried some other things...but I have no desire to destroy my mind, drugs should be about experience and the expansion of ones own awareness..so yes, Marijuana is a gateway drug, because it teaches you that SOME drugs, yes SOME, are good in MODERATION of course, and most are really bad. I would suggest Psillocybin Mushrooms, once you are like 20-21 or something..when you feel confidant in yourself as a voice. Be careful, smoke responsibly, don't steal, or do anything stupid. Addiction is different for each individual, because each handles addiction differently. Some will kill for crack, some have the will power to make themselves get addicted to some drugs, just so they can see if they can quit...it is a mad world...so it is true that marijuana can be a gateway drug...but this is YOUR path...walk it yourself, take advice when you need, but DO NOT GET IN ANYONES WHITE VAN!!!

Answer 4

No Marijuana does not cause a physical need for other drugs. However, it does make you enjoy the feeling of being on drugs and as a result more prone to trying out more addictive and dangerous drugs in the future.

Answer 5

The real gateway drugs are nicotine and alcohol. It's very, very rare that someone use illict drugs before those.

Even Rep. Mark Souder of IN, arguably the staunchest drug warrior in Congress and author of the highly punitive and discriminatory drug provision of the Higher Education Act, finally acknowledged this on Tucker Carlson earlier this year. But he still needed to hold on to the propaganda so he said alcohol and tobacco are the gateways to cannabis which is the gateway to the rest. Obviously, you can't have two gateways. Alcohol and tobacco are the gateways to illicit drugs.

As much as drug war proponents talk about cannabis being harmful and addictive, they ignore the fact that Controlled Substances Act definitons section makes it clear you can't be addicted to it under the law.

Have you a look if you like, http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t21t25+379+1++%28%29%20%20AND%20%28%2821%29%20ADJ%20USC%29%3ACITE%20AND%20%28USC%20w%2F10%20%28802%29%29%3ACITE%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20

Answer 6

From what I understand a "gateway drug" is one that leads to other more extreme drugs. I think it's not that they make a person crave a stronger drug, but once you try marijuana, you are more likely to try other drugs, because they may feel like it's not a big deal, or they just enjoy the "high" and want to try something stronger to see if it's "better".
Hope that helps.

Answer 7

It's not that the drugs create a physical or mental need for stronger drugs, it's that once a person uses a gateway drug, they are typically more likely to try a stronger drug, either out of curiosity or encouragement from those that share their habit.

Answer 8

It doesn't cause a physical need for other drugs.

What it means is that some people will try marijuana and like it. It's natural. But then they'll think, Oh that wasn't bad at all! I wonder what this one will do to me!

Some people think that it breaks the mental block on doing drugs. That once someone tries it, they'll want to try another.

Answer 9

A gateway drug is like marijuana or alcohol, and once you try one drug that just means you are willing to try other drugs. It is trrue that you would try pot before coke or anything like that. So its the least harmful so to speak of all drugs, which leads you to want to try others, doesnt necessaruily mean you will do it.

Answer 10

weed is typically a "gateway" drug because it allows people to begin on their drugging journey and feel more compelled to use harder drugs. it doesn't not cause a physical need for other drugs. it's kinda like, well, i tried weed and that was fun so now I'm going to try meth.