General Discussion

RainDog

(28,784 posts)

68. Or does its illegal status create the gate?

Fri Jan 11, 2013, 08:47 PM

Jan 2013

When someone can purchase something legally for a reasonable amt. of money, they will.

When someone has to go to someone who deals in cannabis, those people are also sometimes diversified into other illegal substances (that have far less bulk, are easier to conceal, and have higher profit margins.)

There is an incentive to sell those drugs because of the illegal status of all of them.

When cannabis is not sold where illegal drugs are sold, this remove the gate to try something else.

Also, the war on drugs propaganda has done real harm in this regard.

The lies about cannabis naturally lead people to wonder if they are lying about other substances that may pose real risks for addiction and other health problems.

So, really, the War on Drugs is the gateway to hard drugs.

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Is pot really a gate way drug? Or do people move on to other drugs when they can't get pot? [View all] hedgehog Jan 2013 OP

I would say neither.... Kalidurga Jan 2013 #1

Pot is impossible for me to find in my area. Scuba Jan 2013 #8

You mean they can't grow it... Kalidurga Jan 2013 #10

Must not know the right people. hobbit709 Jan 2013 #12

Ain't that the truth! Scuba Jan 2013 #42

As Freewheelin' Franklin (Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers) says hobbit709 Jan 2013 #47

Do you look like a narc? Do you use terms like "pot heads"? TeamPooka Jan 2013 #62

LOL Yep, that's probably the problem. Scuba Jan 2013 #66

would see it as a gateway because you can not buy it at Costco dembotoz Jan 2013 #2

You make a good point....or two. MissMarple Jan 2013 #6

It's a "gateway" in the sense that the same guy who can get you pot can get you coke Recursion Jan 2013 #3

All I can tell you is that it sure wasn't a gateway drug for me. SheilaT Jan 2013 #4

agree Go Vols Jan 2013 #19

Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs known FarCenter Jan 2013 #24

nicotine by itself is a poison. wildbilln864 Jan 2013 #71

Most drugs, legal or illegal, are poisons, and nicotine at 30 to 60 mg will kill you. FarCenter Jan 2013 #73

Pot is forced to keep bad company. HubertHeaver Jan 2013 #5

It's a gateway to Doritos. it's only a "gateway" drug because it's prohibited..... TeamPooka Jan 2013 #7

Alcohol is the drug of first choice of American teen-agers. Arkansas Granny Jan 2013 #9

No. Nothing is a "gateway" drug. MrSlayer Jan 2013 #11

For me it was a gateway drug to cigarettes. enough Jan 2013 #13

I've briefly switched to other more dangerous drugs when weed wasn't available. NT EOTE Jan 2013 #14

Illegal pot means people are in contact with DRUG DEALERS cthulu2016 Jan 2013 #15

I've never known a pot dealer who offered anything other than pot. kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #33

I guess what I'm really asking is this: if pot were readily accessible, hedgehog Jan 2013 #16

I think you could look at Holland and Portugal for answers to that question Bandit Jan 2013 #21

That's interesting! A real life natural experiment. hedgehog Jan 2013 #23

Maybe some but drugs aren't like a continuum of the same thing getting more extreme TheKentuckian Jan 2013 #59

Personal opinion only intaglio Jan 2013 #17

I have no interest in whether or not any other illegal drugs are pleasurable OR harmless. kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #30

I did not say you would intaglio Jan 2013 #41

I can't stop other people from being stupid. I just don't want the existence of stupid people kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #67

My opinion's the same nachosgrande Jan 2013 #51

The notion that there is any such thing as a Gateway drug is preposterous 1-Old-Man Jan 2013 #18

Definitely not. RebelOne Jan 2013 #20

If it's not too personal, what made you move on to cocaine from pot? hedgehog Jan 2013 #22

Smoked some killer Maui Wowee bacj in the 70's Whovian Jan 2013 #25

I read one paper that found smoking tobacco was the real gate-way drug to more powerful drugs. nt jody Jan 2013 #26

NO it is not. When I couldn't get it I just went back to the occasional beer or wine. kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #27

Coffee is a gateway drug. MyshkinCommaPrince Jan 2013 #28

You're high right now, aren't you? HubertHeaver Jan 2013 #49

No, no... MyshkinCommaPrince Jan 2013 #55

Coffee is good. HubertHeaver Jan 2013 #56

The ban on pot teaches people to operate within a contraband market. JVS Jan 2013 #29

^^^^^ In_The_Wind Jan 2013 #35

I started on Aspirin and Pepsi mitchtv Jan 2013 #31

No, if pot is really their drug of choice. In_The_Wind Jan 2013 #32

I did LSD before I smoked pot. At the time acid was still legal. hobbit709 Jan 2013 #34

Ah-ha, so acid is the gateway drug, as well as the gateway to other dimensions! Comrade Grumpy Jan 2013 #38

Whole other universes hobbit709 Jan 2013 #40

Milk is the REAL gateway drug. Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #36

No libodem Jan 2013 #37

pot is a gateway drug to eating a whole goddamn bag of cheetos anarch Jan 2013 #39

People who want to experiment will find a way to do so. Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #43

Lots of hidden assumptions in your questions... markpkessinger Jan 2013 #44

Thank you for that comment - I really have no contact with anyone who uses hedgehog Jan 2013 #45

Exactly... markpkessinger Jan 2013 #48

This message was self-deleted by its author CrispyQ Jan 2013 #46

I would say people predisposed to substance abuse will find a substance to abuse- cecilfirefox Jan 2013 #50

Except that cigs and drink are so addictive. Pot? Not so much! Walk away Jan 2013 #52

To be fair, I do think it can be a little addicting- trust me, if you were a dealer cecilfirefox Jan 2013 #54

Ive never gone past the gate,,, tripped over a few,,,, benld74 Jan 2013 #53

Honestly, I don't consider it a "gateway drug" though I will admit I don't know anyone whose tried hughee99 Jan 2013 #57

I only ever met a coke dealer because I had a pot dealer, at least personally (nt) Recursion Jan 2013 #63

it is not a gateway drug samsingh Jan 2013 #58

In my experience, Blue_In_AK Jan 2013 #60

This theory will be tested.. Heimer Jan 2013 #61

My guess is that drug usage in your state Blue_In_AK Jan 2013 #65

I recommend the book listed below mrmpa Jan 2013 #64

Or does its illegal status create the gate? RainDog Jan 2013 #68

No, I don't think so. MadrasT Jan 2013 #69

If you have a addictive personality marlakay Jan 2013 #70

Cigarettes, alcohol, and according to one addict I know- coffee loyalsister Jan 2013 #72