Why is marijuana the 'Gateway Drug'?  

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What! This can't be happening lmao

You want the science? Inconceivable :-)

Other than the harmful effects of over or prolonged use, I've never found much difference between alcohol and pot in their "gateway" description for me, personally. I've seen it play out differently with other people, however.

I used to be A-#1 pot head, Cheech and Chong chick Ajax-sniffin' faithful blunt repacker. I was also a double-deuce (Old Gold) fanatic.

I think a little buzz makes you want a bigger buzz. People are prone to overindulgence in anything. That pizza taste good? Why not have 4 more slices! You liked the way that HJ felt in the movie theater, huh? Wait until you finally get inside the promised land!

Our entire lives are leading to more intense experiences.

I'm not sure, but I don't think "gateway" is a term saying that pot will definitely put you through the door of harder drugs. I think it's more about what a pot head may be prone to do, i.e. chase a bigger buzz. And, of course, this isn't necessarily true for everyone. Some people just upgrade their buds.

I've personally met far more people who've made the jump from pot to the harder stuff than I have alcohol drinkers that ventured into other drugs. Unfortunately, most alcohol drinkers I know just increase their alcohol intake, going from beer to mixed drinks to out-and-out whiskey flasks at work and a Scotch sipper at home, chased by the entire bottle after a light dinner.

Pot heads I've known, on the other hand, have been quicker to try coke, acid, X, dippers (green, PCP), etc.

If I had to give an opinon on why Mr. Cleaver--aka, uppity old guy--refers to pot as the "gateway drug," he probably witnessed the 60s, drew a conclusion that every hippie was a lightweight pot head, and then made the jump to acid dropping and coke sniffing and deisel shooting, and everything else.

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I don't know that there's any scientific evidence of this but, from personal experience, pot is the first drug that many teens try because it's seen as tame and natural. Back in the 60's and 70's, when I was a teen, you usually started with pot and from there went on to chemicals. You had to have a bit of confidence in your ability to handle the high before stepping up to other drugs.
As for alcohol, I don't agree that that is a gateway to harder drugs. Beer is usually the gateway to liqu0r but I've known very few people in my life who went from beer to LSD.

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