Multiple authors have mixed opinions on the question “Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug?” on Room for Debate. For years, Marijuana has been criminalized and called a gateway drug. They say it leads people, mostly adolescents, to try harder drugs in the future. However, some people that try marijuana do not continue to use it regularly. If someone tries harder drugs after trying Marijuana, most of the time it means that cannabis was easier to get, it isn’t a direct causation. It has been criminalized up until a few years ago, where you would be put away for years even though it was proven many times to not be dangerous. However, if you use it when your brain is still developing then issues could arise. For most people that use it, they use it to calm down and relax. They are not anxiously waiting to try heroin next. As long as your brain is fully developed, it is really your choice to use marijuana or not. It simply makes no sense to call it a gateway drug. Do you think it is a Gateway Drug? Why or why not?
I do not believe that any drug is a gateway drug. It is not the fault of marijuana if someone overdoses on crack cocaine. It's the fault of the user for not making responsible choices. I don't believe there are bad drugs. These "bad" drugs such as marijuana are demonized by others and "good" drugs such as medicine are praised for helping people. People don't realize that these categories are ways of making drugs socially acceptable so people can enjoy them without being called criminals. Caffeine, pain-killers, and alcohol are socially acceptable drugs that can cause more severe addiction than marijuana ever can. I have been pressured into taking caffeine, pain-killers, and alcohol because they are socially acceptable. I have never been told to do marijuana. Schools should stop demonizing drugs and rather teach students how to make responsible decisions if they want to take drugs. They should be encouraged to take drugs when they are older rather than younger if they want to try drugs. They should be taught how to test if their drugs are clean to be safer.
ReplyDeleteI feel like any drug that's easy for someone to get their hands on can be considered a "gateway drug". It's that feeling of getting high for the first time that gets you hooked onto drugs. As time goes on people hear other stories of how "trippy" other drugs can be. People tend to find getting high fun after their first experience with other drugs. So in some cases, yes marijuana can be a gateway drug because it's so easy to get your hands on it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that marijuana can be considered a "gateway drug," but just like the other comments said, any drug can be considered one. Because of its easier access, more people are likely to try it before they try any harder drugs. However, I don't think that it is a gateway to harder drugs unless the user actually wants a harder drug. All in all, it's easier to reach, but the person who is using is in charge of whether they choose to get hooked on other drugs. I personally don't intend on trying drugs, because it's just not for me and only I can decide what choices I make. The person is at fault, not the drug.
ReplyDeleteI say that marijuana is a gateway drug now. I say that because now, it is legal (or at least in California) and it is readily available. There are even apps that can track down where the nearest location is to buy this drug. Before, it was illegal and having it could get you some serious jail time. Compared some of the other drugs, the effects aren't as extreme or as "trippy" as the others. Some drugs could kill someone with even one dose or cause extreme hallucinations which could lead to very unfortunate results. Although it being a being a gateway drug, marijuana can still be very dangerous just like any other drug. It can warp peoples minds and make them do or say things they wouldn't normally say which may not end well for the user. I, for myself, never want to use an sort of drug and will do all I can to stay away from them.
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