Is Cannabis really a “Gateway Drug”?

Cannabis is now easily accessible in many states across the country. And ever since cannabis has been legalized in California, a lot of people are curiously trying their hands-on recreational as well as medical marijuana in Bakersfield, CA. With so many benefits in the bucket, marijuana is slowly becoming a part of people’s daily lives.

But where there is yin, there is yan. And even after offering so much to its users, the plant isn’t safe from the countless outcries against it. Among so many arguments against cannabis, the most consistent and loudest is the “gateway drug theory”. Even though marijuana is considered the least harmful drug, the conservative generation is still stuck with the ancient myth that cannabis use leads to intense drug abuse over time. 

But is the truth really this simple? Well, not exactly. While there are many people favoring this argument, many still argue against it. But then what exactly is the truth? 

Let’s find out.

Gateway Theory Explained

To make things simple, the gateway theory is the idea that continuous usage of one drug may lead to you wanting more and thus ending up using harder and more dangerous drugs than the previous one.

Arguments in Favor of Marijuana being a Gateway Drug

When we talk about marijuana, there are a lot of arguments defining it as a gateway to the other drugs. A major point is how marijuana reacts with the reward system of the brain. For instance, if you start using marijuana in your early 20s, you may want your dopamine level to spike more and more. This can make other drugs seem more tempting and appealing to you. And you may start using them. 

Also, as a marijuana user, you probably get to know people who use some other drugs too. And statistically speaking, if you know other heavy drug users, you yourself may end up using them.

Arguments against Marijuana being a Gateway Drug

Many people argue that instead of driving people to new heavy drugs, marijuana, in fact, does just the opposite. A study conducted by some Canadian researchers suggested that marijuana is actually a protection against the introduction of other drugs in people’s lives.

Furthermore, many argue that it is actually cannabis’s illegal status that is responsible for making it a gateway drug in the first place. Since people have to buy it from dealers and consume it at specific places, it becomes very easy for them to come in contact with other drugs too.

Contextual Factors to Consider

The instances may vary from case to case. For instance, a person having an addictive personality will be more inclined to try out new drugs after marijuana. But that is actually due to the formation of dependency rather than marijuana reaction.

Similarly, a person who grew up in an environment filled with illicit drugs is more likely to try out different drugs. In this scenario too, marijuana isn’t responsible.

Also, the amount of weed a person consumes may also tell us about his future addictions. If he takes a few hits on certain days only, he probably won’t be interested in any other drug. 

Final Words

As the research till now is showing us both the possibilities, it’s nearly impossible to reach a solid conclusion. And that being said, the only thing we can do is to wait for some more conclusive research to come up. Only when we have a solid study we can decide if marijuana really is a gateway drug or not