Weed Is Not a Gateway Drug, Essay Example

Some people feel that Marijuana is a ‘gateway’ drug that ultimately leads to other more lethal drugs, it can be argued that it is true in a sense but that does not mean that it is. In fact, more people who are more inclined to smoke Marijuana are the same ones who do not pass go so to speak because they are satisfied with smoking Marijuana. According to Taylor (2015), “Marijuana itself is not really a drug, it is more of a plant than a drug, plants don’t make people do lethal drugs” (Taylor, 2015). Marijuana is not a gateway drug that leads to other lethal drugs, if people do the more lethal drugs then that is because they wanted to do it; Marijuana has nothing to do with that. According to Szalavitz (2010), “Despite the fact that Marijuana is seen as a drug, it is the lesser of the other evils and does not permanent damage” (Szalavitz, 2010).

Marijuana these days are being used for medicinal purposes, a doctor would not prescribe anyone medicinal marijuana if they knew it would make the person go on to other more lethal drugs; the mindset to try other drugs lies with the person who wants to try them not Marijuana.

According to Martin (2015), “Heroine, meth and alcohol are all addictive “drugs”, but Marijuana is far from addictive, people who go on to hard drugs are already doing it before doing marijuana hence the myth that Marijuana being labeled as a gateway drug” (Martin, 2015).

People have stated over time that Marijuana destroys the body from the inside out, but just the opposite is true. Marijuana is less likely to destroy a person’s body versus if they were to drink alcohol or do cocaine on a continuous basis. Marijuana has never gotten anyone killed like alcohol, meth or a pack of cigarettes. According to Scharff (2014), “People who are hard drug users only experiment with Marijuana and when marijuana fails to give them that ultimate high, they go back to the hard drugs that they were already taking” (Scharff, 2014).

Ultimately, Marijuana is being seen as a way to chill out, a way to reduce crime, a way to come down from a hard day, a way to eat until a person can no more but that’s all Marijuana has ever been; it’s never been a gateway drug. According to Morgan (2009), “It can be argued that Marijuana would still be illegal if it were a gateway drug, keeping those out of the hands of kids is the ultimate goal; Marijuana wouldn’t even exist if it were a gateway drug” (Morgan, 2009).

In summary, marijuana is far from being a gateway drug, people who say that it is are denying the fact that they have tried other hard drugs first and marijuana just did not exceed their “higher” expectations. Marijuana has never been a gateway drug because it would still be illegal which it should be if it had the power to make people try harder drugs Which It Does Not!!!

Work Cited

Martin, Lauren. “The Definitive Reasons Mom Was Wrong: Weed Is Not a Gateway Drug.”Elite Daily. 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/reasons-weed-not-gateway-drug/1006693/>.

Morgan, S. “Research Proves Marijuana Is Not a “Gateway Drug”” StoptheDrugWar.org. 28 May 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://stopthedrugwar.org/speakeasy/2009/may/28/research_proves_marijuana_not_ga>

Scharff, Constance. “Marijuana: The Gateway Drug Myth.” Psychology Today. 26 Aug. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ending-addiction-good/201408/marijuana-the-gateway-drug-myth>.

Szalavitz, Maia. “Marijuana as a Gateway Drug: The Myth That Will Not Die.” Time. 29 Oct. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/marijuna-as-a-gateway-drug-the-myth-that-will-not-die/>.

Taylor, Michelle. “Is Cannabis a Gateway Drug?” The Guardian. 3 Mar. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.theguardian.com/science/sifting-the-evidence/2015/mar/03/is-cannabis-a-gateway-drug>.