The Green Gateway

Chip Dunkin

Engl 250 Sec. 5

10/10/07

The Green Gateway

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in America. Of the nearly twenty million current illicit drug users, 14.6 million (about 75%) are using marijuana ("Greater Dallas"). It is no doubt the prevailing drug of choice for our nation and around the world for that matter. It is primarily the first drug ever used by individuals in almost all occasions.

This fact has led to many theories involving marijuana use. For some time now it has been believed that marijuana led to further -more extensive drug use. Scientists believed the actual pharmacology of the drug left something else to be desired by the user (Kircheimer). Marijuana the so called "gateway drug" or "stepping stone" was being held accountable for the increased use of cocaine, heroin and LSD. The popular RAND studies show very convincing evidence that relate marijuana with other illegal drugs. This has been the basis of most American marijuana laws and is believed to be the reason why marijuana has been severely incriminating (RAND). This perception could not be more wrong. Marijuana use does not lead to more extensive drug use.

Recent studies show many factors that promote drug use. Foremost being availability (Harris). According to the Drug Policy Alliance, "The people who are predisposed to use drugs and have the opportunity to use drugs are more likely than others to use both marijuana and harder drugs," Yes, it is true that some studies show marijuana users are up to eighty five times more likely to use hard drugs than those who do not use marijuana, and very few hard drug users do not use marijuana first (Goode). The answer to this is simple. Marijuana is the most available illicit drug in the world ("Greater Dallas"). Approximately seventy million Americans have tried marijuana, and nearly nine in ten never go on to use cocaine or other drugs, according to federal statistics (Rand). Reasons being, it is more accepted than other illicit drugs and there are many more users. Once users take the first step, the second step is much easier to take. There all just drugs, Right?

This does not mean marijuana leaves the user wanting to experiment with other ways to get high. If anything, it creates confusion. A large portion of American society sees nothing wrong with marijuana. It is a part of our culture, whether we like it or not. We have television shows that present very "cool" people getting high. A former President of our country admitted to smoking weed for crying out loud and I think it is safe to say that Bill did inhale.

To an adult, this probably will not have much effect on their views. I see the intended use for it. Marijuana is often used to develop characters. My favorite show Entourage is never complete without someone smoking a joint. To a developing mind, the interpretation can be quite harmful. I know I always wanted to be like the people I watched on television.

Americas youth is accepting marijuana more and more every day (Harris). The developing subcultures are very strongly linked to the graduation to harder drugs (Goode). Naturally, users who have access to marijuana are much more likely to come in contact of other drugs. Socially speaking, this puts users in contact of people who accept drug use. They are now involved in a drug subculture -where more drugs are available (Harris). Without stereotyping, scientists agree that the values in these so called "subcultures" are different. Simply put, drug use is more likely to be accepted by the group. This is believed to be the single prevailing factor that leads users down that lonesome road (Rand). It is simple sociology. The group now decides what is accepted. If marijuana was somewhat controlled, would this subculture even exist? Or would our youth even have an option to try something else?

I believe there is a problem with the drug market itself. All drugs in the United States are labeled under the same category. Instead of marijuana being labeled a soft drug, it is labeled a drug. Cocaine and heroin are also just drugs. With so many first time users of marijuana, this is rather