4 ms·
The gateway drug conjecture is vague and so far unverified. I'm not sure if the inverse (what you're proposing) is any more correct. Different drugs have differ
by vezzy-fnord 12y ago
The gateway drug conjecture is vague and so far unverified. I'm not sure if the inverse (what you're proposing) is any more correct. Different drugs have differing uses, effects and bind to various receptors, thus there is little reason to believe why an interest in sedatives like cannabis would lead to trying stimulants like methamphetamine.
Moreover, the world's most widely consumed drug is a xanthine stimulant (caffeine), with most people finding it seemingly efficient enough that resorting to larger kicks as meth is unnecessary.
- andrewstuart 12y agoMy idea is that people begin taking meth because they want to get high, and if there was cheap and legals high available at any time then they would be much less likely to ever start on meth.
- lettergram 12y agoTwo things I would argue: (1) Once a person starts buying illegal weed, the dealers have an incentive to pass on higher profit margin meth. Therefore it could be considered a "gateway drug" of sorts, at the very least the dealers have a financial incentive to try and clients to buy meth. (2) Once a person breaks the law for marijuana, there is little incentive not to continue to break the law. Where as, if you make marijuana legal, there is still a legal incentive not to buy meth.
- camhenlin 12y agoFor item 2, in most locations meth and marijuana are punished very differently. For example, many states have marijuana decriminalized, where you would only receive a small fine for possession. In those states, you would almost certainly be taken to jail for meth possession