Is Marijuana A Gateway Drug
Is Marijuana A Gateway Drug
With more and more states legalizing recreational marijuana, some people worry that this legalization will increase the use of hard drugs like heroin or meth. Their worry is based on the fact that for years people in law enforcement and politics referred to Marijuana as a gateway drug and tied it to the so-called “war on drugs.” But is Marijuana a gateway drug?
What is a Gateway Drug
A Gateway drug is a drug that leads someone to go on to harder and harder and harder drugs. Marijuana was labeled as a gateway drug because people who became addicted to harder drugs used marijuana before they tried those harder drugs and so Marijuana use was automatically considered a gateway drug. But does Marijuana use lead to harder drugs?
The Truth About Marijuana Use
The truth is that Marijuana has always been more readily available than other illegal drugs so people who wanted to experiment with drugs did begin with Marijuana. Experts suggest that when people go from using Marijuana to harder drugs that this may due to the fact that in areas where marijuana is still illegal that the social aspect of being with people who use harder drugs may actually be a contributing factor to using these harder drugs rather than the use of marijuana. This is born out by the fact that the vast majority of people their use of drugs began and ended with Marijuana and these people could have desires to try other harder drugs. This proves that people who use hard drugs may have begun with using Marijuana, but that using marijuana can lead to the use of harder drugs. Therefore Marijuana should be considered a gateway drug. Those using marijuana can use other substances in combination which could lead to abusing harder substances.
What Further Studies Reveal
Recent studies have revealed that people who use marijuana to relieve pain may be helping to put a dent into the opioid crisis. It is a well-known fact that Marijuana is less addictive than opioids and many people who become addicted to opioids were prescribed these drugs for pain. People who elect to treat their pain with Pot rather than opioids still have the risk of becoming addicted. You become mentally dependent on the form of daily use and habits that are formed.
Early presentation to cannabinoids in adolescents diminishes the reactivity of cerebrum dopamine reward focuses later in adulthood. To the degree that these discoveries sum up to people, this could help clarify the expanded weakness for dependence on different substances of abuse sometime down the road that most epidemiological examinations have detailed for individuals who start cannabis utilize from the get-go throughout everyday life. It is additionally steady with adolescent testings demonstrating THC’s capacity to “prime” the cerebrum for upgraded reactions to different medications. For instance, young adults recently directed THC show elevated conduct reaction when further presented to THC as well as when presented to different medications, for example, morphine—a marvel called cross-refinement.
In states where laws have slackened regarding the use of marijuana, opioid addiction statistics have fallen. But there is a rise in marijuana users.
In addition, it has been proven that Marijuana has use in medicine since it can reduce pain for people suffering from arthritis, MS and other conditions. It can also help alleviate some of the negative symptoms of cancer treatments such as nausea and loss of appetite. But when it comes to the young adult’s populations and those that do not have any type of diseases or illnesses, it is making them lethargic and not motivated in life to where they seek out stronger drugs or abuse alcohol. Marijuana can be a gateway drug that can lead people to experimenting and abusing other substances.