of the Day - 12/09/10

[Refugee 7]

Inquiring minds want to know!

[AngelDream 16]

No. If people are gonna do hard drugs, they will anyway, to me, marijuana has nothing to do with it.

[Pawie 6]

Yes, Absolutely. Not for all but for quite a few, especially young troubled persons.

[SingsInFrench 262]

Sometimes it is, just like alchohol.

[agirl 0]

No.

[Echosoftom 3]

Truthfully, I believe the possibility is definitely there. As a young adult I saw it happen all the time with my own eyes. It "can" lower your inhibitions and open the door for you to try other drugs. Not that it would happen to everyone but I believe there's strong evidence to say that it can and does happen. Also, the pot that these kids smoke today is not your Mama's pot.

[emmie 2]

I think it could well be.

[normandi 21]

Well I certainly don't think so. It never led me to anything harder and I still abide pretty lightly. I know that I can only speak for myself but my perception is that one is predisposed to addiction either from an emotional or body chemistry standpoint OR one is not. Being aware of what particular emotional or physical makeup you have is what should guide you on your actions regarding alcohol or substances.

The true gateway drugs are pharmaceuticals. In my opinion they are designed to be so.

[Refugee 7]

^ Ditto what Normandi said.

My experience was with harder drugs first, then pot. I think alcohol is more of a problem.

[AngelDream 16]

Well I certainly don't think so. It never led me to anything harder and I still abide pretty lightly. I know that I can only speak for myself but my perception is that one is predisposed to addiction either from an emotional or body chemistry standpoint OR one is not. Being aware of what particular emotional or physical makeup you have is what should guide you on your actions regarding alcohol or substances.

The true gateway drugs are pharmaceuticals. In my opinion they are designed to be so.

^ very well said.

[Beamish 0]

Maybe, but there are lots of pot smokers don't ever progress to "harder" drugs and that never seems to get mentioned. I agree with Normandi that predisposition plays a big part in who progresses and who doesn't.

[surfnburn 5]

Yeah, Normady is right. I think if you have a genetic, physiological and/or psychological make up that predisposes you to addiction, then any drug (alcohol included) would lead to harder drugs. Sometimes people gravitate to pot or alcohol because they like to the depressant (relaxing) effects. So they won't necessarily seek out harder stimulant drugs like Meth or speed. Of course, a lot of people will do hard drugs because others are doing it. So pot may not lead to harder drugs, but their friends might.

[Amber 70]

I don't think you blame the addiction on the drug anymore than you can blame killing on the gun. It depends on who is using it and where their head is at when they do. I have seen more families destroyed from alcohol addiction and perscription drugs than recreational drugs like pot.

If pot were legalized and the "illegal" circumstances were changed, it could come out of the underground, seedy, more "hard" part of society and there would be less exposure to the harder stuff. Since it is lumped in with meth, crack and all those very destructive drugs, the buyers become exposed to these other drugs because the dealers would rather sell them to you, fully knowing you will become addicted and keep business brisk. So the criminalization of pot is more the gateway than the actual drug, IMO.

[Magnolia 171]

No.