{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/gateway-drug/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2378-markdown","title":"3 Marijuana Myths Busted","slug":"3-marijuana-myths-busted","content":"### Reefer Madness Marijuana Myths\n\nMarijuana’s reputation has long been sullied by ‘Reefer Madness’ which has kept cannabis from being accepted as a viable form of medicine. As the tide has turned and more people are realizing the medicinal potential of cannabis, it can still be hard to break away from the damaging myths that have been created by anti-cannabis crusaders. Here are some of the most common myths about marijuana that have been proved false time and time again. \n\n### Myth 1: Marijuana Is A Gateway Drug\n\nOne of the most common myths cited by anti-marijuana advocates is that marijuana serves as a gateway to the use of “harder drugs”. The gateway phenomenon, however, has been studied multiple times by different researchers who have all concluded that cannabis is not a gateway drug. \n\nRice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy conducted a [40 year study](http://www.bakerinstitute.org/bennett-charts/) that tracked drug and alcohol usage. Data began being collected in 1975 through the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The study found that in between the years of 1979 and 2014, the number of people twelve years old and older who used marijuana in their lifetime rose from 28% to 44.2%. \n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5898c565442dff000825ca0b/embedded_images/5898c566442dff000825ca0c/Screen_Shot_2017-02-06_at_10.40.23_AM.png) \nThe movie Reefer Madness was used as blatant anti-marijuana propaganda.\n\nThe number of people who used marijuana in the last year, however, decreased from 16% to 13.2%, as did the  number of people who had used marijuana in the last month, from 13% to 8.4%. These numbers show low levels of frequent marijuana consumption, as well as a general decrease in semi-consistent marijuana usage. Though marijuana was tried more often by people, they used it less often on average than people did in 1979. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nWhat was found in the study, however, was that alcohol use was far higher than the use of marijuana. The rate of monthly alcohol use is almost six times higher than that of monthly marijuana usage. The study showed that alcohol use had decreased slightly over the course of data collection, but that it was used at a much higher rate than marijuana on average. \n\nAnother study, which used the same data as the Rice University study found that out of  2,800 12th graders from across the country, 54% of them used alcohol before any other drug, compared to only 10% who used marijuana first. The study also found that the earlier teens used alcohol, the more likely they were to try other drugs and use them more frequently. \n\nThe [National Institute of Drug Abuse](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-gateway-drug) has conclusively reported that majority of marijuana users do not go on to take other drugs and a 2008 study out of the American School Health Association, which also used Monitoring the Future data, found, “that alcohol represented the ‘gateway’ drug, leading to the use of tobacco, marijuana, and other illicit substances.” So, if there is one substance people have to worry about being a gateway for other drug use it is alcohol, not marijuana. \n\n### Myth 2: Legalization Leads to Increased Traffic Deaths\n\nA [study from Columbia University](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/287489) that was published in the American Journal of Public Health this year found that medical marijuana legalization actually led to a to an immediate reduction in traffic fatalities. The study looked at United States traffic fatalities between 1985 and 2014. There was a reduction of traffic fatalities found in in people between 15 and 44 years of age after the legalization of medical marijuana. The study also found an additional decrease in traffic fatalities where there were open medical marijuana dispensaries. \n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5898c565442dff000825ca0b/embedded_images/5898c568442dff000825ca0d/Screen_Shot_2017-02-06_at_10.48.32_AM.png) \nMarijuana is not a danger to society.\n\nThere was some variation among the different states and areas in the study, but the overall decrease in traffic fatalities tied with medical marijuana legalization showed that marijuana legalization actually made people far safer. The researchers in the study came to a few potential explanations for the decrease in traffic deaths. One conclusion was that people under the influence of marijuana were far more aware of their impairment than people under the influence of alcohol, and that they often consumed marijuana inside the home rather than out of the house at bars and restaurants. The researchers also pointed to a possible increase in police presence in areas where marijuana is legal as a reason for decreased traffic fatalities. No matter the suspected reasoning, the data speaks for itself when it shows that marijuana legalization is tied to a decrease in traffic deaths, as opposed a rumored increase. \n\n### Myth 3: Legalization Leads to Increased Teen Use\n\nMarijuana is actually harder for teens to purchase nowadays. Data from the [2016 monitoring the future survey](http://www.usnews.com/news/data-mine/articles/2016-12-13/marijuana-is-harder-than-ever-for-younger-teens-to-find) found that 8th and 10th graders had the lowest marijuana availability since data began to be collected on the question in 1992. \n\nIn 2016, 34.6% of 8th graders said that it would be easy to get marijuana, which is a 2.4% drop since 2015. 64% of 10th graders said that marijuana would be easy to get, a slight drop since the previous year. 12th graders, however, did report an increase in ease of accessibility to marijuana, but it was not a statistically significant increase from 2015 when they reported the lowest ever rates of easy access. \n\nOverall teen use of marijuana is down as well as more states legalize cannabis. In 2016, 5.4% of 8th graders reported using marijuana in the past month, down from 6.5% in 2015. The number of 8th graders who reported smoking marijuana daily was also down 0.4% between 2016 and 2015. The number of 12th graders who smoked marijuana in the past month and daily remained stable from 2015 to 2016, which maintains the lowest rates of use in the last two decades.  All of this nationwide information is consistent with the declined use of marijuana by teens in Colorado following recreational legalization in the state. Colorado had a lower than average use of cannabis by teens, and in 2015, the number of teens who used cannabis in the last month had decreased even though the marijuana industry in the state continued to expand. Teens are actually using less cannabis, which is now also harder for them to access, as more states continue to legalize medical and recreational marijuana. \n\n### The Truth About Cannabis\n\nMarijuana is an extremely beneficial medication for millions people who suffer from various conditions. Cannabis has provided a breakthrough for decreasing the use of highly addictive opioids which are being abused at epidemic proportions. The pain relieving factors of cannabis cannot be denied, as well as it’s ability to help people with conditions like anxiety get through their day unimpeded. \n\nAnti-cannabis crusaders, inside and outside of government, often use their stand influence and perpetuate untrue and damaging stereotypes about marijuana. Studies from influential institutions and countless patient testimonies and new research is proving that marijuana is a safe and effective medication that can aid people in finding and alternative source for pain relief.\n\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/14b42/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/f836f/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.jpg 200w,\n/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/2244e/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.jpg 400w,\n/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/14b42/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.jpg 800w,\n/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/47498/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.jpg 1200w,\n/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/54ac5/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/58556/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/61e93/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.webp 200w,\n/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/1f5c5/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.webp 400w,\n/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/58556/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.webp 800w,\n/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/99238/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.webp 1200w,\n/static/e5d2cef0de115bfcb49f3284d44740f7/5e0b8/116ad19a6f74e7d8a5e6bccfa56934a7.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2057-markdown","title":"Myth-busting Marijuana: How the Gateway Theory Holds No Clout","slug":"myth-busting-marijuana-how-the-gateway-theory-holds-no-clout","content":"If there is one thing that every american has heard about marijuana it is that marijuana is a gateway drug. But what does a gateway drug even mean? Many of medical marijuana’s most vocal opponents rally their campaign around the idea that cannabis is a stepping stone towards harder drugs, such as cocaine, heroine, and methamphetamine, but where is the evidence for this claim?\r\n\r\n### What is the Gateway Theory?\r\n\r\nThe gateway theory first got its start from the idea that the use of marijuana would lead people down a rabbit hole of harder drug use because cannabis primes the brain for taking harder drugs due to a phenomenon known as cross-sensitization.  Cross-sensitization describes a reduction of reactivity in the dopamine centers of the brain leaving users with a heightened response when exposed to more THC or other drugs. Cross-sensitization, however, is not unique to marijuana. It has been seen to occur with a alcohol and nicotine, which are also commonly taken before users progress to harder drugs. Despite all of the concern about marijuana providing a gateway to other drug use, the National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that majority of marijuana users do not go on to take other drugs. Factors that lead people down a path of hard drug consumption hinge greatly on social factors, such as economic status, where a person lives, or their interpersonal relationships. \r\n\r\n### Bending the Truth to Prove the Gateway Theory\r\n\r\nMany studies that attempt to prove the gateway theory  revolve around the fact that the correlation between marijuana and hard drug use is the same as causation. There is no clear connection, however, that shows that the future use of hard drugs is dependent on previous use of marijuana. A popular study by Dr. Jodi Gilman in 2014 stated that even a small amount of marijuana had the ability to change the the neural matrix of core reward systems in the brains of young marijuana users. Yet this study faced a myriad of backlash from other researchers because it lacked accurate controls. The study, however, is still widely quoted and used as evidence by anti-marijuana advocates. \r\n\r\nStudies that disprove the gateway theory are often discredited because they were conducted outside of the United States or by marijuana advocacy groups. This discrepancy in what studies are accepted to be true shows the deceptive qualities of many of the anti-marijuana campaigns. Yet the tide is beginning to turn as more states legalize marijuana, both medically and recreationally.\r\n\r\n### What about Alcohol and Nicotine?\r\n\r\nIt is impossible to claim that marijuana is a gateway drug if its effects are echoed across two other widely available substances, alcohol and nicotine. 54% of high school seniors in a Texas A&M and University of Florida study, which used data from Monitoring the Future, had tried alcohol, compared to only 14% who had tried marijuana. More students had also tried nicotine compared to cannabis. Across the students surveyed almost all of them tried alcohol before marijuana or nicotine. Alcohol is legal in almost every country in the world, and is widely used without much thought or concern.  \r\n\r\nIf the effects of marijuana are no more dramatic than those of alcohol, why does marijuana receive this detrimentally negative title as the singular gateway drug? Marijuana has been used as a scapegoat drug as politicians fear that legalization will cause a dramatic increase in the use of marijuana, yet a multi-year study by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), a non-profit independent research institute showed no correlation between legalization and increased marijuana use by teens. \r\n\r\nChris Christie, the governor of New Jersey and one of marijuana’s most staunch opposers, has openly stated that one of the biggest concerns with marijuana is its ability to be a gateway to other drugs. He claims that marijuana legalization will further the problem of drug addiction that the United States already faces. Though he has allowed a small amount of medical marijuana to be permitted in New Jersey, he still opposes it recreationally and medically across the country. Christie has spoken openly against “blood money” that states like Colorado have brought in from marijuana legalization. Christie, however, has expanded production of hard alcohol in New Jersey since 2013 for increased tax revenue for the state. This large discrepancy in policies between marijuana and alcohol show a clear education gap people even in high points of government that marijuana’s title as a gateway drug could easily be applied to many substances that are widely used and profited from. \r\n\r\n### Decreasing Substance Abuse with the Help of Marijuana\r\n\r\nMarijuana has shown to provide many medical benefits which could even serve to reduce the number of people exposed to highly addictive opioid drugs. Cannabis has shown to be extremely effective in helping patients find relief from short term and chronic pain problems. The misuse of opioids, which can stem from once legitimate prescriptions for pain and later turn into addiction, have been rising steadily in the United States. In 2012 alone, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids. Legal opioids also create a dangerous path towards heroine addiction, 4/5 heroine users started their habit by misusing prescription opioids. Roughly 62% of overdoses in the United States in 2014 could be attributed to opioids and heroine. Marijuana has not been seen to have the same addictive trends as opioids, while still being able to provide adequate pain relief.\r\n\r\nIt is time for anti-marijuana groups to see the truth in cannabis: that it is a life save, not a life taker. Medical marijuana can provide benefits to patients suffering from hundreds of ailments, without potentially detrimental side effects that are present in other medications. If the title of gateway drug should be given to any substance alcohol is the best candidate. Alcohol is more widely used than marijuana and produces the same cross-sensitization effects. It is time for marijuana to step out of its scapegoat position and into its rightful, legitimized spot in the medical field. \r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/debbcollins/14251552756/in/photolist-nHmW7Q-6JcNPG-ehc35T-4ZE2Jc-rCB3g-pUwGwi-mmJK9X-4pH7w1-hm7fvj-4ZJhcw-qkHhAi-mzbja3-rCB38-rCB3a-6oLU2s-3JwVU-rCB37-fnttMC-3mh34s-5rEFDZ-rCB3c-jB7Ki2-bqSQx1-6ooFLQ-3mcCVt-oqjdEr-77NrYQ-6eyq4-6QRhVu-pBEuZ5-bGkPo6-4M8tk-4V4GM5-2qNyxc-bgjf36-dxjxRR-c6s22L-4LyN5B-4LyN3n-ymyhnb-cYRJnS-bAmvoB-61cpLv-bnWuQe-4EaD5e-g9ask-4o6iux-P2XUC-cYRC4d-oHwakg)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/ee604/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png","srcSet":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/69585/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 200w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/497c6/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 400w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/ee604/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 800w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/91e09/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 1170w","srcWebp":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/58556/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/61e93/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 200w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/1f5c5/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 400w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/58556/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 800w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/f9fd3/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 1170w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5276,"name":"Gateway Drug","slug":"gateway-drug","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}