General Discussion

phleshdef

(11,936 posts)

60. The gateway drug argument is so old and tired and invalid.

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:20 PM

Feb 2013

Marijuana is no more or less a gateway drug than alcohol is. And for a LOT of marijuana users, probably the vast majority, the experimentation into getting high begins and ends at marijuana.

And even if it did cause some individuals to open themselves up to the possibility of something harder, that's not a legitimate reason for it to remain illegal. That reason simply isn't good enough. Slippery slope arguments are based on speculation and should never be a basis for legislation.

You can't really overdose on weed. And if you quit smoking it after a prolonged period of time, you don't end up suffering delirium tremors and the other possibly fatal withdrawal symptoms you get from the hard stuff. Alcohol is far more dangerous as far as the level of addiction and physical dependency goes.

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Why I'm against pot being legalized [View all] quinnox Feb 2013 OP

Ahhhhh. Reefer Madness! HERVEPA Feb 2013 #1

My first thought madokie Feb 2013 #17

Does he smoke tobacco? Do his friends? jberryhill Feb 2013 #2

Might as well make booze illegal too. Rex Feb 2013 #3

BS hobbit709 Feb 2013 #4

People own their bodies and should be able to do with them as they wish. EastKYLiberal Feb 2013 #5

Does that include using cocaine and heroin? Meth? randome Feb 2013 #33

I think no one should be punished for what they put in their bodies, absent harm to others. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2013 #66

For the good of society I think some things should remain illegal quinnox Feb 2013 #57

Alcohol is far more damaging than pot nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #80

I grudgingly agree, because guess who picks up the medical tab 4_TN_TITANS Feb 2013 #82

Ooops, forgot... jberryhill Feb 2013 #6

those that smoke already do mikeysnot Feb 2013 #7

"The young generation would be all potheads." Brickbat Feb 2013 #8

As if they're not already. Erose999 Feb 2013 #38

Do all the hip young people huff glue or spray paint? KamaAina Feb 2013 #9

Huffing is not legal in FL. n/t Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #86

I'm sure that that's all but wiped out huffing down there KamaAina Feb 2013 #88

Did someboy claim it did? Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #89

Nope. Merely satirizing the whole notion of drug prohibition. KamaAina Feb 2013 #98

I agree... n/t Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #99

The kids will see their parents and grandparents smoking the occasional bit o' weed, MADem Feb 2013 #10

That's probably pretty accurate. Blue_In_AK Feb 2013 #29

I wonder if this was considered during Prohibition... KansDem Feb 2013 #11

smoke pot, yes. murder children using drones, no. nt msongs Feb 2013 #12

He used the "gateway drug" argument? Smoking pot might lead them to vodka? arcane1 Feb 2013 #13

Don't buy that for a minute. Kids smoked quite a bit of weed in the 70's when I was in school. we can do it Feb 2013 #14

So what? Hugabear Feb 2013 #15

I have been smoking pot for 46 years, and in all that time... DollarBillHines Feb 2013 #16

Then that means we've never met... Bay Boy Feb 2013 #93

As an unyoung person, I disagree. Wait Wut Feb 2013 #18

Your whole thing about "a party 'hip' popular guy gype who knows what the young people are thinking Brickbat Feb 2013 #19

What nonsense. RedCappedBandit Feb 2013 #20

I just don't get what's so bad about smoking weed... Democracyinkind Feb 2013 #21

I think it's a little arrogant to assume that what I might do OriginalGeek Feb 2013 #22

BWAHAHAHAHA. eShirl Feb 2013 #23

+1 SomethingFishy Feb 2013 #35

I think it's regressive to the lowest common denominator, a trait that LOSES all kinds of values, patrice Feb 2013 #24

where's our unrec button? liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #25

I never did LCD either... Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2013 #59

lol. okay you got me liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #64

heh, that's why they steal flat screens ? mitchtv Feb 2013 #68

restrict it like alcohol get the red out Feb 2013 #26

Just look at what a drug infested hellhole the Netherlands has become. ( n/t ) Make7 Feb 2013 #27

Portugal too! immoderate Feb 2013 #34

add to it Spain and Italy idwiyo Feb 2013 #72

Well... ummm... yes, actually Recursion Feb 2013 #51

The conservative Dutch government sought to ban foreigners from the cannabis cafes. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2013 #69

. Go Vols Feb 2013 #28

Quite frankly, I think he's an idiot. MrSlayer Feb 2013 #30

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #31

It is already easier for teens/minors to get pot (and other things) than alcohol justabob Feb 2013 #32

If heroin was legalized tomorrow would you start doing it? Lint Head Feb 2013 #36

No quinnox Feb 2013 #41

I think it's the same argument I heard in high school 25 years ago LadyHawkAZ Feb 2013 #37

Anyone who wants to get stoned can already get pot. dairydog91 Feb 2013 #39

Utter nonsense. n/t Earth_First Feb 2013 #40

It's no fun if it's legal! Puzzledtraveller Feb 2013 #42

I think it will go the other way ThomThom Feb 2013 #43

his "point" is so highly influenced by prohibition that it's not particularly relevant.... mike_c Feb 2013 #44

he said his friends are all potheads quinnox Feb 2013 #48

perhaps I should have added that I'm 57 and in good health.... mike_c Feb 2013 #85

Pot, anything, can become a crutch in environments that are not enriched by opportunities, patrice Feb 2013 #87

Creeping like a communist it's knocking at our doors turning all our children into hooligans and..." LanternWaste Feb 2013 #45

That made my day. Brickbat Feb 2013 #49

One of the funniest movies I've ever watched... LanternWaste Feb 2013 #56

2 legal things that can be in this argument is Tobacco and Alcohol. Lady Freedom Returns Feb 2013 #46

His argument is based on a false idea he will have access. napoleon_in_rags Feb 2013 #47

so you are for putting these people in for-profit jails... lame54 Feb 2013 #50

I didn't say that quinnox Feb 2013 #53

That is currently what is happening... lame54 Feb 2013 #58

What then is the precise and relevant difference... LanternWaste Feb 2013 #62

I think alcohol is not viewed as a "drug" by and large, by society here quinnox Feb 2013 #67

I don't think you've thought this through enough lame54 Feb 2013 #83

It doesn't matter how it's 'viewed'. Alcohol is a drug. A deadly one, at that. PeaceNikki Feb 2013 #84

Pizza sales would go up Angry Dragon Feb 2013 #52

You could say the same with alcohol, Rider3 Feb 2013 #54

that's bullshit. they are already influenced by peer pressure. spanone Feb 2013 #55

The gateway drug argument is so old and tired and invalid. phleshdef Feb 2013 #60

Series? SammyWinstonJack Feb 2013 #61

yep, I realize it is an unorthodox opinion here quinnox Feb 2013 #65

Many of us actively resist orthodoxy here, even in regard to this question. This has to do patrice Feb 2013 #100

There is a middle ground Riftaxe Feb 2013 #63

I like it legalized. Young people will no longer be arrested for possession Autumn Feb 2013 #70

Completely disagree. zappaman Feb 2013 #71

You could have spent a little bit of time looking for report papers from countries that have soft idwiyo Feb 2013 #73

Breast milk is a gateway... Most heroin junkies tried breast milk first NightWatcher Feb 2013 #74

why you are mistaken in your 'thoughts'. did you imagine this 'hipster' in a dream? farminator3000 Feb 2013 #75

Acutally,the reverse would happen DonCoquixote Feb 2013 #76

have you heard of a little country called Portugal? farminator3000 Feb 2013 #77

Um.... are these lemmings all alcoholics? PeaceNikki Feb 2013 #78

We need to stop filling up the prisons and clogging the courts with non-violent drug offenders bluestateguy Feb 2013 #79

The Emperor Wears No Clothes <--- if you are a 'reading type', try this farminator3000 Feb 2013 #81

Your young friend does not sound like he's thought this through. surrealAmerican Feb 2013 #90

People die from smoking "fake pot". No one has ever died from smoking pot. Case closed. Scuba Feb 2013 #91

Instead of Pot.. substitute Coke or Pepsi BlueJazz Feb 2013 #92

Prohibition is a failed public polcy... TeamPooka Feb 2013 #94

Do any facts enter into your process in forming this opinion? Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #95

He makes some good points loyalsister Feb 2013 #96

I don't believe you talked to anybody... Upton Feb 2013 #97

You are implying there is egregious harm if all his friends started smoking it too NoOneMan Feb 2013 #101

I'd rather have stoned kids than alcoholic kids. geckosfeet Feb 2013 #102