GATEWAY THEORY & Cannabis studies completed
We found that marijuana use within itself wasn't a risk factor for use of other drugs," said lead author Joseph Palamar, an assistant professor in the New York University Langone Medical Center's department of population health. "People do generally use marijuana before other drugs, but that doesn't mean marijuana is a cause of [using] those other drugs." source WebMD
The Gateway Drug Theory suggests that licit drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol, serve as a “gateway” toward the use of other, illicit drugs. However, there remains some discrepancy regarding which drug—alcohol, tobacco, or even marijuana—serves as the initial “gateway” drug subsequently leading to the use of illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin. The purpose of this investigation was to determine which drug (alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana) was the actual “gateway” drug leading to additional substance use among a nationally representative sample of high school seniors.
Science & Research
Undated - News - The myth of marijuana's gateway effect
2012 - Study - Alcohol as a gateway drug: A study of U.S.A 12th graders2012 - Study - Does the "gateway" sequence increase prediction of cannabis use disorder development beyond deviant socialization? Implications for prevention practice and policy.
2010 - Study - Evaluating the drug use "gateway" theory using cross-national data: Consistency and associations of the order of initiation of drug use among participants in the WHO (World Mental Health Surveys)
2010 - News - Marijuana as a gateway drug: The myth that will not die
2010 - News - Risk of marijuana's 'Gateway Effect' overblown
2010 - News - Teen pot smoking won't lead to other drugs as adults
2006 - News - Study questions marijuana as gateway drug
2005 - Study - Cannabis use when it's legal
2003 - Letter - Twin study fails to prove 'gateway' hypothesis
2003 - Study - Is cannabis a stepping-stone for cocaine?
2002 - Study - Reassessing the gateway effect
1998 - FAQ - Does cannabis lead to taking other drugs?
1996 - Study - Marijuana and the gateway theory