You may not appreciate this distinction, but I would say those who would smoke pot are more likely to be willing to try other drugs. In other words, I truly don't believe that there is anything inherent in smoking marijuana that causes someone to try other drugs. But obviously, there's a large group of people unwilling to try illegal drugs at all, and a smaller group that is willing. It makes perfect sense that there would be more heroin users coming from that smaller group. I'm quite sure that the incidence of heroin use among non- potsmoking church ladies is extremely low. Sort of goes without saying, doesn't it?
Do you get what I mean? But that doesn't mean that smoking pot causes heroin use or cocaine use or even makes it more likely. I guess what I'd say is that all this boils down to is that someone who does drugs is more likely to do drugs. Duh. It's like saying high school football players are more likely to play basketball than science club geeks. But that doesn't mean football LEADS to basketball. It just means that from the group that does the one, you'll get more who do the other. Reasonable?
There are ways I can argue with that, but I know what you're trying to say and I agree.
"I guess what I'd say is that all this boils down to is that someone who does drugs is more likely to do drugs."
Yes. And IMO, someone who does one illegal drug is more likely to do another illegal drug (as opposed to a wine drinker going on to cocaine).
"It's like saying high school football players are more likely to play basketball than science club geeks."
True. But I prefer the analogy of "high school football players are more likely to play hardcore professional football than science club geeks". But that doesn't mean all high school football players go on to professional football. Actually, very few do. But it's more likely that someone from that group would.
It just makes sense to me that if we reduce the number of people who smoke marijuana, we reduce the number of people who move on to other drugs. Reduce. Not eliminate. But still a laudable goal.