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Newsbrief: Study Says "Gateway Theory" is Bunk
DRCNet ^ | 12/02/02 | Rand Corp.

Posted on 12/06/2002 11:26:51 AM PST by Pahuanui

The RAND Corporation's Drug Policy Research Center released a study Monday that casts grave doubt on the validity of the "gateway theory," the intuitive but unproven notion that the use of marijuana leads to the use of harder drugs. The "gateway theory" has guided US drug policy for a half-century and has been used by prohibitionists to justify imposing tough penalties for even the possession of small amounts of marijuana. In recent months, drug czar John Walters and others of his breed have seized on the "gateway theory" to campaign against relaxing marijuana laws in the states.

While the RAND researchers found links between marijuana use and the subsequent use of harder drugs, they determined that the "gateway theory" was bunk -- or in the more diplomatic terms of the study's lead author, Andrew Morral: "We've shown that the marijuana gateway effect is not the best explanation for the link between marijuana use and the use of harder drugs. An alternative, simpler and more compelling explanation accounts for the pattern of drug use you see in this country, without resort to any gateway effects. While the gateway theory has enjoyed popular acceptance, scientists have always had their doubts. Our study shows that these doubts are justified," he said.

"The people who are predisposed to use drugs and have the opportunity to use drugs are more likely than others to use both marijuana and harder drugs," Morral said. "Marijuana typically comes first because it is more available. Once we incorporated these facts into our mathematical model of adolescent drug use, we could explain all of the drug use associations that have been cited as evidence of marijuana's gateway effect.

"If our model is right, it has significant policy implications," Morral said. "For example, it suggests that policies aimed at reducing or eliminating marijuana availability are unlikely to make any dent in the hard drug problem. When enforcement resources that could have been used against heroin and cocaine are instead used against marijuana, this could have the unintended effect of worsening heroin and cocaine use."

Still, ever-cautious RAND was not willing to call for marijuana legalization or decriminalization. "Even without the effects of a marijuana gateway, relaxing marijuana prohibitions could affect the incidence of hard drug use by diminishing the stigma of drug use generally, thereby increasing adolescents' willingness to try hard drugs," Morral said. "Moreover, marijuana itself can be a serious problem for those who become dependent on it."

The study is getting attention from academic drug specialists. "This is a very important study with broad implications for marijuana control policy," said Charles R. Schuster, a former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and now director of the Addiction Research Institute at Wayne State University. "I can only hope that it will be read with objectivity and evaluated on its scientific merits, not reflexively rejected because it violates most policy makers' beliefs." Would that it were so.

(Excerpt) Read more at drcnet.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News
KEYWORDS: bullhockey; horsefeathers; idiots; losersareusers; prodrugpropoganda; usersarelosers; wod; wodlist
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With that last line, the guy qualifies for the Enternal Optimist of the Year Award.

Yet more nails in the collective cranium of our resident WOD goons, for your consumption.

1 posted on 12/06/2002 11:26:51 AM PST by Pahuanui
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To: Pahuanui


I must have been smoking the wrong stuff, because never did orgies break out or passions get unleashed.

2 posted on 12/06/2002 11:32:43 AM PST by Phantom Lord
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To: Phantom Lord
I must have been smoking the wrong stuff, because never did orgies break out or passions get unleashed.

You should sue.

3 posted on 12/06/2002 11:36:10 AM PST by BrooklynGOP
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To: Glenn; Wolfie
Another article about pot. Who'd have guessed?

All this science is hard stuff, eh?

Boring, too.
4 posted on 12/06/2002 11:40:03 AM PST by headsonpikes
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To: Pahuanui
I'm sure that the DEA will be quick to dismiss this study, soundly debunking it with overwhelming evidence from biased researchers and junk science.

Remember, lying is okay because in the War on Drugs, the ends justify the means.
5 posted on 12/06/2002 11:41:00 AM PST by Dimensio
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To: *Wod_list
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list
6 posted on 12/06/2002 11:47:20 AM PST by Libertarianize the GOP
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To: Pahuanui
We can't allow people to have rights over their own body (except for abortion). Cause otherwise Doctors won't have a monopoly on proscribing pharmacutical Drugs.
7 posted on 12/06/2002 12:16:01 PM PST by narby
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To: Pahuanui
<d*ck-WOD>

These researchers are just trying to justify their own marijuana smoking. It makes me sick that so-called/self-proclaimed "scientists" would destroy everything that is good and holy and subvert our entire nation just so they can smoke their evil weed.

</d*ck-WOD>

8 posted on 12/06/2002 12:25:59 PM PST by Physicist
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To: Phantom Lord
I must have been smoking the wrong stuff, because never did orgies break out or passions get unleashed.

You were

9 posted on 12/06/2002 12:27:17 PM PST by CyberCowboy777
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To: Phantom Lord
I must have been smoking the wrong stuff, because never did orgies break out or passions get unleashed.

Smoking? You smoked it? Well, there you go! Look at the poster, you were supposed to inject it.

10 posted on 12/06/2002 12:29:27 PM PST by Physicist
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To: Pahuanui
The "Gateway Theory" wasn't bunk for me, but my study only used one person. Of course it was a very IMPORTANT person, but, I'm sure my results could be challenged by "statistical experts".
11 posted on 12/06/2002 12:32:47 PM PST by Republic of Texas
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To: Republic of Texas
Can you prove that this person would not have tried harder drugs if he'd not tried pot first?
12 posted on 12/06/2002 12:47:42 PM PST by Physicist
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To: Phantom Lord
Let me look at this: "Weird orgies, wild parties, unleashed passions!"

Hey, I may never have tried drugs, however if those are the outcomes then it seems i may drive through the local drugee spot! I think i have some passions that need to be unleashed!

13 posted on 12/06/2002 1:02:44 PM PST by spetznaz
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To: Physicist
No, I know "he" would've.
14 posted on 12/06/2002 1:04:17 PM PST by Republic of Texas
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To: Pahuanui
Ethanol - the Real Gateway Drug.
15 posted on 12/06/2002 1:08:30 PM PST by Senator Pardek
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To: Senator Pardek
Actually, Senator, a very PC health researcher type once patiently explained to me that tobacco was the real gateway drug. All a matter of the trends of the day, you see.
16 posted on 12/06/2002 1:16:17 PM PST by MoralSense
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To: MoralSense
He's wrong - it's those chewing gum cigs the used to sell when we wuz kids! Firearm deaths? Squirt guns!
17 posted on 12/06/2002 3:59:52 PM PST by Senator Pardek
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To: Senator Pardek
Ethanol - the Real "Gateway" Drug.

Dude!!! You need to get a "Dell!!!"


18 posted on 12/06/2002 4:15:38 PM PST by Bluntpoint
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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