[unspun]

Key Statement:
The new DPRC research thus demonstrates that the phenomena supporting claims that marijuana is a gateway drug also support the alternative explanation: that it is not marijuana use but individuals' opportunities and unique propensities to use drugs that determine their risk of initiating hard drugs. The research does not disprove the gateway theory; it merely shows that another explanation is plausible.

I.e., either way you slice it, if intoxicants including marijuana are more freely available, they will simply add to the use of hard drugs, among those who are so inclined.

(The adjusted model of study actually shows an increased finding of this effect.)

Simply put, it is another way of saying that the greater the supply, the greater consumption, the greater the demand.

But, call for the totalibertarian right to all property, at all times, by all people, if that is your revisionism of choice....

graphs on source page

[Brad’s Gramma]

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[bayourod]

A friend of mine tried marijuana once. It made him want to rape and kill.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[rb22982]

A few things

1) Supply is already everywhere, you won't be increasing supply probably by more than 5-10% upon legalization.
2) The real gateway drugs are alcohol and nicotine. Using this logic is an immediate right to criminalize both of them. Both are far more addictive, kill WAY more people (marijuana is impossible to OD from), and alcohol is much more of an intoxicant.
3) The marijuana costs of the drug war are staggering, accounting for roughly 50% of all arrests, with a total budget of over 50 billion a year at all levels.
4) Legalizing marijuana would seperate the soft drugs from the hard drugs and people wouldn't be pushed to purchase cocaine, crack, meth, heroin from their local gov't authorized marijuana distributor.
5) Legalizing marijuana would reduce the risk of lacings till close to 0 with marijuana.

[Hebrews 11:6]

This isn't hard. Anyone willing to try marijuana has already demonstrated the disregard both for the law and for their own wellbeing that might otherwise dissuade them from trying hard drugs.

[MonroeDNA]

This is easy.

Other countries have decriminalized marijuana. Since then, has harder drug use increased in those countries?

Nothing like real world experience.

[headsonpikes]

Thank you for posting this study, unspun.

I'm sure that other 'End The WOD' types will adequately deal with the issues without my involvement.

I only want to say that your measured and non-splenetic comments I've seen on other drug threads represent the Gold Standard of pro-WOD posters, much as I disagree with you.

Tomorrow, I'll be coming after you, but at this moment my bride is calling me for dinner. ;^)

[yendu bwam]

I.e., either way you slice it, if intoxicants including marijuana are more freely available, they will simply add to the use of hard drugs, among those who are so inclined.

You hit the nail on the head. Thank you.

[Mudboy Slim]

ALL DRUGS ARE BAD!!

ALL DRUGS ARE NOT BAD!!

SomeDrugs are NOT bad, apparently, but who decides?! And who profits from the ongoing WarOnSomeDrugs?!! Terrorists, you say? What about BigBeer?! What about BigLiquor?! And most of all...What about BigGuv'ment?!

The WarOnSomeDrugs is a BigGuv'mentPloy to BoilTheFRog, slooooooowly...MUD

[monkey]

I.e., either way you slice it, if intoxicants including marijuana are more freely available, they will simply add to the use of hard drugs, among those who are so inclined.

That's not what the study says. How did you reach that conclusion?

[aristeides]

The prohibition of alcohol ended in 1933, when drastically reduced tax revenues created a need to find a new source of tax revenue.

State tax revenues are currently badly depressed. I think taxing marijuana might give the states a lot of new revenue.

[A CA Guy]

"it is not marijuana use but individuals' opportunities and unique propensities to use drugs that determine their risk of initiating hard drugs."

What a great all inclusive paragraph that shows why there needs to be illegal drug use laws throughout America.