Research indicates teen marijuana use does not predict drug, alcohol abuse

[Parabola]

No 'smoking' gun -- Research indicates teen marijuana use does not predict drug, alcohol abuse



http://www.physorg.com/news84468374.html


like we didn't already fucking know, but it's nice to have sciency confirmation.

Marijuana is not a "gateway" drug that predicts or eventually leads to substance abuse, suggests a 12-year University of Pittsburgh study. The study, which found that young men who chose to initiate their drug use with marijuana were no more likely to go on to abuse drugs or alcohol than those who smoked or drank first, calls into question the long-held belief that has shaped prevention efforts and governmental policy for six decades.

[Parabola]

I though this comment was worth quoting here as well, hopefully Mr. Devareaux doesn't mind.

On 10-Dec-2006 by Bill J. Devareaux
The idea that marijuana or any other substance is a "gateway drug" remains nonsense. Labeling any substance as a "gateway" to other substances in the context of so-called abuse is the ultimate in political spin. That is, it is 100% pure propaganda, something far more insidiously evil than substances and behaviors which are attempted to be controlled.

The persons and institutions attempting to impose control over substances are the most vulnerable when people use these substances. Why, you might ask? Because once users discover that they didn't go mad, didn't commit debauchery, or run off on sprees of crime and immorality they think "Hey!" Maybe some of these other substances aren't so bad. Maybe those in authority have lied to me about many other things also." This is the real threat of "substance abuse".

The would-be controllers have successfully backed themselves into a corner, once again, with their lies and propaganda. Once again their authority and even their legitimacy is seriously questioned. They are in peril of losing their legitimacy, their authority, their credibility, their careers, their cushy little parasitic position on the body politic. This frightens them. In fact, it terrifies them. They could lose elections. They could fail to maintain their appointments. So they invent even more fantastic lies and beat their drums louder to distract others from contemplating the truth of the matter and make a mantra of their lies repeating them so often that others will repeat them and those lies will eventually be seen as the truth.

The "War on some Drugs" is now and always has been based on an agenda. It is purely political. Left to it's own devices government would seek to profit by way of taxation in the trafficking of substances, much as it currently does with alcohol and tobacco. Such a move would also serve to mitigate the "thrill", rebellion and excessive profiteering aspects of drug use and the drug trade. Profiteering which is due solely to the way in which government currently approaches the recreational use of substances.

All in all, ending this stupid War on some Drugs would be the smartest move that this government could make. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to occur as too many government agencies have become addicted the "enhanced revenues" gained by seizing the money and property (which is later converted into cash at auctions) of drug dealers as well as the expansion of their powers. Of course, Prohibition ended after such government stupidity prevailed for a time.


Has anyone seen Richard Linklater's "a scanner darkly" yet?

[c-ray]

yes a scanner darkly is pretty cool