10-10-2003, 07:50 PM
for most of my friends growing up, it was a gateway to something else (cocaine, heroin, lsd, etc...)...but i'm not sure it was because of the pot itself or rather because they wanted to experience new and different things. marijuana probably gets this reputation due to it's easy accessibility and low cast rather than anything inherent in the plant. if lsd was more avaible and cheaper, then we may be having this discussion about acid as opposed to pot.
i disagree that nicotine is a gateway drug for most smokers. it maybe a gateway to regular caffeine consumption, since they are both mild stimulants, but probably nothing else. if anything, many teens, i imagine, learn to actually inhale smoke while smoking marijuana as i did. now that they know how to properly inhale, they are ready to experience the relaxation and much more subtle bliss of tobacco use. they probably tried cigarettes before pot, but it was more for image rather than an effect.
i disagree that nicotine is a gateway drug for most smokers. it maybe a gateway to regular caffeine consumption, since they are both mild stimulants, but probably nothing else. if anything, many teens, i imagine, learn to actually inhale smoke while smoking marijuana as i did. now that they know how to properly inhale, they are ready to experience the relaxation and much more subtle bliss of tobacco use. they probably tried cigarettes before pot, but it was more for image rather than an effect.