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I often wonder if pot's status as a gateway drug is something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Everyone talks about it and there's enough questions about how bad it really is for people that it's more readily available than "hard core" drugs so people who are naturally disposed to trying drugs go for it first to see if they like having an altered experience. And, finding that they do, they then go on to other stuff.
Of illegal drugs, pot is the most available, least expensive, least risky and least stigmatized. If you're interested in drug use in general, of course it's going to be your first choice. We've made it an obvious and easy first choice. I think the fact that people start with marjuana on their way to coke, LSD, heroin, etc. speaks much more to how we have framed the drug issue and much less to some property inherent to marjuana.
That said, there's not much question it's harmful, though it's certainly not any more harmful than alcohol or tobacco, and probably less so. You'd be hard pressed to convince me that if alcohol and tobacco are legal that pot should be illegal. Of course, I think everything should be legal and we should make a fortune off regulating and taxing the stuff.
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