Using Marijuana May Not Raise the Risk of Using Harder Drugs

Abstract

Marijuana is widely regarded as a gateway" drug, that is, one whose use results in an increased likelihood of using more serious drugs such as cocaine and heroin. This gateway effect is one of the principal reasons cited in defense of laws prohibiting the use or possession of marijuana. A recent analysis by RAND's Drug Policy Research Center (DPRC) suggests that data typically used to support a marijuana gateway effect can be explained as well by a different theory. The new research, by Andrew Morral, associate director of RAND Public Safety and Justice, Daniel McCaffrey, and Susan Paddock, has implications for U.S. marijuana policy. However, decisions about relaxing U.S. marijuana laws must necessarily take into account many other factors in addition to whether or not marijuana is a gateway drug.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA411835

Entities

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Addiction
  • Adolescents
  • Availability
  • Cannabis
  • Classification
  • Contracts
  • Drug Users
  • Education
  • Frequency
  • Law
  • Monitoring
  • Observation
  • Public Safety
  • Safety

Readers

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  • Personnel Management and Statistics in the Military and Department of Defense