Where did this belief come from that cannabis is a “gateway drug?”

President Ronald Reagan and the US War on Drugs brought messaging to us in the 1970s that cannabis was a “gateway drug.” While ultimately a political campaign to target people of color for mass incarceration, this campaign has caused many US Americans, even today, to believe in propaganda against cannabis use. 

At the core of this propaganda is the belief that cannabis and alcohol are “soft drugs” that are easy to get and that doing them will lead to the use and addiction of hard drugs like heroin, meth, cocaine, and others. Prohibitionists have long hung their hat on this argument that cannabis is a gateway drug in order to block legalization efforts. 

So why isn’t cannabis a gateway drug? 

A study published at the start of 2023 helps dispel the idea that cannabis is a gateway drug. This study shows that when a state legalizes weed, it does not lead to adults using other substances and does not increase substance abuse with cannabis or other substances. On the contrary, the study found legalization may lead to a reduction in alcohol-related problems. 

What does the study say? 

The study examined over 4,000 twins from two decades-long studies at the University of Colorado and the University of Minnesota. 40% of these twins lived in a state with legal recreational weed (Colorado), and 60% lived without legal cannabis (Minnesota).

Subjects were studied for alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, illegal substance usage, and mental health at two points: before 2014, when Colorado opened dispensaries, and after. 

This study found that the low-level cannabis use in adults, which was the majority of users, legalization does not appear to increase the risk of substance use disorder. It also found no connection between legalization and individuals' cognitive, social, psychological, relationship, or financial problems. This was the case both for cannabis and other substances. 

The study concluded that prevention and intervention of cannabis abuse would be best targeted on risk factors like family history and mental health disorders rather than the availability of cannabis. 

Why does this study matter? 

Legalization
While the gateway drug idea is now seen as more antiquated, continuing to debunk this myth can lead to legalization in more states and, eventually, federal legalization. 

Testing & Regulation

Legalization means that products must be tested and regulated so consumers know what’s in their cannabis products. This does not happen in the illicit drug market. 

More Research

Legalization also means more research on the plant to understand its effects and benefits better.

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