The EVOLUTION Magazine April-2023 | Page 62

Patient Education ►

Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug ?

by Peter Kershaw , Contributing Writer

One of the most common objections raised against the use of cannabis is “ Marijuana is a gateway drug .” Like so many other myths of its kind , it originated courtesy of the Nixon administration . In 1973 , at the direction of Nixon , the National Institute on Drug Abuse funded a study to show that marijuana was an addictive substance and paved the way for other addictive drugs such as cocaine and heroin . The study was spearheaded by Dr . Denise Kandel , professor of sociomedical sciences at Columbia University .

Dr . Kandel coined the term “ gateway drug .” The outcome of the study failed to offer any evidence that marijuana is a gateway drug in the least . However , the study did prove there are gateways drugs , the two most significant being cigarettes and alcohol . Nixon was unwilling to face the political backlash from big tobacco and big booze , so the study ’ s findings were suppressed . Years later , Dr . Denise Kandel and her Nobel Prize-winning neurologist husband , Dr . Eric Kandel , went on to prove that cigarettes “ prime the brain ” in such a way that the uptake of cocaine and its resultant effect “ was amplified many times ,” thus increasing the pleasure response but also making the combination of the two more addictive .
The scientific findings didn ’ t support Nixon ’ s original objectives . What it proved is cigarettes and alcohol are the overarching gateway drugs . Both are readily available , including in many cases to children . Other subsequent government-funded studies have likewise been tasked with finding a “ gateway drug ” link between marijuana and harder drugs . Still , none have ever been able to support the hypothesis scientifically . Nevertheless , the myth continues . In the words of Mark Twain , “ It ’ s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled .”
While cigarettes and alcohol are highly addictive , marijuana is even less addictive than coffee . While marijuana has never caused a single death , cigarettes in the U . S . cause an estimated 480,000 deaths annually and an additional 41,000 due to second-hand smoke . Alcohol-related deaths account for over 58,000 annually . Opioids are legal with a doctor ’ s prescription but also potentially fatal . Opioids account for 67,000 deaths annually due to overdose . What isn ’ t accounted for in the CDC ’ s figures are the many additional deaths due to side effects , for example , severe constipation , which is a very common complication of opioid use . ( A friend of mine was unable to eliminate for several months , and ultimately suffered an intestinal rupture and hemorrhaged to death , all because of opioids .)
Many millions of Americans have become drug addicts and had their health and quality of life severely compromised . Many have even died as a direct result of cigarettes , alcohol , and doctor-prescribed opioids . Thankfully medical marijuana is legal in Missouri , but the “ marijuana is a gateway drug ” myth still lingers , along with its implicit stigma . What is one to do ? How does one argue in the face of decades of government lies and propaganda ? Hopefully , some of the facts presented here can be of benefit , but the reality is many people simply aren ’ t willing to listen , even , in many cases , our own family members .
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Rather than arguing against the myth , this author long ago decided it was strategically advantageous to go ahead and embrace not the myth but the phrase , “ Marijuana is a gateway drug .” To me , it ’ s no longer a negative but a positive . “ Yes , I agree . Marijuana is a gateway drug .” This always catches antagonists off guard . “ What ? You actually admit it ?” “ Yes , I admit marijuana is a gateway drug . But not in the way you think of it . I have safely gatewayed drug addicts off very dangerous drugs such as cigarettes , booze , meth , cocaine , and heroin , but especially opioids , by using the safe and natural drug marijuana .” This inevitably elicits an engaging conversation .
Virtually every American ’ s life has , in some tragic way , been touched by opioids , whether it be ourselves , family members , friends , or acquaintances . Everyone seems to know someone whose life has been devastated by opioids . As this author has written about previously , many millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain . What doctors have to offer in the way of pain management is all too often a cure that is worse than the disease . But then we can say the same of a great many other pharmaceutical drugs . Cannabis is the safe and affordable alternative for many physical ailments , including some mental ailments such as PTSD , anxiety , etc . without the dangerous side effects of pharmaceuticals .
Can one safely gateway from opioids to cannabis for pain management purposes ? Yes , but it would also be wise to consult with a cannabis-friendly physician . Most physicians , as a general rule of thumb , recommend tapering off opioids by reducing the dose by 10 % every week . Going “ cold turkey ” is always advised against . That said , there ’ s also something very interesting I ’ ve often witnessed . The physiological benefit of the cannabis in the withdrawal process may be so pronounced the patient completely forgets to take their opioids because they aren ’ t experiencing any of the horrible discomforts that typically accompany opioid withdrawal . As an added benefit , pain management is dramatically improved . Getting to go to the bathroom again is also a huge relief ( literally ).
Is there more than mere anecdotal evidence that cannabis is effective in getting people off addictive drugs ? There is . The endocannabinoid system modulates the reward circuitry of the brain linked to drug addiction . It also plays a key role in the plasticity of the brain . This enables the brain to effectively rewire itself and recover from addiction . All cannabinoids in cannabis are thought to be of benefit for recovery from drug addiction . However , it ’ s been shown that CBD plays as important a role as THC . Thus 1:1 ( CBD / THC ) strains may prove to be the most beneficial .
Peter Kershaw is a Patient Caregiver , an organic cannabis cultivation consultant , and extraction consultant . Contact him at pkershaw . email @ gmail . com or text to 417-230-4445 . As with all writers within these pages , if you ’ ve benefited from Peter ’ s articles , please let him and all writers know . They appreciate your thoughts .
Notice : The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice , diagnosis or treatment advice , but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience . The content is for general informational purposes only . As always , check with your doctor first .