New study: Cannabis legalization does not lead to increased use of other drugs
Since the 1930s, cannabis has garnered the baseless perception of being a “gateway drug.” Even President Joe Biden thought it was a gateway drug, but he has since changed his mind.
Several scientific studies have already refuted the idea that cannabis leads to increased use of hard drugs. And further research has shown no link between cannabis legalization and cognitive, psychological, social, relationship, or financial problems.
According to a recent study published in the Psychological Medicine Journal, cannabis legalization has not led to an increase in substance use disorders or increased use of other illicit drugs, and “should not be considered a ‘gateway drug.’”
“Recreational legalization was associated with increased cannabis use and decreased [alcohol use disorder] symptoms but was not associated with other maladaptations. … Moreover, vulnerabilities to cannabis use were not exacerbated by the legal cannabis environment.”
–Psychological Medicine, Jan 5, 2023
A study from the Journal of Adolescent Health published last year similarly concluded that cannabis legalization did not lead to “dramatic increases in the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and non-prescribed opioids.”
This research is promising from a public policy perspective. As the evidence of the safety and health benefits of cannabis mounts, there will be more pressure to support rescheduling it from Schedule I to Schedule III at the federal level, which is already in progress.
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