Gateway theory overstated

The marijuana as a “gateway drug” argument by Seth Dawson of the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention (“Marijuana penalties subject of proposal,” Feb. 11) is an exaggerated argument based on a distortion of social research methods.

He cites as evidence that “marijuana use among early teens was a shared trait among many adult cocaine abusers.” This is no doubt true, but it is insufficient evidence on which to base his claim. Certainly as strong an association exists between prior childhood milk drinking among teenage marijuana users as between prior teenage marijuana use among adult cocaine abusers. Yet the absurdity of claiming milk is some sort of gateway substance to marijuana use is self-evident.

If he wants to make a gateway claim he needs to cite research that looks at a representative sample of teenage marijuana users and measures how many of them go on to adult cocaine abuse. The research literature is clear and consistent that this number is very low. The vast majority of teenage marijuana users age out of their use as they move into adult roles and responsibilities. Even among those who continue marijuana use into adulthood, relatively few go on to cocaine abuse.

Dale Lindekugel

Professor of sociology, Eastern Washington University