GATEWAY DRUG

Prior to the 1960's, pot smoking was not widespread.  Since then marijuana has been recognized as a "gateway" drug.  That is, the first illegal drug used.  It is estimated that there are over three million regular marijuana smokers in the United States.  Of that number, one out of three will go on to use other illegal drugs.

The peak years for first time marijuana use are from fourteen to sixteen, but the age is dropping.  This is a tragedy because the mind of the adolescent is still developing, and regular exposure to the psychoactive agents in marijuana does irreparable harm to the brain.  The use of marijuana has been linked directly to teenage mental illness, suicide, pregnancy, accidents, and sexually transmitted disease.

This young woman was the first case in our files of a death directly related to smoking marijuana.  The case occurred in 1970.  The woman and a friend were hitchhiking and dancing on the shoulder of the road when she was struck by a truck and killed.  Her uninjured friend was "high on something" according to witnesses.  When the body was examined in the morgue, two joints of marijuana were found hidden in her panties.

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