Study: Pot Not a 'Gateway' Drug

Good news for marijuana advocates: research suggests that pot doesn't necessarily lead to heroin addiction and other nasty drug habits.

Here's the word from a press release:

Marijuana is not a “gateway” drug that predicts or eventually leadsto substance abuse, suggests a 12-year University of Pittsburgh study.
Moreover, the study’s findings call into question the long-held beliefthat has shaped prevention efforts and governmental policy for sixdecades and caused many a parent to panic upon discovering a bag of potin their child’s bedroom.

My prediction: the enemies of marijuana won't change their minds as a result of this research since assumptions about pot being a gateway drug are so deeply ingrained. (If you disagree, drop me a line in the comments.)

Meanwhile, here's a story I wrote for Wired News about how the mid-term elections might affect drug reform.