I personally wouldn't look at Marijuana as a gateway drug. Gateway drugs in my opinion are drugs that with a lot of use eventually lead you to try harder drugs in order to obtain the same high/buzz ect that you can no longer get from the gateway drug due to increased tolerance. But how many hard drugs really give the same "high" that marijuana gives? Most hard substances such as cocaine and methamphetamines are uppers which give almost the opposite effect of what you would get from marijuana. If I were to point to anything as a "gateway" substance I would point to alcohol, not because increased tolerance would lead to seeking another way to get "drunk" but because when a person is under a heavy alcohol influence they're more likely to do things that they wouldn't normally, perhaps trying harder drugs for instance. It still amazes me that marijuana (which if you do enough research you'll find that a lot of studies have shown more positive effects than negative) is illegal and alcohol is legal. Alcohol is easier to access, easier to abuse, and can more easily damage your body if not used in moderation. While I've consumed alcohol and tried marijuana (and still do both on occasion), and I don't have any ill feelings towards others who use them or don't use them, my opinion is that if anything were to be outlawed it should be alcohol. I also am under the impression that cigarettes (and any tobacco forms to be honest) should be illegal as well because the tobacco industry kills millions of people per year. However I wouldn't hold my breath for a tobacco ban anytime soon, their lobbyists provide the government with way too much money. I know too little about other drugs to comment on them at this time. Edit: Just to add, I live in area where marijuana culture is rampant (we have reaaally good pot) and I've also tried medical from Cali. Medical marijuana gets you much higher than homegrown stuff. In case the person asking about a mmj license was wondering. Just wanted to share my experience in case you were worried about being too affected.