Does Smoking Cannabis Lead to Harder Drugs?

Very seldom, I have used marijuana on and off over nearly 40 years. Now in my late seventies I still use it if I can get it. My plants died while I was in hospital having hip replacement surgery. Having had osteoarthritis since 1980 I am often in considerable pain. The alternative to marijuana is morphine in increasing doses prescribed by my doctor. To swap over from marijuana to morphine and back saves increasing the dose of both. There are a lot of elderly people in UK growing their own plants so as to have marijuana to relieve their pain! I have not known anyone who takes marijuana go on to anything else! Morphine is prescribed frequently by doctors for arthritic pain and I think morphine is a darn sight worse!

ABSOLUTELY!!! I have a son, 55 years old, began Pot forty years ago, moved on to cocaine, etc; now in prison for domestic violence. He has ruined the lives of five children, two wives, and his parents, pursuing his cannabis dreams.

A BIG YES. A very timely article.
Substance abuse of any kind is ongoing, and getting worse. Global porn addiction is now $150 Billion annually. This means greater than the GDP of several countries. Porn and domestic violence are linked, and innocents are actively targeted by porn pushers. The same goes for drugs.
Addictions today are rife.
There are over 200 'anonymous' meetings to get over addictions, only one of which is alcohol.
The reverse is asceticism. This in simple terms is fasting- doing without food and liquids. It can be sustained and if so empowers the individual so that they are freer, and more capable of making their own decisions.