The reasons for people to try marijuana vary as much as the people themselves, due to different types of personalities and characters. For the most part, people choose to use marijuana as a means of fitting in with a certain social group or setting, usually as a result of peer pressure and the inability to make good personal choices. Also, some people may try marijuana out of a sense of curiosity in order to find out for themselves exactly how the body and the mind react when the drug is smoked or sometimes consumed. .

             The smoking of marijuana has increased throughout the world since the 1960's and according to a poll conducted in the late 1970's, approximately 60% of young adults polled in the United States reported some experience with the drug. Other studies have revealed that many of those that use marijuana can be found in virtually every socio-economic and ethnic group. From this information, it is clear that people who use marijuana vary as much as the reasons associated with its use. .

             Obviously, the use of marijuana by certain persons can at times initiate the use of other drugs, such as hashish (a derivative of marijuana), LSD, cocaine and other federally-controlled substances. However, just like the differences in the kinds of persons that use marijuana, the reasons for trying other drugs vary greatly. In some persons, the effects derived from smoking or consuming marijuana might diminish over time which could led to the use of other drugs in order to achieve a better or more powerful "high." Also, some persons, due to heredity and an addictive personality, might use marijuana in conjunction with alcohol or some type of prescriptive medication. .

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             For many years, researchers have suggested that marijuana is a "gateway drug" which leads to trying other drugs. However, the research on this topic varies as much as the reasons for using marijuana. According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), a 1995 study reported that "marijuana users are eighty-five times more likely than non-marijuana users to try cocaine.