---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cigarettes and alcohol are much stronger…"
description: "\"Cigarettes and alcohol are much stronger gateway drugs [than marijuana].\" — Steven Machat"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/steven-machat-34523_alcohol_cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger_544603.jpg"
---

#  Cigarettes and alcohol are much stronger gateway drugs…

![“Cigarettes and alcohol are much stronger gateway drugs &#91;than marijuana&#93;.” quote by Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/steven-machat-34523_alcohol_cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger_544603.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/steven-machat-34523_alcohol_cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger_544603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/steven-machat-34523_alcohol_cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger_544603.jpg)

> “Cigarettes and alcohol are much stronger gateway drugs \[than marijuana\].”

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Cigarettes and alcohol are considered stronger gateways to addiction than marijuana.

**In simple terms:** Alcohol and cigarettes lead more to addiction.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and limit exposure to stronger substances.

Themes

health addiction substance use policy

Mood

cautious informative analytical

Type

health policy

When to use this quote

- youth education
- rehab programs
- policy making

Key Concepts

gateway theory public health

Questions to Reflect On

- What factors make a substance a stronger gateway?
- How can society reduce exposure to high‑risk drugs?

A Different Perspective

Context varies; some argue marijuana also poses risks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Marijuana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marijuana/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/)

## Related quotes

> [If I was a supervillain, I think I'd probably ban all smoking and drinking. That's exactly what I'd do: I'd remove all the cigarettes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/if-i-was-a-supervillain-i-think-i-d-probably-ban-all-smoking-and/)

[Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/)

> [Tobacco and alcohol, delicious fathers of abiding friendships and fertile reveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/tobacco-and-alcohol-delicious-fathers-of-abiding-friendships-and/)

[Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/)

> [It's a weird experience when you're just trying to talk openly about how you think psychedelic drugs and marijuana are beneficial, or a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/it-s-a-weird-experience-when-you-re-just-trying-to-talk-openly-about/)

[Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/)

> [Aging happy and well, instead of sad and sick, is at least under some personal control. We have considerable control over our weight, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-vaillant/aging-happy-and-well-instead-of-sad-and-sick-is-at-least-under-some/)

[George Vaillant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-vaillant/)

> [I'm not a marijuana user, so I always feel kind of fraudulent. I applaud this, I do recreational drugs, but marijuana's never one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-m-not-a-marijuana-user-so-i-always-feel-kind-of-fraudulent-i/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [“FACT 450: Ecstasy is often used in conjunction with other drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine, and other drugs, making it even more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-mcneal/fact-450-ecstasy-is-often-used-in-conjunction-with-other-drugs-such/)

[Cary McNeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-mcneal/)

> [The federal government overrules state laws where state laws permit medicinal marijuana for people dying of cancer. The federal government goes in and arrests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-federal-government-overrules-state-laws-where-state-laws-permit/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [Worse that drugs is drug trafficking. Much worse. Drugs are a disease, and I don't think that there are good drugs or that marijuana…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/worse-that-drugs-is-drug-trafficking-much-worse-drugs-are-a-disease/)

[Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/)

> [“Smoking kills, because people buy cigarettes. Alcohol kills, because people buy alcohol. War kills, because people buy war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/smoking-kills-because-people-buy-cigarettes-alcohol-kills-because/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Avoid using cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs as alternatives to being an interesting person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/avoid-using-cigarettes-alcohol-and-drugs-as-alternatives-to-being-an/)

[Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/)

> [“cigarettes and alcohol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-walker/cigarettes-and-alcohol/)

[N.R. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-walker/)

> [No pork, soda pop, cigarettes, alcohol – ever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/no-pork-soda-pop-cigarettes-alcohol-ever/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [A black star appears, a point of darkness in the night sky's clarity. Point of darkness and gateway to repose. Reach out, pierce the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/a-black-star-appears-a-point-of-darkness-in-the-night-sky-s-clarity/)

[Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/)

> [Text is the gateway drug to real time marketing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baer/text-is-the-gateway-drug-to-real-time-marketing/)

[Jay Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baer/)

> [They are the gateway for our modern esthetic development, the prophets of the new time. They are most of all, the primitives of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/they-are-the-gateway-for-our-modern-esthetic-development-the-prophets/)

[Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/)

## More by Steven Machat

> [The desire the law makers have in having only dispensary owners to control marijuana is part of the game our law makers play to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/the-desire-the-law-makers-have-in-having-only-dispensary-owners-to/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [People who are lazy may smoke pot and remain lazy. That is aging the person finding a drug to help one create the vegetable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/people-who-are-lazy-may-smoke-pot-and-remain-lazy-that-is-aging-the/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Tobacco is the second most dangerous drug available to our culture. Number one is alcohol follow by many pharmacy pills. So no, marijuana is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/tobacco-is-the-second-most-dangerous-drug-available-to-our-culture/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Our fears are those that cause cancer and those fears operate in the regions that the drugs we use to hide our fears is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/our-fears-are-those-that-cause-cancer-and-those-fears-operate-in-the/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Genetically modified foods and chemical drugs. Two things that will change our consciousness as we become slaves to the world we made, not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/genetically-modified-foods-and-chemical-drugs-two-things-that-will/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Marijuana does not cause brain damage. Our media does by creating fears, encouraging hate and then selling the remedy to the fears and hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/marijuana-does-not-cause-brain-damage-our-media-does-by-creating/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Marijuana allows one to take a breath and see the realities of a situation without the news beating their interpretation into our brains. Pot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/marijuana-allows-one-to-take-a-breath-and-see-the-realities-of-a/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [If people believe that marijuana helps their medical issues then they should allow people to indulge in those remedies. It is criminal that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/if-people-believe-that-marijuana-helps-their-medical-issues-then-they/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [The war on drugs has been a social and political failure. We need to encourage sport and stop encouraging drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/the-war-on-drugs-has-been-a-social-and-political-failure-we-need-to/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Pot must be legalized as it grows in nature. It is natural and organic too. It is part of the hemp world and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/pot-must-be-legalized-as-it-grows-in-nature-it-is-natural-and-organic/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Marijuana is not addictive. People are the addicts and they will find a substance or a belief that will feed the addiction they need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/marijuana-is-not-addictive-people-are-the-addicts-and-they-will-find/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Legalizing pot would benefit society by first off having laws applicable to all, without those in control breaking the laws and making a mockery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/legalizing-pot-would-benefit-society-by-first-off-having-laws/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

> [Marijuana does not lead to harder drugs. People will get bored of the pot and move on down the line to stronger drugs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/marijuana-does-not-lead-to-harder-drugs-people-will-get-bored-of-the/)

[Steven Machat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

[Explore all 14 Steven Machat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/)

## More Alcohol quotes

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/)

[Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/)

> [You can get a new phone or new trainers (sneakers) but you've only got one body so you have to look after it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-beckford/you-can-get-a-new-phone-or-new-trainers-sneakers-but-you-ve-only-got/)

Tyson Beckford

> [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/)

[Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/)

> [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/)

[George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/)

> [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/)

[W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/)

> [Alcohol is like Photoshop for real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/alcohol-is-like-photoshop-for-real-life/)

[Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/)

> [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/)

David Norman

> [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/)

[Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/)

> [I go to parties sometimes until four, it's hard to leave when you can't find the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-go-to-parties-sometimes-until-four-it-s-hard-to-leave-when-you-can/)

[Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/)

> [I can't fill the hole with money. I can't fill it with alcohol, or drugs, or sex, so what do I need to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/i-can-t-fill-the-hole-with-money-i-can-t-fill-it-with-alcohol-or/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

> [I take really good care of myself. I promised myself long ago that I would never miss a hunting season, never poison my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-take-really-good-care-of-myself-i-promised-myself-long-ago-that-i/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

[Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Cigarettes and alcohol are much stronger gateway drugs [than marijuana].",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Steven Machat"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger-gateway-drugs-than-marijuana/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alcohol"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger-gateway-drugs-than-marijuana/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/steven-machat-34523_alcohol_cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger_544603.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/steven-machat-34523_alcohol_cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger_544603.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/steven-machat-34523_alcohol_cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger_544603.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Cigarettes and alcohol are much stronger gateway drugs [than marijuana].” — Steven Machat",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Steven Machat",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-machat/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Cigarettes and alcohol are much stronger...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger-gateway-drugs-than-marijuana/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-machat/cigarettes-and-alcohol-are-much-stronger-gateway-drugs-than-marijuana/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
