Interesting points, especially about the culture change. I really hope that with the legalization, there is going to be a push for better education about marijuana. Right now broadly speaking it's pretty binary, "pot is a gateway drug, etc" and "weed can do no harm". I'm a regular user myself, and have some understanding of the associated risks. So I think we might see a small but non trivial increase psychiatric disorders in young men in particular after legalization. Cannabis is already considered a risk factor if you have schizophrenia in your family [0].
The other thing I'm concerned about, besides the psychoactive effects, is lung health. Anecdotally the smoke doesn't seem as bad as cigarette, but regular (non oral) use can't be great for your lungs, pulmonary disorders are nothing to mess with.
Either way legalization should be lead us to a better world - I just can't wait for research to become easier so we can get some more concrete answers.
> Right now broadly speaking it's pretty binary, "pot is a gateway drug, etc" and "weed can do no harm".
My retired police officer/taxi-driver friend once commented on smelling some "really good weed" on some of his passengers. I replied about how in his former life he used to fight in the war on that plant.
"They told me it was a gateway drug, and I believed them. Now it seems the plant actually has health benefits."
The other thing I'm concerned about, besides the psychoactive effects, is lung health. Anecdotally the smoke doesn't seem as bad as cigarette, but regular (non oral) use can't be great for your lungs, pulmonary disorders are nothing to mess with.
Either way legalization should be lead us to a better world - I just can't wait for research to become easier so we can get some more concrete answers.
0. https://academic.oup.com/hmg/article-abstract/26/13/2462/357...