You're probably right but I would qualify it with, "I'm not sure we know". A lot of people are high all day and we have no idea what effect it's had on all of the decisions they make, and have been making for years. It's not like we're documenting what people are pulling positive for when they commit crimes, and it's not like they aren't used together.
The whole "but it's better than alcohol" rationale is also kind of strange to me anyway. It's a pretty low bar. It's like arguing about whether cake is a healthier breakfast than doughnuts or something.
Don't get me wrong, the schedule I was too much, and I don't really care about legalization either. I approve of it in the sense that I think people shouldn't have to deal with drug dealers to get it.
In my opinion it hasn't really been illegal here for a long time. Less than an ounce and a half was essentially a parking ticket. To get that parking ticket, a cop somehow had find you with it and be annoyed enough to bother writing one. That isn't happening in your living room, or at a concert, or in the middle of a park, or whatever. If you're stupid enough to get one, you write a check.
I haven't seen the huge benefit to states that have legalized, but I'd love to be educated. California legalized in 2016 and I think their medical program was abused enough that it's been legal awhile longer. What miracles have they performed with all the tax money? I watched a doc about how Oakland was trying to attract indoor growers to create industry and generate tax revenue. Want to move to Oakland, is it better there somehow than it was in 2016? Has crime gone down in states with legalized marijuana?
I think my state's program has some enormous flaws, and is actually losing money at the moment, so I may just be bitter. I just haven't been sold on any improvement legalization has had for most people.
My opinion of it here is that it's another cash grab by the state, looking to take more money from people with low incomes. I also suspect the legalize lobby spent a shitload of money and that politicians saw it as a way to generate votes. As usual I'd love to be wrong.
Very fair and well balanced post.