i am bothered more by the societal impact of even more people doping up, like we need more mind altering substances to screw up an already screwed up populace. and there will be people who are law abiding who will do it if it’s legal who weren’t before, so it can’t help but cause a greater proliferation. For Gods sake, people just need to grow up, man up, buckle down and fly right, instead of looking for ways to tune out and abdicate responsibility.
I would argue that in several ways:
1. Any impact would be marginal and still superior to the status quo
2. A vast majority will simply be those who already smoke pot doing so legally now.
3. Another number of new users (previously afraid of legalities) would likely be expressing a “drug of choice” preference over alcohol. And alcohol is more damaging.
Thats a red herring
Use will spike initially, then even right back out.
And FWIW, one unmentioned upside, is that DUIs will probably go down, since smoking in public places is pretty much outlawed, CD sales will go up, as people elect to chill at home.
Better public safety, less money spent on Jails.
Good public policy.
And there will bill stone, cold sober folks who are injured by dopers driving high.