Opium and cannabis have been used by natives/indigenous people for thousands of years. It's only fairly recent it has become an illegal substance. Most civilizations used plant based remedies as medicine or in religious ceremony.
The bulk of the US population is not indigenous. Western people's have no long association with these drugs.
It's only fairly recent it has become an illegal substance.
So? It's only fairly recent that Opium and Cocaine became an illegal substance. They are still dangerous.
Most civilizations used plant based remedies as medicine or in religious ceremony.
So? I don't think most of the demand out there is to use weed in "religious ceremonies." Most of these people just want to get stoned.