“Alcohol is a MUCH bigger problem than weed is...”
95% of my people have substance abuse issues in one form or another. So that makes about 150 people that I actively see on a very regular basis in an office, at their employment, and in their homes. Out of those roughly 150 persons, only 2 of them have alcohol abuse issues.
The rest is pot, pot + cocaine, Cocaine, Meth, Meth + pot, Opiates, Benzos, and a dabbling of MDMA and heroin (heroin is not big in this area)... and a general mix of all of this. But ALL of them start with pot. MOST keep using pot.
Alcohol is a total non-issue.
Not ONE person on my caseload - at this time - was drunk on alcohol when they committed their felony. Roughly 65% had THC in their system. 95% of my people are and/or were drug users.
Their crimes range from felony theft to armed robbery to murder.
“Drugs” are the #1 issue regarding felony crime and felony criminal behavior. It all stems from it.
My point is that drunk driving is a large problem (28 people die as a result of it every day). But that's the tip of the iceberg when it comes to booze. I've been a cop for 14 years and I'd say 95% of the assaults and domestic jobs I've gone to have involved booze.
My perspective is probably biased as well, but the only problem I really see with weed is the criminality that comes with it because it is sold on the streets. I've never seen anyone get high and beat up their wife, and I've never seen a huge brawl in a club spill out into the street where all the participants are high.