Noticeable effects of cannabis legalisation?
April 6, 2024 1:49 AM Subscribe
What effects - noticeable by everyday people - has cannabis legalisation had?
Interested both in effects noticeable to people who consume it as well as people who have nothing to do it.
Best answer: I asked a question recently as far as the business aspects of legalization and got really great answers!
On a personal level, I certainly have noticed a change. I started using pot pre-legalization after having some painful eye surgery. It worked like magic and I always kept it in mind for situations like that, but didn't bother buying it. Now, it's legal and I always have some gummies or tinctures around. I consider it less harmful than alcohol but still try to be careful and not slip into using it every day or escalating amounts. The commercial stuff may not be the best, but I love that it's a known quantity.
On a social level, I feel like people talk about it much more. I was working in a bookstore when legalization happened, and everyone seemed really excited to be able to talk about it openly. It was surprising in some cases to find out who was into it. As an older person, I was amused (for instance) to have my much younger boss tell me not to bother with indica but to stick to sativa, and at a dose that would blow my head off. Sometimes I worry about these kids overdoing it, but it's a cool thing to have in common.
posted by BibiRose at 4:06 AM on April 6, 2024
On a personal level, I certainly have noticed a change. I started using pot pre-legalization after having some painful eye surgery. It worked like magic and I always kept it in mind for situations like that, but didn't bother buying it. Now, it's legal and I always have some gummies or tinctures around. I consider it less harmful than alcohol but still try to be careful and not slip into using it every day or escalating amounts. The commercial stuff may not be the best, but I love that it's a known quantity.
On a social level, I feel like people talk about it much more. I was working in a bookstore when legalization happened, and everyone seemed really excited to be able to talk about it openly. It was surprising in some cases to find out who was into it. As an older person, I was amused (for instance) to have my much younger boss tell me not to bother with indica but to stick to sativa, and at a dose that would blow my head off. Sometimes I worry about these kids overdoing it, but it's a cool thing to have in common.
posted by BibiRose at 4:06 AM on April 6, 2024
It used to be fairly rare for me to smell that someone had been smoking weed (ex: maybe 1/6 grocery outings), now it's nearly every grocery outing. Same with people smoking in their cars, I used to notice that even less regularly but I've had multiple cars with their windows UP pass me while I'm walking and it's been super obvious.
It makes sense that people are less worried about hiding that they've been smoking now.
posted by Eyelash at 4:54 AM on April 6, 2024 [3 favorites]
It makes sense that people are less worried about hiding that they've been smoking now.
posted by Eyelash at 4:54 AM on April 6, 2024 [3 favorites]
As someone who does not partake (tried a few times when much younger, found the experience underwhelming, never felt the urge to experiment further), the noticeable effects to me have been minimal. Occasionally I see a dispensary and am briefly surprised because my brain still hasn't fully processed that as normal now. My friends who partake discuss more openly on social media, but those were discussions we already had privately so it doesn't feel like much of a change to me although it may be a big shift for them. Some friends with medical issues have a better option for pain management and that's pretty great.
posted by Stacey at 4:54 AM on April 6, 2024
posted by Stacey at 4:54 AM on April 6, 2024
I don't smoke dope any more; the modern shit is just too strong for my lightweight constitution. I love the rituals around it and stuff, but I just can't actually do the drug any more.
posted by majick at 5:11 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
- The billboards. So many billboards.
- Since I live in a grow region, lots of new businesses targeted towards growers (and their advertisements)
- People talking about edibles a lot more in conversation. Edibles were not really that much of a thing before, not to this extent. This may or may not be related to the sharp rise in cultural stigma around smoking in general around the same time.
- About twice as many stoned as fuck drivers on the road. Stoned as fuck drivers have some distinctive driving characteristics that distinguish them from the drunk ones—of whom we have plenty, given that it's wine country—so they're pretty easy to spot.
posted by majick at 5:11 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
On a recent episode of Abbott Elementary, the teachers had a discussion in the lounge about using weed that I was surprised to see on a top-rated, old-network TV show. And I didn't see any hand-wringing from conservatives after, which I also found surprising.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:56 AM on April 6, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:56 AM on April 6, 2024 [4 favorites]
Pre-employment drug testing for thc is no longer a thing in my state.
posted by ttyn at 6:05 AM on April 6, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by ttyn at 6:05 AM on April 6, 2024 [2 favorites]
Ironically, it expanded black market cannabis.
Here is an interesting article.
And here is an interesting excerpt from the article:
She says it's understandable why illegal marijuana expanded in California after legalization.
"You remove risk — because you know, it's legal — so you have more consumers," she says. "And at the same time, your black market is going to react strategically by adjusting prices and levels of quality."
The black market in California also benefits from the restrictions on the licensed competitors, such as the fact that only about 40% of local jurisdictions in California permit cannabis stores. That leaves the other 60% to the retailers who don't wait for official approval.
posted by SageTrail at 6:39 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
Here is an interesting article.
And here is an interesting excerpt from the article:
She says it's understandable why illegal marijuana expanded in California after legalization.
"You remove risk — because you know, it's legal — so you have more consumers," she says. "And at the same time, your black market is going to react strategically by adjusting prices and levels of quality."
The black market in California also benefits from the restrictions on the licensed competitors, such as the fact that only about 40% of local jurisdictions in California permit cannabis stores. That leaves the other 60% to the retailers who don't wait for official approval.
posted by SageTrail at 6:39 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
A lot more young people with psychotic disorders.
posted by shadygrove at 6:41 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by shadygrove at 6:41 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
The stigma is slowly, oh so slowly, going away. I work in an office and one of my younger coworkers quietly said to me she was looking forward to a joint and some t.v. after a long day, and I felt I could say "I hear that!" It still feels awkward to acknowledge cannabis use at times, and there is definitely still some side eye by people who don't embibe.
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:42 AM on April 6, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:42 AM on April 6, 2024 [4 favorites]
I've been living in legal-weed states since whenever it started on the west coast. I see pretty much the same things that people have already listed, including destigmitization and more open discussion, billboards and weed stores everywhere, etc. I haven't seen any negative effects at all -- not saying there haven't been any, but I have never observed anything myself. And even though I don't personally almost ever use it, it's fun to stop in at weed stores in other states while traveling to see how different they are in different places.
Same with people smoking in their cars, I used to notice that even less regularly but I've had multiple cars with their windows UP pass me while I'm walking and it's been super obvious.
This is the funniest change to me. (Well, not good-funny because more impaired drivers is a bad thing, but unexpected-funny.) Anytime I am driving or walking in morning or evening commute traffic, I smell this a lot. There are a surprising number of people who smoke up right before work and/or immediately upon leaving work. Also in the parking garage at the airport (lots and lots of people self-treating flying anxiety with weed) and in office parking lots at lunchtime, with people going out to their cars and hot-boxing.
Pre-employment drug testing for thc is no longer a thing in my state.
It still is here, at least for jobs that require working on federal contracts or with large national companies that have strict (non-weed) safety policies. So we try to warn job candidates about this early enough for them to clean up before the pee test.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:02 AM on April 6, 2024
Same with people smoking in their cars, I used to notice that even less regularly but I've had multiple cars with their windows UP pass me while I'm walking and it's been super obvious.
This is the funniest change to me. (Well, not good-funny because more impaired drivers is a bad thing, but unexpected-funny.) Anytime I am driving or walking in morning or evening commute traffic, I smell this a lot. There are a surprising number of people who smoke up right before work and/or immediately upon leaving work. Also in the parking garage at the airport (lots and lots of people self-treating flying anxiety with weed) and in office parking lots at lunchtime, with people going out to their cars and hot-boxing.
Pre-employment drug testing for thc is no longer a thing in my state.
It still is here, at least for jobs that require working on federal contracts or with large national companies that have strict (non-weed) safety policies. So we try to warn job candidates about this early enough for them to clean up before the pee test.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:02 AM on April 6, 2024
In Canada, at least where I'm from in British Columbia where weed was very common before legalization, the noticeable effects for a casual observer are very minimal, other than the obvious stores (and there was a whole stock market frenzy about it early on, but that's died down now and a lot of those companies went bust).
posted by ssg at 7:31 AM on April 6, 2024 [7 favorites]
posted by ssg at 7:31 AM on April 6, 2024 [7 favorites]
I live in DC and A) you can now smell it multiple times a day, every day; B) The chaotic way we went about it has created a sometimes violent grey market that the city is now trying to stamp out in an equally messy and controversial process; C) We now have cookie cutter dispensaries all over the place with the same ugly LED "CBD" signs + cheap glass stacked haphazardly in their windows.
Still 100% on board w/decriminalization, but I find the culture around it here gross and depressing, and there are clearly a lot of people that aren't handling having constant access to powerful weed very well.
posted by reedbird_hill at 7:55 AM on April 6, 2024 [6 favorites]
Still 100% on board w/decriminalization, but I find the culture around it here gross and depressing, and there are clearly a lot of people that aren't handling having constant access to powerful weed very well.
posted by reedbird_hill at 7:55 AM on April 6, 2024 [6 favorites]
It's just dirt cheap now...
I can get an eighth for $12. wtf?
"We like stems, we like seeds. Where I come from..."
posted by Windopaene at 8:28 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
I can get an eighth for $12. wtf?
"We like stems, we like seeds. Where I come from..."
posted by Windopaene at 8:28 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
I live in a small town with a high seniors population, and I’m pretty sure the pot shops are only outnumbered by realtor’s offices at this point. Some people complain, but if it makes someone a good business that puts food on the table I’m fine with it.
I catch the odd whiff of someone smoking it where they aren’t supposed to, but that’s not super often - same thing happens with cigarettes anyway, it’s just a different stink. More people I know are trying more CBD forward products if they hadn’t partook in pot before, which is fine if it works for them for their various ailments (I’m personally not convinced it’s not just an expensive placebo, but I won’t yuck someone’s yum). When it was first legalized my org introduced a new fit for work policy, but otherwise there wasn’t much handwringing about it that I was aware of.
I don’t partake myself. Tried it ages ago and didn’t like the experience. I am concerned by the impaired driving aspect of things… but there are so many kinds of impairment (recreational substances, prescription meds, cognitive decline, fatigue, etc.) that I don’t think singling pot out is particularly honest or useful on that front anyway.
Also, where I live in Canada, pot was already a bit of a cottage industry. It just wasn’t legal. Then it became legal and now they all have a storefront.
posted by eekernohan at 8:36 AM on April 6, 2024
I catch the odd whiff of someone smoking it where they aren’t supposed to, but that’s not super often - same thing happens with cigarettes anyway, it’s just a different stink. More people I know are trying more CBD forward products if they hadn’t partook in pot before, which is fine if it works for them for their various ailments (I’m personally not convinced it’s not just an expensive placebo, but I won’t yuck someone’s yum). When it was first legalized my org introduced a new fit for work policy, but otherwise there wasn’t much handwringing about it that I was aware of.
I don’t partake myself. Tried it ages ago and didn’t like the experience. I am concerned by the impaired driving aspect of things… but there are so many kinds of impairment (recreational substances, prescription meds, cognitive decline, fatigue, etc.) that I don’t think singling pot out is particularly honest or useful on that front anyway.
Also, where I live in Canada, pot was already a bit of a cottage industry. It just wasn’t legal. Then it became legal and now they all have a storefront.
posted by eekernohan at 8:36 AM on April 6, 2024
I don't do pot. I do have a drink a couple of times a month. I see them as equivalent overall, depending on your age and brain development and all that, and probably fewer health downsides for pot. But I grew up not using it and I haven't actually ever tried it, except by attending a Bob Dylan/Joni Mitchell concert in 1998. :)
I personally hate the smell of pot and it's everywhere in Toronto now. The subways and buses had been less tobacco-smelling for a while but now they smell like weed a lot. Not a huge deal but for me, it's very noticeable.
I had to call the vet about something my dog got into, and she shared with me there have been 5 cannabis poisonings of dogs, 3 fatal, in our area over the last few weeks. She blamed the melting snow for some - people have dropped edibles outside and lost track of them.
At my family doctor's there's a new poster about kids and cannabis poisoning too, not sure if that's fear-based or reality-based.
I think the biggest moment I've had about it is I was at a multi-family party and one of my friends, who doesn't drink at all, bribed her 18 year old to stay at the party with the promise of an edible to get through it. That was really far out of my comfort zone - but I think it shows how accepted it is at this point.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:51 AM on April 6, 2024 [3 favorites]
I personally hate the smell of pot and it's everywhere in Toronto now. The subways and buses had been less tobacco-smelling for a while but now they smell like weed a lot. Not a huge deal but for me, it's very noticeable.
I had to call the vet about something my dog got into, and she shared with me there have been 5 cannabis poisonings of dogs, 3 fatal, in our area over the last few weeks. She blamed the melting snow for some - people have dropped edibles outside and lost track of them.
At my family doctor's there's a new poster about kids and cannabis poisoning too, not sure if that's fear-based or reality-based.
I think the biggest moment I've had about it is I was at a multi-family party and one of my friends, who doesn't drink at all, bribed her 18 year old to stay at the party with the promise of an edible to get through it. That was really far out of my comfort zone - but I think it shows how accepted it is at this point.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:51 AM on April 6, 2024 [3 favorites]
I can get an eighth for $12. wtf?
That is about the size of what was once marketed as a $5 nickel bag; so, adjusting for inflation, why not? After the outrageous prices being paid in the 80s, 90s, and naughts, rejoice - happy days are here again!
Stoned as fuck drivers have some distinctive driving characteristics that distinguish them from the drunk ones
I am curious about what those characteristics might be, since in my experience stoned drivers are the more cautious (unless they're not solo but in a car with others, distracted while passing a pipe around) and the least likely to exhibit impatience and road rage.
The biggest change I myself have observed is encountering the smell a lot more frequently, and how annoyed the squares have become about that. Also, hearing tales of CHS Hyperemesis Syndrome 'scromitting' which I attribute not to stronger weed but inexperienced overdosing via vaping or edible abuse.
posted by Rash at 9:16 AM on April 6, 2024 [2 favorites]
That is about the size of what was once marketed as a $5 nickel bag; so, adjusting for inflation, why not? After the outrageous prices being paid in the 80s, 90s, and naughts, rejoice - happy days are here again!
Stoned as fuck drivers have some distinctive driving characteristics that distinguish them from the drunk ones
I am curious about what those characteristics might be, since in my experience stoned drivers are the more cautious (unless they're not solo but in a car with others, distracted while passing a pipe around) and the least likely to exhibit impatience and road rage.
The biggest change I myself have observed is encountering the smell a lot more frequently, and how annoyed the squares have become about that. Also, hearing tales of CHS Hyperemesis Syndrome 'scromitting' which I attribute not to stronger weed but inexperienced overdosing via vaping or edible abuse.
posted by Rash at 9:16 AM on April 6, 2024 [2 favorites]
Well, back in my day, an eighth was $40...
So $12 seems like a deal. OTOH, there are brands that are trying to sell a gram for $16...
posted by Windopaene at 9:19 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
So $12 seems like a deal. OTOH, there are brands that are trying to sell a gram for $16...
posted by Windopaene at 9:19 AM on April 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
I smell weed everywhere I go. I favor legalization but I'm not a big fan of involuntary breathing in of smoke.
posted by bluesky43 at 9:45 AM on April 6, 2024 [7 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 9:45 AM on April 6, 2024 [7 favorites]
It's still only legal for medical use where I am, though possession below a certain amount was decriminalized and growing it / gifting it are also OK. But even with only 2 or 3 dispensaries within 100 miles of me, the smell is everywhere. Not that I dislike the smell, but it's become almost as pervasive as cigarette smells used to be.
I also understand it's easy to get recreationally through certain avenues, but I don't have experience there. It's legal across state borders in Maryland and DC, so if you're determined it's not very difficult to come by.
Our governor just vetoed legislation that would have opened up recreational sales here, but governors can't serve multiple concurrent terms here, so he's got a good chance of being replaced.
posted by emelenjr at 10:17 AM on April 6, 2024
I also understand it's easy to get recreationally through certain avenues, but I don't have experience there. It's legal across state borders in Maryland and DC, so if you're determined it's not very difficult to come by.
Our governor just vetoed legislation that would have opened up recreational sales here, but governors can't serve multiple concurrent terms here, so he's got a good chance of being replaced.
posted by emelenjr at 10:17 AM on April 6, 2024
Seattle WA here, I don't consume myself.
Legalization seems to have had a massive effect on cementing the idea of cannabis as a respectable business. Just as one example, one of our most moderate/centrist city council members is a cannabis business owner.
As for consuming the stuff, it's still not very respectable to talk about it in the workplace or with new acquaintances. Alcohol is still the "respectable" drug for professionals and large groups.
I would say the business of cannabis is now considered 100% respectable, but the consumption of it less so.
There are no Amsterdam style coffee shops.
posted by splitpeasoup at 10:20 AM on April 6, 2024 [2 favorites]
Legalization seems to have had a massive effect on cementing the idea of cannabis as a respectable business. Just as one example, one of our most moderate/centrist city council members is a cannabis business owner.
As for consuming the stuff, it's still not very respectable to talk about it in the workplace or with new acquaintances. Alcohol is still the "respectable" drug for professionals and large groups.
I would say the business of cannabis is now considered 100% respectable, but the consumption of it less so.
There are no Amsterdam style coffee shops.
posted by splitpeasoup at 10:20 AM on April 6, 2024 [2 favorites]
The horrible word “budtender” is now with us, and will probably never go away.
posted by neroli at 11:31 AM on April 6, 2024 [13 favorites]
posted by neroli at 11:31 AM on April 6, 2024 [13 favorites]
The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) is sometimes referred to as the Cannabis Exchange, for the number of Cannabis companies listed there (153 so far)
posted by yyz at 11:49 AM on April 6, 2024
posted by yyz at 11:49 AM on April 6, 2024
As a consumer it’s so nice to be able to actually know the strain you’re smoking. Learning that I don’t like some varieties at all and some I love for sleeping and some I love for daytime is great. Being able to go back to the store and get the same thing you got last time, not just whatever weed your guy could score, kicks ass.
posted by Uncle at 12:31 PM on April 6, 2024 [8 favorites]
posted by Uncle at 12:31 PM on April 6, 2024 [8 favorites]
For me the biggest change is knowing what you're buying. In the olden days it was like going to a bar and asking for a glass of beverage; it might be espresso, it might be 151 proof rum, it might be water with food dye in it. So it might make you wildly paranoid or you might just find yourself emptying the refrigerator or giggling at Hot Tub Time Machine. No way to know in advance and no way to avoid the effects you don't want.
Being able to select whether you want to be stuck in the couch or motivated to clean your place is such a life change.
posted by bink at 1:41 PM on April 6, 2024 [2 favorites]
Being able to select whether you want to be stuck in the couch or motivated to clean your place is such a life change.
posted by bink at 1:41 PM on April 6, 2024 [2 favorites]
Shrooms and psychedelics moved into the grey market that weed used to have.
posted by shock muppet at 3:57 PM on April 6, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by shock muppet at 3:57 PM on April 6, 2024 [4 favorites]
As mentioned above: a striking increase in ER visits for cannabis hyperemesis as well as psychiatric complications of cannabis use disorder (primarily anxiety related, which seems on the uptick in general so hard to be clear if the high level cannabis consumption is used to mitigate the anxiety or is increasing the anxiety (probably both IMHO).
Also I was thinking the other day there are lots of folks who never or rarely used before and now do. I didn't think legality would come into the picture for me but turns out I'm more willing to use now than I was before.
posted by latkes at 4:54 PM on April 6, 2024 [3 favorites]
Also I was thinking the other day there are lots of folks who never or rarely used before and now do. I didn't think legality would come into the picture for me but turns out I'm more willing to use now than I was before.
posted by latkes at 4:54 PM on April 6, 2024 [3 favorites]
My city made these probably well intentioned zoning rules that means all the pot shops are clustered in 4 areas, cheek to jowl
posted by kerf at 8:18 PM on April 6, 2024
posted by kerf at 8:18 PM on April 6, 2024
As a primary care doctor, my patients are MUCH more comfortable letting me know that they use cannabis than they would have been 10 years ago. Most of them use it in pretty reasonable amounts for pain or sleep but I do have a few folks who seem to be kind of stoned all the time, but I approach it like I approach folks with alcohol issues. I also ask about it separately (tobacco/alcohol/cannabis/"other substances") My grandboss, who was a former CEO of a small hospital, was very excited to tell me about his new-grad daughter's job as a baker for a cannabis baked goods company. I feel a little left out at times as I do not use cannabis at all after one very paranoid evening in college.
I had one of the most surreal experiences of my life on a visit to my terminally ill 78 year old dad when he and his wife decided to casually stop by the dispensary. As it turned out there was a tincture that was mostly CBD with a whiff of THC that he found really helpful for sleep. As a guy with a sweet tooth, he also couldn't resist some cookies and got stoned out of his gourd later that evening (which was, according to my stepmom, extremely rare). I grew up in the 1980s in the deep south in the Just Say No era so this was deeply disconcerting.
I live in a neighborhood with a lot of dispensaries and the branding is really interesting--there's a place that has a kind of old-school Grateful Dead vibe, there's one that basically looks like the Apple Store, there's one that is clearly trying to appeal to folks who are into herbalism/yoga, and a couple more that are basically like a coffee/tea shop.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 3:26 PM on April 9, 2024
I had one of the most surreal experiences of my life on a visit to my terminally ill 78 year old dad when he and his wife decided to casually stop by the dispensary. As it turned out there was a tincture that was mostly CBD with a whiff of THC that he found really helpful for sleep. As a guy with a sweet tooth, he also couldn't resist some cookies and got stoned out of his gourd later that evening (which was, according to my stepmom, extremely rare). I grew up in the 1980s in the deep south in the Just Say No era so this was deeply disconcerting.
I live in a neighborhood with a lot of dispensaries and the branding is really interesting--there's a place that has a kind of old-school Grateful Dead vibe, there's one that basically looks like the Apple Store, there's one that is clearly trying to appeal to folks who are into herbalism/yoga, and a couple more that are basically like a coffee/tea shop.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 3:26 PM on April 9, 2024
in my experience stoned drivers are the more cautious
Take that, multiply it by "stoned as fuck," and make it super obvious to anyone who spends their driving life trying to avoid wine tourists. You know how when you're baked and you're trying to act casual, but you're not actually in any way appearing less baked? Yeah, that's what's going on here. Stoned drivers are slow as fuck, don't take possession of the intersection in a normal and timely way, turn like slugs, merge like they're "cautious," and so on.
This is distinguishable from your run-of-the-mill wine tourist drunk, or just generic DUI dude in his white (why are they all white?) pickup: Drunks vary their speed more while still being slow as fuck, swerve more, and are more unpredictable. They're incautious, rather than cautious, and inattentive and it shows in the way they blithely barrel into intersections, merge into you, have no idea which lane they're turning into, swerve in their lane, can't maintain speed.
Stoned drivers don't have these characteristics — but they still drive like they're fucked up and trying to play it cool.
posted by majick at 4:46 AM on April 11, 2024
Take that, multiply it by "stoned as fuck," and make it super obvious to anyone who spends their driving life trying to avoid wine tourists. You know how when you're baked and you're trying to act casual, but you're not actually in any way appearing less baked? Yeah, that's what's going on here. Stoned drivers are slow as fuck, don't take possession of the intersection in a normal and timely way, turn like slugs, merge like they're "cautious," and so on.
This is distinguishable from your run-of-the-mill wine tourist drunk, or just generic DUI dude in his white (why are they all white?) pickup: Drunks vary their speed more while still being slow as fuck, swerve more, and are more unpredictable. They're incautious, rather than cautious, and inattentive and it shows in the way they blithely barrel into intersections, merge into you, have no idea which lane they're turning into, swerve in their lane, can't maintain speed.
Stoned drivers don't have these characteristics — but they still drive like they're fucked up and trying to play it cool.
posted by majick at 4:46 AM on April 11, 2024
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The biggest change is that weed just became more and more normal, eventually reaching the point where it feels as normal as alcohol. If I meet someone, I'd naturally assume "maybe they do weed", no matter who they are, in the same way I'd figure "maybe they drink". Doing weed is just a normal thing lots of people do now. Also, maybe it's just me, but I feel like people are way less pushy about weed than alcohol.
The second change is that it feels like cigarettes have been slowly disappearing. I quite rarely smell cigarette smoke in public nowadays, whereas weed smoke/vape is far more common. Personally I find this change fantastic, since weed smell, while certainly an acquired taste, is practically heaven compared to cigarette smoke, which triggers my asthma.
A third change is that there's endless billboards, ads, etc everywhere for weed dispensaries, delivery services, etc.
A fourth change is that I feel people tend to be more open to a wider range of drugs. It's a lot easier to consider other mind-altering therapeutics, like shrooms, after having had positive experiences with weed, so I think the legalization of weed has probably had some positive contribution there as well.
posted by etealuear_crushue at 2:38 AM on April 6, 2024 [4 favorites]