You really think there's less weed smoking where it's illegal? How does that work? Drug laws work so it's next to impossible to obtain them? Fear of getting caught?
On this same thread, you wrote: "restrict gun sales and you reduce gun crime." So, why are the economics of banning guns vs. banning weed such opposites in your view?
I suspect it'll drop down again after the novelty wears off and the public tires of it and wants smoking laws enforced.
But one nice perk of legalization is that it could be written into leases explicitly that smoking in the apartment is in violation of the lease and is grounds for eviction after repeated complaints. It's not a police matter or a "narcotics" issue, it's just somebody being an inconsiderate neighbor.
Same thing with public smoking laws. People smoking up in a park upwind of people deserve a small ticket, an age check, and a harshed mellow. They do not deserve arrest and prosecution on drug laws.
Enforcement of disproportionate punishment is less attractive to sane humans.
Again, legalization doesn't enable anything here.
Conversely, people also make decisions on the opposite basis -- doing things because they are prohibited.
I note that my respect for the law has increased with age. Probably due to encountering more accomplished lawbreakers and not wanting to be the guy who says, "Yes, but it's OK if I break that law because it's a stupid law." Also knowing people who, perhaps, had a problem at an airport or with the state police. I find the law to be a useful reality check.
I note your argument above has made this into a 0/1 proposition ("because they are illegal I won't take them").
But I believe it is more true to reality to look at it probabilistically, i.e., on a given Friday night, is it more or less likely that I'd be offered MMJ by a friend if it's legal in CA versus not legal in CA.
I think this thought experiment clarifies the argument that consumption increases when MJ is legalized. Indeed, for medical MJ specifically, I think that is the point.