My only objection to the legalization of weed will that the smell is horrific (IMPO!) and it will begin to plague busy streets. How would lawmakers address this because I don't see them making designated areas?
There are also vapes, which don't have any of the smell, and coincidentally are much more convenient to smoke in public, likely for that very reason.
I live in a large apartment building. Every once in a while, I'll walk outside my door into the shared indoor hallway and get a whiff of something. This is rare, though if I was a betting man, I would bet that of everyone on my floor, someone is likely smoking every day. Some days it's stronger, other days it's faint. I can't smell it in my apartment at all, and it doesn't seem to linger as long as the area is well ventilated.
Would I prefer it didn't smell? Yes. But, it's not much different than when some other neighbor decides to smoke a brisket on their balcony. It's just a different smell. And for the record, I also don't like the smell of weed.
Okay. How do you feel about ciggies, cigars and pipe? That also smells horrendous? Or car exhaust fumes?
The thing here is: you can be against something because it will be "yet another annoying thing"... But that ignores the freedom aspect: if behavior X is less-than-or-equally annoying (unhealthy, addictive, etc.) compared to Y, and Y is legal, then that is a good argument that X should be legal too. If not we get into "unfair discrimination against behavior X" territory.
Now what's so annoying about some person taking a line of coke in public? (do you get the drift?)
I then also take the approach in what laws should then be remove in order not to unfairly "discriminate against certain behavior" (which is sadly so common nowadays).
That said, I still support the legalization. As much as I find weed's smell revolting and disgusting, the freedom simply outweighs the concern.
Also, isn't vaping more popular than smoking these days? When vaping, the smell is greatly reduced, and dissipates in seconds.
Cannabis can also be processed so that the smell is minimal (some medical varieties get such treatment)
Unbelievable.