>You have a bunch of anecdotes where the only successful people from the same school and friend group are the ones that regularly smoked and still smoke weed?

I have a bunch of anecdotes where people I knew who regularly smoked weed throughout high school now range from successful to wildly successful.

I know a bunch of people that abstained and yet they work dead end jobs, have developed mental issues, and/or live with parents still.

Hence my conclusion that there might just be some other (more important) factors.