I am not pleased with the culture of dispensaries either, but maybe for different reasons. I see cannabis as a powerful drug finding its role in society shaped entirely by economics and profit. There is no consideration of how this plant can be used to maximize health and benefits to individuals and society. It is completely driven by maximizing ROI.

This is no surprise of course. But get ready -- AI is being driven by the same motives and the same impulses. Not social benefit for many, but economic benefit to a few.

We can't evaluate the meaning of psychoactive drugs or new technologies without taking context into account. Who and what is driving their use in the world? Is it a concern for social welfare, for benefits to humanity, or a quick extracted profit?

Also unlike the author of this nice reflection piece, I enjoyed the early days of pot and never stopped. It's worked out pretty well for me so far. Here's a suggestion -- if you ever have to go through chemo for cancer treatment, throw out the anti-nausea crap they give you and use pot.