I realize that my experience growing up has colored my perspective irretrievably. As I said, both of my parents, and their friends, and many of my friends and relatives on both sides of the family have or are continuing to smoke pot. No, most of them didn't go the way my parent's did. There's more to it than that. For me, the substance is always going to be associated with really negative aspects relating to basically being a poorly functioning, self-absorbed, infantile member of society. I haven't seen any indication that it does anything positive for anyone.
There are millions of things a person can do to relax without imbibing a mood-altering substance. And I also say this admittedly, being married to someone who is addicted to his nightly beer and daily cigarettes.
The main thing I keep coming back to ... is that we're supposed to be turning to Jesus for everything. The good and the bad. We're not supposed to be zoning out as a way of escaping and dealing with stress.
We all have stress and troubles .. no one is free from it .. but when you read the lives of the saints what you learn is that they were completely devoted to prayer and accepting everything as Divine Providence.
We're supposed to learn not to be dependent on anything or anyone but Christ.