After smoking 40 a day for 35 years, I quit cold turkey. I went in for major surgery, the gas man told me if I did quit I would be dead in six months. That was 14 years ago.
You are correct in your analyses on the weed, a mate of mine lives in BC, Like me he grows his own weed, I eat mine, he smokes his, anyway, the Liberal government of Canada is now attempting to pass laws that will make the simple possession of weed not a criminal offense.
If other countries where as progressive as Holland, where it not against the law to sell and smoke weed, the world would be a lot better off. In Holland you can buy either smokes or brownies in the coffee bars. Hard drugs in Holland are hardly seen on the streets and there is only minor crime when it comes to drug dealers.
Prostitution is also legal in Holland, Old guys who are on welfare can get a doctors note to have a jump with a prostitute and the state will pay for it. Just think if the US, Canada, UK, and other western countries was to go the Holland has gone. There would less crime, and you could go and get a jump without the fear of catching Aids