I saw Roger Waters at MSG in 2000 (lousy show, btw). The entire arena was one massive cloud of pot smoke as soon as the lights went down. And this was after the indoor smoking ban.
So obviously the laws are a deterrent, right.
To be honest I don’t believe most pot smokers care if it is ever made legal. It is kind of like hoping one day congress will start adhering to the constitution, sure it would be nice, but it is highly unlikely to happen.
Considering how easy it is to come by, and the low likelihood of ever being harassed for growing or using it within your own home, it just doesn’t seem like an issue worth pursuing.
As others have mentioned the various aspects of the drug war are now multi billion dollar industry, from SWAT training and equipment to urine screening, ineffective prevention programs and I’m certain things we have missed. Probably to big to fail at this point, the bill of rights, common sense and the facts be damned.