Mate I have lots of friends who abuse cannabis to ridiculous levels.
Trust me when I say it definitely has a detrimental effect on mental health.
A fraction of the percentage of other, more socially acceptable drugs, but there aren't really ANY drugs, which, if abused, DON'T have long term mental side effects.
They warp your state of mind (to varying degrees i admit) so its inevitable that it would have long term effects if abused.
A few key things in your response.
1) I'm a regular cannabis user and so are most people I know. I have a family member who spent a long time in one of, if not the, best mental health facility in the country and spent a lot of time there myself visiting. So I have a fairly good understanding of cannabis, it's effects and how it interacts with mental health.
2) I completely agree it has far less effect than many other drugs including the legal ones. And that of course it does have long term effects if consistently used.
3) the key word, is abuse. People need to recognise that they have to take responsibility for themselves. It's perfectly fine to have a vice in life as long as you are aware how you are effecting yourself and do it responsibly.
