Really, really mixed opinions because you are totally right when it comes to alcohol, but I can't completely agree with your perspective on Marijuana.
Neither are entirely healthy or can demonstrably lead to long-term positive outcomes if consumed by individuals under the age of 25 or so. These are not nutritive vitamins by any means.
That said, the long-term effect of jailing African-American or Hispanic teenagers for minor possession or sale of inconsequential quantities is probably far worse.
It's a real toss-up, in my opinion, so all I can say is this: completely and totally legalize Marijuana, but impose strict penalties (5+ years in jail, $xx,xxx fine, etc.) for anyone who provides or sells to anyone under 21, and intensely harsh penalties (10+ years in jail, $xxx,xxx fine) for anyone who provides or sells to anyone under 18.
Do you have sources that detail the negative effects on people under 25? I ask because I have smoked almost every day for about 2 years, I'm 23, and I'm worried.
Symlinkk- As someone who smoked daily at roughly the same age as you, I can understand your concern. I smoked almost daily for about four consecutive years, starting around 21, and ending around 25. Looking back on that period, I had numerous negative side effects, and it's hard for me to know how much that's perpetuated in the last 6 years since I moved towards closer to a once a month usage level, with long stretches of total abstinence mixed in there.
A few things you should consider. First, is it an addiciton? Addicitions typically manifest themselves in situations where you can't quit using your substance, or change your behavior, despite negative consequences. Smoking for two consecutive years definitely makes it a habit, but I obviously can't comment on whether it's a full on addiction for you.
If you don't feel like you can stop, I'd recommend seeking help. There are likely local MA (marijuana anonymous) or NA (narcotics anonymous) meetings near you, and those support networks can be very helpful for a lot of people.
My father died from at 60 due to heavy alcohol consumption, and was more prepared to die than entertain the thought of no longer drinking. Addiction is a remarkably challenging disease, which can warp ones decision making massively, so if you don't believe you can fairly answer the question, you should think about asking those around you how they see it impacting you.
Wishing you all the best as you seek some answers.
Aside from the physical effects, quite possibly long-term but not conclusively proven to be the case (afaik), one reason to be extra-wary of heavy smoking < 25 is really all the usual stuff: lethargy, developing addiction/dependency, social and career stagnation. These can have a pretty negative effect at any age, but at a younger age the effects compound and end up much worse.
The things you learn and experience in your twenties are often crucial preparation for how you'll doing in your thirties and beyond. If much of that time is spent being high and doing little, you'll pay the price later on.
Basically, my experience (personal, and looking at friends and acquaintances) is that chronic, daily smoking often results in being 'stuck in place'. Getting stuck in the jobs, friendships, experiences, and relationships that dominate your early twenties is probably not a desirable outcome. On the other hand, a seventy-year-old picking up a weed habit probably won't suffer much from it. At any point in between I'd still argue it's better not to chronically dull your brain, but hey if you're happy do whatever you want!
That said, obviously this doesn't apply to everyone. But I know a number of daily smokers who started early, and with few exceptions they are not very happy or successful thirty-somethings (by any metric they or I care about).
Smoking anything is going to cause harm. If subjectively you don't feel it's impacting your life in a negative way, then go for it, but consider other methods like vaping or edibles.
I do not have sources that directly detail the negative effects of smoking Marijuana on people under 25, but the prefrontal cortex of the brain does not fully develop until then. It would be possible to furiously Google supporting studies, but I have limited interest in doing so.
I apologize for alarming you, but that said (and with absolutely zero judgment or gratuitous negativity) I highly encourage you to reduce your consumption of Marijuana for your own sake.
Neither are entirely healthy or can demonstrably lead to long-term positive outcomes if consumed by individuals under the age of 25 or so. These are not nutritive vitamins by any means.
That said, the long-term effect of jailing African-American or Hispanic teenagers for minor possession or sale of inconsequential quantities is probably far worse.
It's a real toss-up, in my opinion, so all I can say is this: completely and totally legalize Marijuana, but impose strict penalties (5+ years in jail, $xx,xxx fine, etc.) for anyone who provides or sells to anyone under 21, and intensely harsh penalties (10+ years in jail, $xxx,xxx fine) for anyone who provides or sells to anyone under 18.