I have witnessed this phenomenon happening in my own life and it is so utterly bizarre and wild to me that, while having zero evidence for this, I have to belie

I have witnessed this phenomenon happening in my own life and it is so utterly bizarre and wild to me that, while having zero evidence for this, I have to believe it’s some kind of astroturfing campaign by companies selling legal marijuana. Many of my friends barely drink anymore or have reduced drinking significantly, all while saying things like: “Alcohol is so bad for you, it is expensive, it makes you lazy and sick, I prefer to just smoke weed now.” None of them will tolerate even the slightest criticism of weed, even though smoking it is also bad for you, also expensive, and (can) also make you lazy and sick. This coincides with dozens of articles I’ve seen over the past year on various sites, including HN, claiming that alcohol is not safe in any amount, or some other nonsense. The transformation happened so fast and so out-of-the-blue that I just don’t understand how it could possibly be genuine. I stick by the age-old adages: what you put in your body is your business, and everything that isn’t green vegetables and meat should be consumed in moderation.