Well I take the pleasure of being first.

When I was younger I think it affected my life moreso negatively because I let it consume my whole life. This is why I believe that it's best that you be 18 or older or be mature enough to handle it. Having immature bud smokers makes the cannabis community look worse than it is. Anyhow even when I was young it definitely opened my mind to things that I may have not otherwise found. By the time I was 15 I was already into philosophy, spirituality, and other things that people my age cared less about. It also made my experience as a muscian a much richer one. It's hard to say what it would have been with the weed but I doubt I would have opened my mind to as many genres as I did.

Recently it has helped me make friends and get to know people better that I would have just remained acquaintances with otherwise. I think weed has alot of potential socially. It brings people together almost magically and some of those friendships end up being life long.

I think it should be legal simply because it's benefits outweight it's negative effects and even the negative effects almost completely disappear when in the hands of a responsible user.