Like others have said, the key to protecting the safety of children while also protecting the freedom of grown adults from enjoying a recreational drug is education. That means lifting legal barriers so that we may study the plant in academic and clinical settings.

I agree that sometimes in our effort to promote progressive legislation on cannabis, we paint a very pretty picture. But I think the risk profile is rather low. And much like with other legal recreational drugs like alcohol or tobacco, young adults need good mentors to equip them with the information and resources to explore responsibly. Because they will explore.