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On the other hand coffee is addictive, but I have yet so see someone go down the drain mentally for drinking coffee all the time.

Sure, not a lot of pot users do, but there's the minority that seems to spend 80% of their free time smoking.

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I’ve noticed this too. I think “habit forming” might be a better phrase - coupled with potential impacts to life, divided into positive and negative impacts (positive such as tooth decay, impacts on physical and mental health; negative such as lack of motivation, reduced general ambition, lack of initiative for non drug related activities, reduced concentration, altered perspective and so on) might be a better framework.

Cannabis might not be as obviously life ruining as hard drugs such as alcohol, meth and heroin - but it’s no less debilitating for society to have people re-orient themselves away from traditional goal-seeking behavior (such as finding a job or starting a family).

There are people who spend 80% of their time with a cup of coffee; it's not without side effects either, they risk e.g.: increased blood pressure, anxiety, trouble sleeping.

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