But I can also see how this was meant as a serious piece.
The best that this article can offer as a HN submission is a discussion on “so is weed good or bad” …
My answer to this is "yes". Like most things, it's both.
Also: "A drug is not bad. A drug is a chemical compound. The problem comes in when people who take drugs treat them like a license to behave like an asshole." -- Frank Zappa
No, it's not being honest about it. Having read the article, it's apparent to me that the author has a lot of problems, and weed isn't the cause of them. The person is an addict, period. And, basically, the entire article reads as a celebration of their addiction and their "I don't care" attitude. The author ought to consider attending AA or NA meetings.
I say this as an alcoholic (nearly 4 years sober) and a daily marijuana (edibles) user. Driving while high, like drunk driving, is very selfish behavior. It's not about your own safety (I couldn't care less if this person killed themselves while driving high), but rather the safety of innocent bystanders you're more likely to harm. Especially given the admission that they drove into a parked car while sober!
I, like the author, often use marijuana daily. However, I'm not stoned all day, and it doesn't make me unmotivated. I use weed as one of many tools for dealing with chronic pain (I have arthritis in every joint in my spine and every disk is degenerative), but I'm also working with my doctors on treatments, including physical therapy (which is painful, but also very effective) and, pain blocks, injections, braces and other treatments. Because weed is effective for me dealing with pain, it's actually a motivator and productivity booster for me. But, one needs to be responsible about it. I often work from home, so I don't have to worry about driving. On days I do have to go into the office (I take the train for most of it, but do have to drive several miles to get to the station), I refrain from using until I am home for the day.
If I know that when I drink brandy I start fights, and I nonetheless decide to drink brandy - that's on me, not the brandy.