I prefer smoking weed to drinking alcohol. So, usually my third place involved was a living room somewhere, with like minded people. Sometimes the weed was the only thing to tie people together. I have cut back recently, and now only smoke one or two times a week, sometimes less. When Colorado and Washington legalized it as best they could, it wasn't the idea of legally buying weed that excited me the most. It was the creation of legitimate third places for people like me. There are many people out there who crave the pub atmosphere, but with a good joint instead of a good beer. Think about it. We've all heard of the coffee shops in Amsterdam. They draw a lot of tourists who all crave what I crave, a third place with weed. Alcohol is sold all over the place in the States, and while it is heavily regulated in the Maritimes, it is still way more widely available. I know we are a long way away from this. And I don't know if what I propose will ever be possible due to one reason. You have to burn, or at least heat, the weed. This produces smoke. Smoking isn't allowed inside anymore. Who knows though. It could still happen.
Here in CO, a new kind of mobile club has popped up to provide this kind of social consumption.
We shall see. I've been to Amsterdam twice, once in 1999, and once in 2007. In the eight years between visits, I could hardly believe how much the culture had devolved. (Or perhaps my memory had failed, too.) I remembered how laid back and enjoyable the coffee shop atmosphere was in '99, but in '07 it seemed that the whole city was infested by by drunk Brits on a weekend holiday. The character was definitely not the same. When getting high was a nice bonus to the city, it seemed wonderful. When getting high is the point, it is trash. Hopefully, CO and WA will figure out ways of discouraging an out of control culture.
The issue could resolve itself. Amsterdam devolved because those drunk Brits do not have the option back in the UK. Amsterdam would not be so unique if other places with similar lenience were allowed to operate. Pot tourism needs more places like Amsterdam so that a healthy competition can make everyone work harder.