Well.. I think we can all agree pot doesn't take you to a higher plane, you board the stupid plane.
How can more stupid people be good for civilization?
The people I know that smoke pot are highly dependent upon it. They have to have some before they go, or do anything, social, or even go to work.
They have been users for many years. Most of them do not work. The ones that use, in one of the jobs I work, are always forgetting details of their jobs and often injuring themselves, not that these incidents don't apply to people who are just incapable, also....
Additionally, I can tell the personality difference in them, when they are high and when they are not. Unless it is party time.....MUSIC time....I prefer to be around them when they are not under the influence.
There may also be people under the influence, where I work, that I am not noticing, for what that is worth.
That's weird, all the people I know who smoke pot have jobs, some very good jobs, don't need to rely on it for anything.
I am guessing you don't realize many people you know smoke pot. Its kind of like with anything else, it depends on the person.