I would have agreed with this post 100% if it only started out with the word, "Some."
Now, I know it first hand to be a falsehood, or in the least, painting with a very broad paint brush. I know the people you speak of Sgt. I know some of your words to be very true. But I come from the old school of thought that dictates, "If you want to be a doctor, hang with doctors. If you want to be a lawyer, hang with lawyers. If you want to be a junkie, hang with junkies."
Society has often made the people who smoke pot go stand in the corner with the wino's and junkies. There is not much seperation, in some people's minds, between a pot smoker and a junky.
On the other hand, some people know this to be proposterous idea and do not think that one cannot be sucessful and smoke a doobie at the same time.
I surround myself with good people. Doctors, lawyers, policemen, plumbers, mechanics, musicians and all occupational points in-between. My friends come from all walks of life. They are fine neighbors, parents, citizens and highly motivated people. But quite a few of them do like to go sneak out behind the barn and burn a bowl now and again.
They are nothing like the Cheech and Chong you speak of.