I doubt a “less potent form of drugs” will happen exactly as you imagine. Drug potency has skyrocketed because logistically it’s easier to smuggle smaller quantities of a high potency substance. I personally think we would see a resurgence of drugs and doses of what people were previously doing before importing them got so difficult. What would be interesting though would seeing if any new analogs could be discovered with shorter term effects especially in the world of stimulants.

Lots of people buy random ass gas station “supplements” as some are research chemicals being sold under other names. Unfortunately the real fun stuff no longer pop up after the DEA cracked down on it. Here’s some examples of different RCs that were sold in gas stations.

2C-B a serotonergic psychedelic was sold as an aphrodisiac under the brand name erox and nexus

MDPV and 4-MMC two empathogens similar to MDMA where sold as “bath salts” under several brand names including ivory wave, purple wave, and white knight

Famously a whole bunch of synthetic cannabinoid were sold under the brand name K2 and Spice

DMAA a stimulate was sold under the brand iced diamonds and many other brands