I have abandoned smoking, but plan to make tinctures and foods instead.
As far as social anxiety goes - i started smoking regularly around the time i left home and i could still get quite anxious going round supermarkets alone, or any other new situations i found uncomfortable. Getting a little high made it much easier, really seemed to take the edge off and make it more of an adventure than an ordeal. I should point out that the stuff i was using in those days (soap-bar) was notoriously impure and spiked with other substances including prescription meds, but im not sure that was a major over-riding factor iyswim.
In social environments - being high in a 'townie' type bar (sorry - dont know an international phrase to desribe this environment) could be a complete nightmare, but luckily i had experience of squat-parties & raves with a more 'alternative' crowd, and it definately didnt hurt in those environments - i felt much more at ease & at home. I think this difference is to do with amplifying the subconcious. If i was in a suitable, healthy environment
for me, id relax & enjoy it more and vice-versa - If i felt uncomfortable in certain places (perhaps trying to 'fit in' by pretending to be something im not) then i thin the anxiety was my subconcious/intuition screaming out that i shouldnt have been there anyway!