I've visited Paris two years ago, and although I was not into the psychadelic scene back then, Paris seemed like the place of conformity, where cigarettes and wine flow, and any type of drug users are frowned upon. It certainly did not seem like a Amsterdam-like city.
the elitist vibe is also what I gathered the two times being there, but there's only so much passers-by can see. paris is hugely dense and diverse, and has deep artistic roots. the psychedelic scene is there, just not obvious like amsterdam. i'm glad brussels was mentioned; no one talks about travelling there, but I think it's a great and laid back place. I smoked a bowl in an apple in a hotel bathroom in brussels, woohoo.