I started in August 2018, weed stocks was my very first investment at the time. I saw my portfolio go from +50% to -40% or so in December.
As a new investor you can imagine when I put just a slim 5k in for the first time in August, seeing my money grow to around 7k was the most euphoric thing I've ever experienced. I was telling me family, girlfriend, and coworkers about it and how they should get into weed stocks. Big mistake. My girlfriend bought at ATH's because of this and I had to work to eventually swing her profits to where she finally said "get me out" because of how December went. I managed to get her out with $800 profit on a 4k investment sometime last month.
You can imagine how a new investor also felt in December. I thought the world was ending, my money was going down further and further, I was emotional about my holdings and stopped believing in them for a few days and debating on taking my losses (stupid). Bottom line is I had the mental fortitude not to and just hold/average down.
I like to think I've been successful so far as my first 4k in August has now grown to 15.4k (unrealized). Been depositing and swing trading a bit starting January. Portfolio is up about 30% or so, and I know it can go down fast and hard at any point.
80% of people of this sub are down right stupid and just think it's free money if they toss money into random weedstocks they see being talked about on here. Not the case. Take my personal experience as a beginner into account. I went through it all in a slim 8 months.