Let me tell you my experience: I have an 30% extra (unpaid) position with high responsibilty baked into my regular hours at work. This is because I can't stand how f-ing useless our leaders and my colleagues are. I even stay after hours to clean up some days. I make new, effective solutions, ensure safety is upheld and I even bring candy to cheer up the lazy, rarely cleaning, slow people.

I make websites and do marketing in my spare time, as well as work out at the gym 3x a week. I've been high almost every day since 2012, before that I just smoked on occasion. It's illegal here, never been busted for 10 years.

I started smoking because I was depressed, and because my head is constantly spinning at 200% when I'm sober. Always been like that. Weed makes me focus on one task. I will never exchange this for the f--- amphetamines that you get from the doc.

Yes, it makes me less social in some way. But since I am very addicted to people (I can't be alone), I am great at finding new smoker friends tho. I feel really bad for those who don't.

Imagine you can't put a word to what is wrong with your head. Because of that, people say ypu should "get yourself together". Then you find something that helps. You can eat, laugh, relax and it doesn't hurt anyone else. You couldn't stand living with yourself, but now you can. But not in public. Your friends tell you that you are a fucking idiot and a drug addict. Imagine that hearing that every day is better than having to live with the terrors your head always serves you.

It's not too easy.

Every stoner I know would happily get out more if they could. We usually just go to a secluded place and take lots of nature photos / drone shots etc to avoid dem polices and enjoy life.

But seeing as my familybutcensored has smoked every day for the last 25 years, just got another Masters degree and just got a top end job within their field, I don't worry. No visible health damages. Also got less afraid to stand up for h**self after the new job. Same goes for me.

My theory is that the personality shines through. If you are lazy, you will still be lazy. If you are are productive, you will continue to be. It depends on the person and their environment tho.

Starting smoking weed is so, so different from chronic use. I laughed my ass off every time the first 3 years :)

Sorry for errors. Written on my phone with broken screen, and I'm not a native English speaker.