Big Think

Denys Artasevych on January 29, 2008, 2:29 AM

I am a smoker. I do not go overboard with it, on average i moke maby once a week. Reguarding motivation it is difficult to say, I was never very motivated even before i started smoking (i think my easygoing and relaxed nature may be what atrracted me to pot). I would not say however that it had any effect in that area. This is my first year in college and i am doing quite well, had a 3.6 GPA last semester, I also did well in high school and even took a number of univercity courses that were offered, all the while i was toking regularily. I also am at the gym atleat twice a week. SO when it comes to the things i actually consider important i dont think it has decreased my motivation nor preformance. However i am incredibly lazy when it comes to work, i worked at a carwash for 2 years and i have showen up on time perhaps a total of 5 times, in no small part due to me and my friends smoking up before work.

So i would say that as long as you keep it moderate, and you have things you care about or find interesting it should not hinder you, but in excess nothing is good.

Josh Friedman on January 29, 2008, 10:18 PM

I’m 26, a computer programmer, part owner in an IT consulting business, a homeowner, a happy person a fairly regular smoker. I have plenty of friends who are lawyers, doctors, teachers, business owners, even judges who smoke on a regular basis. I also so know some real deadbeats losers who smoke all the time.

There are successful people, motivated people, and happy people, and there are people who smoke pot and people who do not. I personally see little correlation between them. Pot does not control people, it’s use is often dictated by the person.

I will say this though, most of the heavy users I know (I’m talking daily here) tend to be unsuccessful unhappy people – but I think that is the reason that that smoke so much, and not the other way around. Smoking pot is something to do when you are bored, or need relaxation. People who do it all the time do so because they are always bored and in need of relaxation

Lev!n on January 30, 2008, 12:54 AM

I am a college student with a 3.3GPA last semester and I work part time at a golf car retail place. I have found that if you use pot in the correct way it can be very beneficial. Use it to relax, forget about something stressful, as a pain killer, or to socialize. I smoke almost every day (for about 2 years now), yet I do not have a lack of motivation. I have found actually it can sometimes enhance my creative ability when I am writing a paper for class for example. Try this next time when you have an essay for an english class. Write the paper, then after revision smoke a joint, put on some good music and spice it up!

Scott Simon on February 5, 2008, 10:33 PM

i, like levithan dude smoke frequently, and am ranked at the top of my class. And sometimes i find, when i’m high, i have a high effiency rate and the work i do is good quality stuff. I also have a part-time voluntary job. I am working with a professor at U of Illinois, we are devoliping lasers that cut through steel plates. But, i do know some idiots that smoke. The key is, use resposibly just like anything else, medication that makes you drowsy, alchol, or anything else.

Petar Subotic on February 22, 2008, 3:40 PM

Hum, I did a lot of art related projects in my lifetime and the well of creativity sometimes seams bottomless while smoking herbs.

I must admit that I am not too productive when smoking and “chilling” with people, however I must notice that I am extremely active afterwards. That mostly has to do with all the ideas and plans we composed while being high.

Furthermore, I have been smoking for a few years and I must admit I was always a light-weight category and it does not take all that much to get me out there as a lot of people who smoke with me know. The conversations are never dull, the ideas are flowing… a lot more productive than… drinking per say, which is legal…

Right now I am sitting in a Composition III class, buzzing a little and I am typing one of the best papers of my life. Of course it might not seam all that great once I lose the high, but I think it will still look pretty damn good.

In conclusion, smoking weed and being high, does not make me too active physically perhaps, but my brain keeps being more and more and more productive.

Cory Lesperance on March 1, 2008, 1:58 PM

I am a first year student. I am currently getting A- straight across the board for all of my classes which are English Psyc and communications. I smoke weed all the time but the key is i do not smoke untill I am done my daily routine, so after school. On weekends i smoke in the mournings but i get all of my work done. I think that the thing is responsibility. As long as you keep your goals in mind and dont just smoke weed all day and all night. But i have friends that smoke all day and still are productive so whatever. LEGALIZE IT IN CANADA AND THE US. WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENTS THINKING
>?>>?>
?>>?

Jenna Valleriani on March 25, 2008, 11:22 AM

I am currently completing my four year honours program, and next year I will be attending a very great university for my masters. I smoke more than once a day, but I am still highly motivated and get the things I need to done. However, this is definitely something I ‘learned’ or ‘trained’ myself to do. Many of my roommates and others could never go to class or complete an assignment. There is such a negative stigma attached to smoking, but realistically- why? If you are functional then it really is no one else’s business but your own. I find it hard to accept the fact that something which grows from the earth is illegal enough to get you thrown in jail in some areas. What about the harmful long term affects from alcohol? But I can still go out and buy a beer for 7 dollars at a club…..