So here's the scoop. I went from not smoking at all, to smoking almost every evening, to maybe once a month or so if it came up. Here are the points:
Pros
- It is fun. That's why most people do it. It makes you really happy and you think really crazy things (or at least you think you do, depends on the person) and makes you really hungry. In small amounts it can make chilling with your friends a lot more fun, if you are bored. If you smoke a lot, though, you will all just fall asleep.
- It can help you sleep. It is probably the best sleep aid I know. Don't do it the night before a test though, you won't remember anything you studied.
- It is really not that bad for you, especially when compared to other drugs. No studies have linked it to cancer. It doesn't make you violent or angry. Ever heard of someone getting high and killing someone?
Cons
-It makes you lazy. While some people will disagree with this, I have noticed it with myself and with my friends who smoke. This is only true if you smoke often. If you see your expectations of yourself slipping, stop smoking.
-It is expensive. While pot is the cheapest drug (without a tolerance, it is cheaper than alcohol, unless you drink hobo liquor) doing it often will become a huge drain on your personal expense budget. As your tolerance goes up, you will have to buy more and more expensive weed.
-You can get caught. I'm talking more drug tests than cops, but both are possible.
- It inhibits your ability to do things. It depends a lot on the person though. Some people can drive/study and others can't.
- A lot of people don't respect stoners. Whether this is justified or not, it is best not to have this skeleton in your closet.
Overall, I decided that it was best that I stop regular smoking. Its up to you though, it depends on the person. If you do smoke, do it responsibly, just like anything else.