Designers, architects, engineers, carpenters, administrators, teachers, writers, and so forth. I've seen daily marijuana users rise to the top of major industries.

Of course, I've seen other daily marijuana users remain stationed at the front counters of gas stations, but that's my point. I don't think that daily marijuana use is the factor that accounts for the relative successes or failures of these individuals. There are many more variables.

If Joe Gas Station stopped smoking pot, he wouldn't suddenly develop killer business instinct, or the motivation to build a company in his off time.

And as other people have pointed out, neither should we present building a company as the pinnacle of human achievement simply because it's how a large number of people on HN want to spend their time.

>I don't think that daily marijuana use is the factor that accounts for the relative successes or failures of these individuals. There are many more variables. //

Do you think it's a significant factor for some?

I'm interested in where you live, well what society - you've listed 7+ professions, each as a multiple, of people you personally know who you consider successful, who you also know to be daily pot smokers. I don't even know the daily routines of 7 people outside my family ... let's say 50% of people (you know) are using pot and they're split evenly between smokers, vapers, eaters, others ... that means you know the daily routine of over 100 people. That's, erm, impressive.

[Ah, just realised, do you deal, that would explain it! Sorry, is still early for me.]

I know a handful of people who smoke pot, but that's likely my demographic - but I couldn't tell you if they smoke once a day or once a week, or less.

Any chance you're exaggerating your personal knowledge?

In the UK site workers, like carpenters, will often be tested for drug use. Your engineer, teacher friends - do they use on the job, like when taking responsibility for multiples of other people? Are you content with that.

Appreciate your responses as potentially they'd suggest a vast change in my ideas of the prevalence of daily pot use (depending on your geography, social context).

As a long time participant in the aforementioned counter culture, I find that marijuana use is prevalent in society. Any other conclusion is steered by naivety.

The teachers, principals, and business professionals whom I've known to partake in this ritual, generally do not do so at work. Just as many workers drink alcohol during their off time, most do not come to work drunk.

I don't know many people's daily routines. I really only know my wife's. But, knowing that someone is a daily marijuana user is different from knowing their daily routine.

I can say this: I was very surprised to discover that some people, who otherwise cultivate an image of wholesomeness, are longtime marijuana users. Not everybody who uses marijuana wears tie-dyed t-shirts. Likewise, some people who wear tie-dyed t-shirts have never used marijuana.

Of course, things might be different where you live, but I doubt it.

I've smoked for 15+ years, I earn in the top 5% of the UK writing software for big players if that is a metric you respect. Only as a software developer although I've had the opportunity to be "promoted" I chose to write code...for more money. However I recognize that the amount I am smoking of current is affecting my cognitive load (I think). If I was drinking alcohol in the same amount I smoke cannabis I'd be an alcoholic like my father. Hmmm, wonder if there is a genetics issue...

I've got high almost daily for the past 15 years. I'm also a programmer and I am proud of what I have accomplished. A year ago I quit smoking and started preparing and eating edibles instead. This was for health reasons but another benefit is that I am now able to dose myself much more precisely. There is a level which improves my productivity and focus, where I really feel in the zone. Sometimes when I am trying to solve a difficult problem, getting high helps me to break through.

Maybe not genetics, however there is something to be said for blaming the parents. With an alcoholic father you may have developed a slight bit of 'co-dependency' growing up, leading to things like wanting to find comfort in weed and going the extra mile to make your employers happy. As a society we are not well educated about personality disorders (which exist on a scale) and how these develop in childhood with resulting addiction related issues. The general debate on drugs is naive because we do not understand these underlying causes.

> wonder if there is a genetics issue

I believe it is fairly well established that addictive behavior runs in families.

There are top earners on opiates, too.

jeanne calment has lived 118-ish years, some people said she sometimes smoked, which is likely at that period of history. But how is it a proof of any kind regarding life expectancy, wouldn't she have lived 125/130 years without.. same goes for you

smoking definitely affects brain, all the body, it has no positive effect

Top banker at major Investment bank on Wall street. From what i understand smoking marijuana there is like having a soda..in certain branches/areas anyway.

This is hard to believe, major banks drug test.

Coming from one such bank, and a background of drug tests...

No, major banks don't all drug test. And in general you are given some warning about drug tests (at least at the several companies I was at). All you have to do is get off drugs for a week or so, and youre fine.

Which is probably the right approach, then you 'capture' addicts, which is surely the concern?

Country singer Willie Nelson?