My own brain is idiosyncratic and doesn't always react as expected (e.g. to caffeine) and I've heard friends say that they think that taking marijuana during college might have permanently dulled the edge of their intelligence - which isn't exactly a controlled study or anything - but is enough to scare me away from ever trying the stuff.

And yes, I also never drink alcohol, and try to steer away from large doses of caffeine. Drugs scare me, legal or not.

Consider the risks and rewards very carefully before whacking on your brain with any sort of neuropharmeceutical - everything we have nowadays will be regarded by future times as the equivalent of a sledgehammer. The people trying to decriminalize and legalize drugs are, without ambiguity, the good guys. Don't confuse that with the proposition that drugs themselves are good.

By such standards, the world is full of monsters. While I stop short of endorsing full-fledged moral relativism, I do think a little humility in judging the moral worth of others is a (rare) virtue. This is especially true on the interwebs, where separating the sheep from the goats is a favorite pastime of each little ego.

The problem is the huge inferential gap between the facts on the ground, and people who don't know, don't know that they don't know, have been taught that they do know, have been taught to actively resist learning otherwise, and who are constantly reinforced by most everyone with whom they are in close personal or cultural contact.

Seeing Eliezer Yukodsky use it himself does not set a good example.

Hell, I'm on your side on the particular issue at hand. It just turns my stomach to see people use such cheap rhetorical tactics, even if I agree with them. Especially if I agree with them.

A brief look at any history book covering alcohol prohibition should be more than enough to convince any reasonable and honest person that drug legalization is a moral imperative.

This is a sentiment that is usually agreed to in the abstract, but is often shunned in practice.

But don't worry, you're really, really right and you can be 100% sure of that, so it's okay if we jettison the trappings of civilized discourse.

No drugs, no alcohol, no nicotine for me. What's gone in the brain tends to be gone forever, and forever is a long long time.

Decriminalization of drugs is a really good thing though. If all the money that went into this silly 'war' (another nice example of a word that has been stretched beyond its original meaning) on drugs was put to good use then jails would be less full and people would be less scared for doing something relatively innocent.

Where to draw the line ? Harddrugs ? Drug pushing ? Hard to tell. But it's too easy to make someone a criminal right now and that ought to change.

When a good sized portion of the population is in jail for something that you can argue is much less severe than consuming a nights out of alcohol there is a change to be made.

I don't hold my mind's current state sacrosanct. That is to say, I respect my mind incredibly, but I don't have any belief that says my mind was built the way it was for a reason, or that there's something wrong with experimenting with it. That doesn't mean I abuse it incredibly, but I'm fine with drugs and find the infrequent experiences I have with them to be worth the negligible cost they have on my mind.

I won't say "drugs are good" because I think it's stupid to assign a moral value to drugs either way. Hence, the idea that the brain should be preserved and altering chemicals avoided isn't one that I find offensive in the least. But it's worth pointing out the beneficial effects they can have on you. For one thing, realizing the limits of your perception can be fascinating. Weed doesn't have that effect on me so much, but alcohol and salvia both certainly made me realize things I wouldn't have realized otherwise. Alcohol's emotional effects certainly taught me that our moods are tenuous and that we shouldn't equate our emotional states to any sort of logical truth about the world.

Regarding weed and dulled intelligence - yes, I feel like that sometimes. I feel like that without using weed. Right now I'm in an emotive state where I feel like I'm going to grow fat and die without ever moving. Weed has nothing to do with those downer feelings. Since I first took weed, though, last February, I wrote a novel, designed a handful of web sites that I'm proud of, finished a few projects, etc., and I did it in between infrequent weed hits. It's worth pointing out that many great artists were users - Miles Davis and heroin most famously - and that using drugs doesn't instantly make you less creative. It might make you creative in a different way, but creativity is not something which can be gained and lost. It is a potential that we all have regardless of intelligence. Think of it more as a muscle than as a trait.

We're affected by chemicals no matter how we live. You live your life according to a mixture of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and nutrients. In my mind, worrying too much about weed is like worrying about eating fats - it's certainly possible that if you take too much, there'll be adverse effects, but assuming that a single contact with a substance will change you forever is silly.

Regarding the initial question, though, hacking on weed probably won't work too well. Weed affects the sort of focus you'd need. (For certain other activities, however, like playing music, weed can help. It's not a black-and-white all-or-nothing deal.)

My advice would be to try it, since you can't really be hurt trying, but if you decide not to then all power to you.

The exception is probably hallucinogens, which offer some interesting experiences that are probably hard to get elsewhere, and there's some that are largely harmless. I'd advise anyone to be really, really careful about the drugs that are both chemically addictive and tolerance building. Chemically addictive means withdrawal symptoms if you're not using, tolerance building means you need progressively more not to get to the same point. Nicotine, actually, probably gives you the least bang for your buck with a pretty brutal chem addictive/tolerance building mix. Anything that does similar you need to be wary about.

As for the most commonly used things - alcohol and THC (marijuana, hash) - you really, really can get the lower inhibitions, relaxation, creativity, etc. with some mental training. Quitting alcohol was surprisingly easy for me because eventually, I was doing much worse socially on it than without it. When you're comfortable saying and doing what you think sober, alcohol just messes up your reaction times and coordination and makes you fat and sick. The hardest part about quitting was the social aspect, but after about six months when people got the message that I was really done, that fell off too. I always tell everyone drink around me, use, whatever you please, but it's surprising how many of my friends who go out with me eventually quit. It's like a hell of a lot people drink because they're expected to more than because they actually like the effects.

Anybody who wants to use social drugs should take a look at meditation and self-hypnosis, because you can get the same emotional states that you'd get with drugs through a little practice. As lionhearted mentioned, hallucinogens are the one exception.

"Proper" meditation (where you forget yourself and bask in theta waves) is a definite state which one can reliably enter with regular practice. As a long-time meditator before ever trying pot, I was used to having this resource 15 minutes away, whenever I needed it.

I discovered that it was nearly impossible to achieve this state under the influence or the following day. I enjoyed using pot for it's own sake - but, I would urge you to consider your priorities in mental development. I eventually quit pot because the meditative state was so much more essential.

After training myself to remember at least one dream whenever I sleep, a few hours of REM is more than enough hallucinating each day. Some might say it is better to be hallucinating while running about the real world, but I prefer the ability to instantly wake up out of a 'bad trip'.

Mary Jane for me is no big deal, though I don't use it anymore. In college I enjoyed it with friends weekly; it was fun and it even landed me a job at a major record label out of college; jump started that career and made me 3 out 100 in my music biz degree to land such a job! Though I no longer participate or smoke it had a great positive impact on my life and it was hell of a lot of fun! It's boring now to me and I have out grown it!

Not too mention all the stuff that's in our regular drinking water: instead of avoiding pot, I'd start by avoiding tap water.

If you've wanted to experiment with drugs and aren't sure how to start, here are a few tips that have helped me. (For those of you headed to Burning Man, this could be useful!)

One: read up or talk to someone about the effects a drug might have on you. (Google 'erowid'.) Make sure it's something you can tolerate and want to do. Allow yourself to be prepared for it's effects. Psychedelics like LSD or mushrooms can be an overwhelming experience. Don't be scared; just be prepared. Drugs last a finite amount of time and then you are back to exactly who you are now.

Two: make sure that wherever you get the drugs from, it's as reputable as possible. For instance, in Amsterdam, it's popular to test Ecstasy after purchase and prior to consumption.

Three: initially take drugs with a experienced guide. A guide They will help with dosage and proper consumptive techniques. They will be able to help you if things are getting intense or if you need to talk.

Four: Never, ever try drugs at a random party around people you don't know. And never allow peer pressure to push you into trying something you don't want to do. (You'll know you are around the right people to experiment with, because you'll never be pressured. They will understand.)

Five: don't do drugs when you are at an emotional low in your life. This is how addictions occur. People find that life inside the drug "bubble" is better than real world. I know people who have played with heroin and are not addicts.

Six: Don't overdo it. Take it slow. It can take time for you to experience the subtleness of many drugs. And most importantly, have fun. You might be surprised just how many of the people around you regularly experiment.

If you are opposed to drugs, don't do them. But I would suggest trying to keep an open mind to what they can offer you, which is primarily a shift in consciousness. You get to see the world in a slightly different way and for some, it can be life-altering. Many people have had profound experiences (including myself) by experimenting with a variety of drugs. And I didn't start until my late '20s, because I was one of those "freaked out by the thought of drugs" people.

Final tip: if you really want to play, here's the perfect way to do it: go to a concert, take a friend and share a joint together. (Obviously, it should be legal to smoke pot where you live.) I think you might be surprised by the way you experience the show. I'm willing to wager you'll never watch a show again without being stoned.

To the contrary, the best evidence shows that some drugs can cause permanent (or at least very long-lasting) changes in brain chemistry or brain structure.

I don't think anyone will claim here that the worst drug abuses won't cause long-term damage, but it's not the point.

Being out of shape, not eating right, and being sleep-deprived is going to be a lot worse for you than having a few miligrams of a psychoactive substance once in a while. Inaction is often worse than action.

At least in all the exercise/sleep submissions I have been reading, a lot of posts are on the benefits of getting enough sleep and exercise.

That is an entirely, if not more appropriate, question. Smoking is obviously the prominent method of use, but it seems like nobody actually ingests it, or talks about ingesting it.

I've made glycerin tinctures out of it, put it on pizza, pasta, in salads, and of course... used its oil in cookies and brownies. Of course, it's a strong herb, so you don't use "too" much.

I can hack fine when I eat it. No anxiety, insomnia, short term memory loss, etc... it's just a nice "warm and fuzzy" muscle relaxer (I have bad spinal problems, and it helps ease the pain and relax my nerves better than anything off the shelves).

Just this morning, I found myself singing "Alouette" while dancing the robot after I just got out of the shower (true story) with no explainable reason why I was doing it... I just was.

Shortly after, I thought I was just being creative. Now I'm currently questioning my sanity.

I only like smoking a little at a time. This will generally improve my mood and actually help me concentrate on things a little easier and worry less about problems that come up, so it's really useful for composing music.

Smoking a lot will just make me feel really out of touch with reality, and the next day will be a complete loss, as I don't have the mental capacity to do anything really useful, I can still think straight but there is a long delay between beginning and finishing a thought. If I smoke not long before I go to bed, it seems to multiply this effect.

I had experimented with long periods of continuous canabis usage (at low doses, never bong rips) both before and after college. I can't say for certain, but I think it had the following effects:

- more introspection - i was better able to understand my own thought processes. - shorter attention span - my attention would wander easily, and i would often dive deep into (often insigificant) problems. - more creativity / exploration - unpredictable and possibly net negative motivation / enthusiasm

I think, having experienced being stupid for extended periods of time, I am better able to structure and document my code. (documentation and consistent code structure / principle of least surprise become essential when you're stupid).

To be honest I'm not a big fan of the ganja, but that's mostly because I lived with people who had a pot problem, as opposed to a pot hobby. When you're blowing all of your limited student income on pot instead, say, feeding yourself, you got a problem. The people they brought over weren't much better.

It is harmless in my opinion (compared to other things people can legally do). Also, I know of people who find it extremely enlightening and helps them think of new ways to solve problems.

One friend who gave it up (for now) had trouble trying to get to sleep for weeks after giving it up and has mysterious aches and pains; stomach aches, upper back pain and other vague aches. I figured it was just, you know, women stuff since another female friend who is also a regular user of it is also having trouble with mysterious aches. Only two people certainly not a solid study but who knows, it may be something.

Of the guys I know none have mentioned any mysterious aches, pains other than the usual stuff. Then again if they did we'd call them a pussy.

I'm not against it but who knows what it will do, that cardboard rolled up 'filter' is pretty useless. If you eat or drink the same thing, anything, every day you're bound to have some negative reaction.

Those are pretty negative effects, in my opinion, but maybe you mean permanent, physical damage, or something like that?

My whole point is that if you do get too anxious and freak out with it, DON'T DO IT! Lots of people don't get those effects, and would like those who do to stay out of their business!

But I did live in a house with a weed smoker for 2 years. Never really worried me except the living room always smelt stuffy in the mornings.

Oh and I had a really hilarious mix up with a dealer once. Mistook him for the pizza delivery guy and got all the way down a side street and too his car before I twigged. doh.

I'd suggest the instead asking: "Do you think canabis negatively effects one's hacking abilities?"

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070427/095314.shtml

But if you start smoking because of an online poll, you should reassess your decision making process.

Hm...

> But if you start smoking because of an online poll, you should reassess your decision making process.

What if you don't because of an online comment?

Ok. marijuana affecting hacking abilities (in terms of driving) video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3zou4F00Ic (i think this is from channel-4 UK)

In there he says he is "concentrating more and driving slower".

Echoing someone above, I'm fairly sure smoking weed has dulled the edge of my intelligence more or less permanently. On the other hand, I think it's probably made me a much nicer, well-rounded, and balanced person. I've no regrets.

But I never found it expanded my mind - just made me relaxed and happy. Personally, I find hallucinogens/entheogens much more conducive to hack-like tasks.

Then again, I guess it affects everyone differently. Some of my friends (usually the more "artsy" type of people) find that it helps boost their productivity. As for me, well, I have trouble sleeping and I'm not interested in sleeping pills so, as long as pot will help me with that, I will keep on smoking it. In any other situation (especially any "social" situation) I avoid it as it makes me more awkward, paranoid and anxious.

Now the real question is whether LSD improves my math skills.

Um... pancreatic cancer?

Cancer is pretty random. I'd guess that smoking unfiltered anything would increase the risk of lung/throat/oral cancer, but beyond that, you're really grasping.

Protect your brain.

In my opinion it is not good for my hacking abilities, in that I find it very difficult to take seriously the concept of "work" at all when high. I can be very productive, just probably not on the same thing I was planning to do ..

Do you think the Google guys were taking bong breaks between writing code?

My opinion is hacking + business needs a mind as sharp as a samurai sword

The magic secret of entrepreneurship is that the people with big ideas and strong work ethics know who they are already, and them doing drugs doesn't stop them from being themselves. Similarly, avoiding drugs doesn't instantly give you power.

There are no overdose-related deaths in the history of marijuana. Ever. You could smoke your weight in weed and not die. Similarly, nobody's ever died from LSD (I can't think of another drug whose usage leads to "trips"), and I can't recall ever reading of a bad trip from which you "don't come back".

Did it ever occur to you that those who trip and dont come back can't tell you what they did because they're gone? A large number of mentally destablized homeless in the San Fran area from the Haight-Ashbury era seem to suggest that there are serious long-term effects with the ingestion of LSD.

Find me the story of somebody who was "lost" in LSD and I'll respond to it. Right now you're spreading FUD. There is proof of LSD flashback. There is no proof of people getting "lost" in trips. There certainly is proof of LSD aggravating people with mental instability, but instability exists without drugs.

PLAYBOY: Ever take LSD?

GATES: My errant youth ended a long time ago.

PLAYBOY: What does that mean?

GATES: That means there were things I did under the age of 25 that I ended up not doing subsequently.

PLAYBOY: One LSD story involved you staring at a table and thinking the corner was going to plunge into your eye.

GATES: [Smiles]

PLAYBOY: Ah, a glimmer of recognition.

GATES: That was on the other side of that boundary. The young mind can deal with certain kinds of gooping around that I don't think at this age I could. I don't think you're as capable of handling lack of sleep or whatever challenges you throw at your body as you get older. However, I never missed a day of work.

Hopefully I don't have to provide evidence of Steve Jobs's drug-using past, since that's a famous part of hacker history. The Gates admission surprised me, though: I just discovered it a few days ago from the Hacker News post about Jobs's relationship with Timothy Leary.

I don't want to be like him. ;-)

This is deeply disturbing.