Before I started smoking my freshman year in college, I had severe chronic pain issues... Smoking alleviated a lot of the pain I was feeling, as well as lifted a good amount of anxiety and my irritable bowel syndrome.

As someone on the autistic spectrum with very bad social anxiety, it definitely helps me to relax and to socialize with people over a bowl, rather than trying to make productive conversation while sober, or while drinking.

Stoners are just generally more laid back people; no other substance has such a tight-knit subculture; I've seen more acts of kindness come from stoners than from any other subgroup of people.

Not all stoners listen to Bob Marley, appear dazed and confused, wear tie dye, or grow their hair long. I've met smoking CPAs, teachers, psychologists, program directors, shy kids, and people who simply smoke to alleviate medical problems.

We are all a community. We are all people. And we all have our own direction in life. But isn't it nice to occasionally meet up with like-minded friends, smoldering joint in hand, walking barefoot on the dirt path into the sun...
Purple Banana Reviewed by Purple Banana on . How has weed affected your life? Get your story heard Hi, my name is Julia and I am a Junior at City Charter High School in Pittsburgh. For my graduation project, I wanna collect stories from pot smokers around the country about how weed has affected their lives and why they think it should be legal. All entries will be anonymous, and everyone who participates will receive a free copy of the book if they choose (and if I manage to get it published later!) Stories can range from how you met your friends through weed, ways it has helped you Rating: 5