Recreational Marijuana in Biglaw Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am a regular recreational user at a big firm. The biggest issue for me is that for me to safely use without fear of getting caught off guard by an unexpected email that will require a lot of thinking or request to speak ASAP, I need to start smoking late (usually 10PM or later), and the later I smoke, the more brain fog I have in the morning. I can still do my job but notice some difference in my efficiency the next day.

I think this issue is definitely worse for moderate smoking vs. 2 or 3 beers the night before.

Considering that this issue exists every time I smoke, I think regular use has had a significant detrimental impact on my long term potential. That said, the job is often so stressful that I can’t help but smoke as it is the best way to temporarily reduce my anxiety. Esp. since it is hard for me to find time to work out regularly.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I smoked way too much pot in college, and it seriously affected my academics and personal life. After I stopped, I was able to get back on the "track," i.e. find employment and get into a top law school. However, I have no doubt that continued use, for me at least, would have ben an obstacle and potentially prevented me from hitting some of those milestones.

Think about what you are being paid for as an attorney. You are using your mind. Nothing else. And being an attorney is much more demanding of analytical thinking than almost any other job. Pot use is going to slow you down and make you basically unusable in the few hours after you smoke. It will also drag you down the next day. It also makes you more forgetful and hazy-brained generally. The other poster, who probably has a drug problem of their own, can make fun of this, but I think OP is rightly concerned about how this could impact their career. If OP is so obsessed with pot as part of their daily routine that having to stop for career-related gives them anxiety, I think that OP already has a pot problem. I'm glad OP said they are talking to a therapist -- my further advice would be to start working on this pronto.

[jotarokujo]

I am a regular recreational user at a big firm. The biggest issue for me is that for me to safely use without fear of getting caught off guard by an unexpected email that will require a lot of thinking or request to speak ASAP, I need to start smoking late (usually 10PM or later), and the later I smoke, the more brain fog I have in the morning. I can still do my job but notice some difference in my efficiency the next day.

I think this issue is definitely worse for moderate smoking vs. 2 or 3 beers the night before.

Considering that this issue exists every time I smoke, I think regular use has had a significant detrimental impact on my long term potential. That said, the job is often so stressful that I can’t help but smoke as it is the best way to temporarily reduce my anxiety. Esp. since it is hard for me to find time to work out regularly.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I smoked way too much pot in college, and it seriously affected my academics and personal life. After I stopped, I was able to get back on the "track," i.e. find employment and get into a top law school. However, I have no doubt that continued use, for me at least, would have ben an obstacle and potentially prevented me from hitting some of those milestones.

Think about what you are being paid for as an attorney. You are using your mind. Nothing else. And being an attorney is much more demanding of analytical thinking than almost any other job. Pot use is going to slow you down and make you basically unusable in the few hours after you smoke. It will also drag you down the next day. It also makes you more forgetful and hazy-brained generally. The other poster, who probably has a drug problem of their own, can make fun of this, but I think OP is rightly concerned about how this could impact their career. If OP is so obsessed with pot as part of their daily routine that having to stop for career-related gives them anxiety, I think that OP already has a pot problem. I'm glad OP said they are talking to a therapist -- my further advice would be to start working on this pronto.

you're forgetting that they used weed "regularly" throughout law school and it seemed to be fine. doesn't sound like for OP it "seriously affected [their] academics and personal life" in undergrad, let alone law school. some people can pull off weed and working, some people can't. maybe OP can't, but probably they can.

[Anonymous User]

New to this thread but this^^ is the right take. I personally am one whose brain gets truly wrecked for days afterward but also recognize that that's not the case for everybody (one of my best friends went through med school smoking very regularly).
I think it's also worth noting the possibility that OP maybe did "underperform" vs. their "full potential" yet did fine anyway. Not saying that's the case here, but point being not everyone needs to perform at their "max" all the time to have a good life and get the outcomes they want (& be a competent attorney).

[jacketyellow]

I still don't know how this thread derailed from recreational usage to "OMG, weed WILL MELT your mind, and you won't be able to function AT ALL!" I take it for anxiety and to sleep. This is better, to me, than taking Ambien or Xanax every night. There may be some brain fog the next morning, but just drink a coffee or take a shower. Jeez.

[Anonymous User]

Pretty much replaced my ADHD meds with weed once I got to big law so I think you'll be fine.

As someone with really bad ADHD who is currently prescribed focalin, please do tell more. Recently started eating edibles and have found I can focus on them without my medication, so maybe this is the direction I'm going in (yay recreational legalization in ny!)

I was prescribed Adderall and used it through law school and early in my career and it was definitely needed, but after a few years in law and a particularly bad few months in terms of hours and stress, I threw out my meds and never refilled my prescription. I've regretted it a few times, but overall happy I got off them. I was a daily smoker before, but never during the work day. I smoke far more now, but found it helps me concentrate and not mind the really long, tedious hours.

[jotarokujo]

New to this thread but this^^ is the right take. I personally am one whose brain gets truly wrecked for days afterward but also recognize that that's not the case for everybody (one of my best friends went through med school smoking very regularly).
I think it's also worth noting the possibility that OP maybe did "underperform" vs. their "full potential" yet did fine anyway. Not saying that's the case here, but point being not everyone needs to perform at their "max" all the time to have a good life and get the outcomes they want (& be a competent attorney).

exactly, no need to go full power mode if you're not trying to get partner. if they work at a sufficient level with recreational use that's fine

[Anonymous User]

Pretty much replaced my ADHD meds with weed once I got to big law so I think you'll be fine.

As someone with really bad ADHD who is currently prescribed focalin, please do tell more. Recently started eating edibles and have found I can focus on them without my medication, so maybe this is the direction I'm going in (yay recreational legalization in ny!)

I was prescribed Adderall and used it through law school and early in my career and it was definitely needed, but after a few years in law and a particularly bad few months in terms of hours and stress, I threw out my meds and never refilled my prescription. I've regretted it a few times, but overall happy I got off them. I was a daily smoker before, but never during the work day. I smoke far more now, but found it helps me concentrate and not mind the really long, tedious hours.

You're not suggesting you do work while high, are you? If so, that is pretty astonishing considering how powerful weed is now. I have never done anything that required any deep thought while high.

[Anonymous User]

Pretty much replaced my ADHD meds with weed once I got to big law so I think you'll be fine.

As someone with really bad ADHD who is currently prescribed focalin, please do tell more. Recently started eating edibles and have found I can focus on them without my medication, so maybe this is the direction I'm going in (yay recreational legalization in ny!)

I was prescribed Adderall and used it through law school and early in my career and it was definitely needed, but after a few years in law and a particularly bad few months in terms of hours and stress, I threw out my meds and never refilled my prescription. I've regretted it a few times, but overall happy I got off them. I was a daily smoker before, but never during the work day. I smoke far more now, but found it helps me concentrate and not mind the really long, tedious hours.

Anon who asked for the follow up here. Thank you for your response! This is definitely the direction I see myself going in. I find my focalin helps me in law school because there's just too much free time and my mind wanders. But I've been ok doing externship assignments after smoking/edibles but not taking meds. Quick follow up question: When you were in the office, did you have any issues with smoking and interacting with supervisors or coworkers? And are you lit or corp? Thanks again!