The very interesting thing is the degree of denial - of ANY negative side effect -- of using pot among any user. The vast majority of smokers would laugh it off if they were told "there's a notable correlation between suicide and pot use."

I smoked it for about 3 years as a teen, between 1976 and 1978. In those days about zero 'horticultural engineering' was done to the stuff -- the potency was low.

But the effects were dramatic. And negative.

Now? The stuff out there now simply MUST be highly 'engineered' after 40 years of time from when I used it recreationally. The odor is so overwhelming, so strong. The 'skunk' odor.

Back in my day the stuff consisted of stems, leaves, and a bud here and there. The buds had seeds. The seeds would sometimes explode like popcorn. All the pictures of the stuff I see nowadays -- it looks like all buds, and seedless.

In the 1970s, what made me stop it was this. Recall that if you're riding a bike on the right side of the road, cars pass by. Okay, imagine a huge truck passing you and suddenly it swerves to the right -- the huge truck almost hits you but you escape being hit/run over by steering your bike into a ditch.

You are quite shaken, lots of anxiety.

It's NORMAL to feel anxiety at a time like that.

The "I'm in trouble" indicator is -- feeling anxiety for no such reason. No imminent threat, no "I'm late for my final exam", etc. Just smoking the stuff and then feeling anxiety.

You know you're in trouble with that stuff when you cannot seem to shake off the anxiety.

Contrary to what 99.99% of pot users say, the drug -- like most drugs -- HAS SIDE EFFECTS.

I stopped because I felt anxiety and could not shake it.

Stopping the recreational use solved that problem.

Suicidal tendencies from pot use? I had friends back then going to psyche wards and rehab to try getting off that stuff. In the 1970s. When it was FAR LESS potent than today. I don't know if any of my friends/acquaintances back then ever got low enough to off themselves.

I never argue with anyone these days when they discuss how 'wonderful' pot is. My only wish would be -- remember, it's a drug and drugs have side effects.

You'll know you're in trouble when you have anxiety for no reason -- other than the pot use -- and you cannot shake it.