But to answer your question, I smoke weed because it makes me happier. All of the bullshit that constantly drags me down sort of melts away as I think about my place in the collective consciousness and open myself up to new perspectives. One time I legit just gently picked up a live cockroach with my fingers and set it outside - I would never have thought to do that sober. On the other side of the same coin, it offers near unlimited escapism, and that can be dangerous in itself.

A nice side effect is that it makes me more compassionate and less quick to anger. When I started getting high around my family, they all commented on how much more agreeable I had become. I'm bipolar and I had an emotionally turbulent childhood, and after years of trying different medications and routines, weed has been the most beneficial thing for smoothing out those mood swings.