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Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

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Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#71
I'm a founder of a well-funded venture-backed startup. I wear many hats: product manager, coder and growth hacker to name a few. I smoke weed every day, sometimes multiple times per day. I have a few observations about working while smoking.

I cannot and do not smoke when I need to interact with my employees, investors or partners as I find it very hard to be at my sharpest wit verbally. So when my schedule calls for that, I skip.

However, there are many other times when I find my smoking to be a secret weapon: 1) There is zero question that I'm at my most creative when smoking. Sometimes a solution to a product or marketing challenge seems hopeless. In that instance, a smoke seems to unfog the mind and ideas that I never had sober just jump into my head. Good ideas. Ideas so good that if anyone around me knew how I came up with them, they'd probably be shocked. 2) Coding - A smoke will focus me for hours on coding. Sometimes I have a smoke, start coding and what feels like a blink of the eye is 3 hours of the most productive coding I'll have all day. It's false to think that the code is of poor quality, quite the opposite. I find that the mental model sustained in my head while coding becomes even more clear - it's like instead of just visualizing the model, it's like I'm inside it.

Some commentors have complained that they become lethargic or foggy. I'm sure that individuals react differently, but what I've found is that Indica strains should be avoided - they tend to have that effect on almost anyone. But a high-quality Sativa makes me alert, creative and highly motivated.

Look, everyone is different. What works for me may not work for you. But I wouldn't shy away from it if you think it helps you. Just keep it to yourself and those that you trust and let everyone else judge you by your results.

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#72

I'm a founder of a well-funded venture-backed startup. I wear many hats: product manager, coder and growth hacker to name a few. I smoke weed every day, sometimes multiple times per day. I have a few observations about working while smoking. I cannot and do not smoke when I need to interact with my employees, investors or partners as I find it very hard to be at my sharpest wit verbally. So when my schedule calls for…

Thanks, great reply.

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#73
post #70
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you ever known someone who uses marijuana medicinally?

No. What precisely is your point? That there are legitimate uses for weed? Ok, agreed. There are legitimate uses for alcohol too. Great disinfectant. Great at cleaning mechanical parts. Doesn't mean drinking half a bottle of vodka a day will make you a great business leader. Smoking weed won't make you into one either.

Comparing getting high in your free time to drinking half a bottle is so disingenuous, it's actually embarrassing to watch you do this.

That, and you know what, going around calling everyone "kids" because you can't formulate an argument makes you look bad, not the "kids" you're looking down on.

You're so clearly unwilling to even listen on this issue, it was apparent from the get-go.

I'd hate to ever get caught eating a piece of chocolate in front of you. You'd probably slap it out of my hands, call me a fatty and tell me there are healthier ways to make myself happy.

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#74
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. What precisely is your point? That there are legitimate uses for weed? Ok, agreed. There are legitimate uses for alcohol too. Great disinfectant. Great at cleaning mechanical parts. Doesn't mean drinking half a bottle of vodka a day will make you a great business leader. Smoking weed won't make you into one either.

Comparing getting high in your free time to drinking half a bottle is so disingenuous, it's actually embarrassing to watch you do this. That, and you know what, going around calling everyone "kids" because you can't formulate an argument makes you look bad, not the "kids" you're looking down on. You're so clearly unwilling to even listen on this issue, it was apparent from the get-go. I'd hate to ever get caught eati…

Maybe if you weren't so high when you wrote that reply, it would have actually made sense.

> That, and you know what, going around calling everyone "kids" because you can't formulate an argument makes you look bad, not the "kids" you're looking down on.

I never called anyone kids?

> I'd hate to ever get caught eating a piece of chocolate in front of you. You'd probably slap it out of my hands, call me a fatty and tell me there are healthier ways to make myself happy.

If you were sitting in front of me, eating a piece of chocolate, telling me how eating that chocolate is going to make you a better business leader ... well, I'd be making fun of you just as much as I'm doing now =)

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#75
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Comparing getting high in your free time to drinking half a bottle is so disingenuous, it's actually embarrassing to watch you do this. That, and you know what, going around calling everyone "kids" because you can't formulate an argument makes you look bad, not the "kids" you're looking down on. You're so clearly unwilling to even listen on this issue, it was apparent from the get-go. I'd hate to ever get caught eati…

Maybe if you weren't so high when you wrote that reply, it would have actually made sense. > That, and you know what, going around calling everyone "kids" because you can't formulate an argument makes you look bad, not the "kids" you're looking down on. I never called anyone kids? > I'd hate to ever get caught eating a piece of chocolate in front of you. You'd probably slap it out of my hands, call me a fatty and tel…

>Maybe if you weren't so high when you wrote that reply, it would have actually made sense.

Are you kidding me? How petty, childish, immature and snarky can you be about this? What an obvious defense mechanism. (The irony being I'm in the middle of a two month break from using anything as I'm traveling).

I didn't claim it would make me a better business leader. I claimed it wouldn't make me a worse one and you've done nothing to show otherwise but offer a single stupid anecdote to dismiss everyone else.

And yes, you've three times now implied (or explicitly said) that anyone who even smokes pot occasionally needs to grow up. (Imagine the absurdity if I said that about having a beer. And you're already jumping to a million conclusions in your head that you know nothing about). You're a smug person latching to stereotypes. A tough anti-drug guy (proudly) making fun of people for what they do in their spare time. Just like I said: preconceived notions and judgmental condescension. Thanks for confirming all of my suspicions from my very first post in this thread.

All gay people I know have lisps, so they all do; don't you know?

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#76
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe if you weren't so high when you wrote that reply, it would have actually made sense. > That, and you know what, going around calling everyone "kids" because you can't formulate an argument makes you look bad, not the "kids" you're looking down on. I never called anyone kids? > I'd hate to ever get caught eating a piece of chocolate in front of you. You'd probably slap it out of my hands, call me a fatty and tel…

>Maybe if you weren't so high when you wrote that reply, it would have actually made sense. Are you kidding me? How petty, childish, immature and snarky can you be about this? What an obvious defense mechanism. (The irony being I'm in the middle of a two month break from using anything as I'm traveling). I didn't claim it would make me a better business leader. I claimed it wouldn't make me a worse one and you've don…

You think he is bad here? Just read his comments. They speak plenty about his character.

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#77
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Maybe if you weren't so high when you wrote that reply, it would have actually made sense. Are you kidding me? How petty, childish, immature and snarky can you be about this? What an obvious defense mechanism. (The irony being I'm in the middle of a two month break from using anything as I'm traveling). I didn't claim it would make me a better business leader. I claimed it wouldn't make me a worse one and you've don…

You think he is bad here? Just read his comments. They speak plenty about his character.

LMAO! You created another throwaway account to post this? How insecure are you?!?

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#78
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Maybe if you weren't so high when you wrote that reply, it would have actually made sense. Are you kidding me? How petty, childish, immature and snarky can you be about this? What an obvious defense mechanism. (The irony being I'm in the middle of a two month break from using anything as I'm traveling). I didn't claim it would make me a better business leader. I claimed it wouldn't make me a worse one and you've don…

You think he is bad here? Just read his comments. They speak plenty about his character.

/shrug

It's pretty clear he realizes that he has no idea what he's talking about and can only resort to stereotypes and name-calling.

edit: And apparently has no idea how throwaway accounts work, I guess.

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#79
I smoke every day medically as it helps with managing the daily nausea, vomiting, and cramping pain that my IBS presents me. I am very young for most software engineers in my field, and I work at a startup that was recently funded. Before I started smoking daily, I was missing loads of work because of pain. Now, I wake up early every morning to smoke so that I can actually function. Marijuana has not improved my skills as a hacker, but it has enabled me to spend more of my life doing what I'd like to be (programming) instead of dealing with a disease. I can vouch for the therapeutic effects of the drug too, and I know that for some people it is what they need to get things done. In moderate amounts, I don't know how it is fair to say that drugs like Prozac and Riddlin are acceptable for the workplace any more than pot.

Re: Ask PG: Does smoking marijuana affect the ability to hack and run a startup?

#80
post #77
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You think he is bad here? Just read his comments. They speak plenty about his character.

LMAO! You created another throwaway account to post this? How insecure are you?!?

This isn't a throwaway...
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