Bad effects of pot real story - pot smoker's testimonial

I am a PhD student in Molecular Biology/Biological Science and very interested in reading other experiences of long term use of marijuana. I have been smoking marijuana for 23 years and I have recently questioned my ability to live life without it.

I have read about chemicals that permanently alter the brain chemistry and often wondered if marijuana has changed mine.

When I smoke MJ I do not feel the need to consume alcohol at all. I feel relaxed and yet motivated to keep working, even when I am tired or stressed.

I eat a balanced diet and exercise everyday.

It doesn't appear to have negatively affected my memory or ability to think rationally.

For 6 months now I have stopped using MJ as an experiment to see if I can notice any changes about myself. Physically, my body has reponded positively to a vast reduction of smoke inhallation.

My skin complexion has more of a healthy glow, my eyes appear brighter and my lungs have become more efficient.

However, the simple pleasures in life have become dull and boring.

I cannot feel enthusiastic about mundane tasks like washing the dishes or weeding the garden.

I think that when I smoked I was happier somehow, in my everyday life.

I used to take time out to sit in the sun for a few minutes to listen to the birds and think what a nice day it was.

I was more at one with myself and the world, whereas now I feel the simple pleasures in life (although still there) have lost some of their appeal.

I will endevour to quit MJ and hope that my brain chemistry will return to some sort of equillibrium, but if it doesn't and I feel that I am happier as a smoker (with full knowledge that it will shorten my life)then I will have to choose quality over quantity.