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."<p>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.<p>But the effects were dramatic. And negative.<p>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.<p>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.<p>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 <i>almost</i> hits you but you escape being hit/run over by steering your bike into a ditch.<p>You are quite shaken, lots of anxiety.<p>It's NORMAL to feel anxiety at a time like that.<p>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.<p>You know you're in trouble with that stuff when <i>you cannot seem to shake off the anxiety.</i><p>Contrary to what 99.99% of pot users say, the drug -- like most drugs -- HAS SIDE EFFECTS.<p>I stopped because I felt anxiety and could not shake it.<p>Stopping the recreational use solved that problem.<p>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.<p>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.<p>You'll know you're in trouble when you have anxiety for no reason -- other than the pot use -- and you cannot shake it.