by Amanda Santiago

Every full-time and part-time college student understands what kind of pressure comes with the territory. Long, stressful nights, a dozen assignments due by a certain date, and the anxiety that comes along with it. Becoming a pothead was my newfound superpower when it came to college. Smoking marijuana earned me a 4.0 GPA my first semester, which earned me a full scholarship from the Macolchys Honors program. I was an English major who learned how to become a chemist. Making makeshift bongs out of water bottles was the best thing that I did throughout my four semesters in college.

In 2011, the world was still against marijuana. I was the first in my family to continue my high school education. My parents never pushed the idea of college since I was never a straight-A student. My highest average in Tottenville High School was between 55-65%. The low grades came from severe anxiety followed by ADHD. My family did not believe in Adderall, and getting my grades up to graduate was tough, but I did it.

A few years later during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, at the age of 25, I smoked pot for the first time. By the time I turned 27, I was a full-blown pothead. My focus was scattered, but my creativity was at an all-time high. As of April 2023, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington legalized small amounts of marijuana for adults.

“States are passing marijuana laws at blistering speed,” said Jan K. Carney, M.D. Although smoking weed is normalized, the stigma behind it remains. Since the federal government still classifies marijuana in the same category as heroin and LSD.

There are 132 million people as of 2024, who smoke marijuana. The younger generation(18-29) takes about 22 percent, while ages 30-49 are eleven percent, 50-64 are twelve percent, and 65+ are three percent. There is evidence that marijuana improves sleep quality and reduces anxiety levels.

If we are forced to take a vaccine to enter college, perhaps it’s time we enforce trying marijuana for both professors and students to stay in college. Unlike cocaine, acid, and other elusive drugs that marijuana is being compared to, you can’t overdose on marijuana. Doctors still rave the negative impacts of brain development and the possibility of becoming an addict. But the evidence supporting the claim is minimal compared to the benefits.

“It really helps with sleep,” said Allison, 24, of Silver Spring, Md. “It’s great for stress, anxiety,” she said, “And my generation has huge anxiety problems.”

Depending on your tolerance to either Diesel, Purple Kush, Blue Dream, Indica, and Sativa strains of cannabis, smoking can provide relaxing effects. As a student, I found it is beneficial, allowing a more focused view of the material rather than the exam grade itself. Everyone is different, and some side effects can be more harmful than good. Whether you smoke a Sativa or Indica strain, the particulars vary from person to person. For example, someone could have what is known as a bad high. Increasing anxiety, nausea, and can lead to severe paranoia.

Research on college students from the 24 legal states showed that 65 percent of students smoke weed then take prescription drugs such as Adderall to focus. Students who consistently report using marijuana showed increased social connections and better coping mechanisms with certain feelings and moods.

“College sucks man,” Jason a former student at The College of Staten Island said, “Weed makes it suck a lot less.”

As a full-time student trying to meet your deadlines for a professor that holds your future, dealing with anxiety, hour-long panic attacks, and not to mention life outside of school—passing a blunt around takes the pressure off. If smoking pot is not aligned with your views, no worries. CBD is a good alternative. I may not be a specialist on everything marijuana, but I can tell you it feels good to be debt-free from college because I had tried it.