It's funny but I'm hesitant to answer this truthfully.
I'm not sure if that's because I have aspirations to submit to YC at some point and wonder how PG might view this (and whether it would affect any decision making one way or another). Or if it's just the general concern with unnecessarily putting myself 'out there' somewhat publicly.
So yes, I do smoke and code. I don't know if I would say I'm 'stoned' though; I find that if I have just a wee bit I'm more focused and on point. It's similar to when I play music; not for the 'creative release' often claimed (though seldom experienced by me), but rather for this deep-focus aspect.
As a person who believes strongly in personal freedoms, thank you for saying this Paul.
If someone chooses to consume a drug of their choosing and still create in a way that fulfills them and their customers -- it is a grave injustice to shackle someone, wag a finger and tell them no. You inspire on many fronts.
I don't mean to sound glib, but I'd think you would -- less for the social stigma or potential for doing something idiotic while stoned, but if I were about to invest a significant amount of money in a company, I think I'd consider 'probability of a founder going to jail' as something that mattered.
The odds of going to jail in California just for possession of a small amount of marijuana are somewhat lower than the likelihood of going to jail for speeding. As long as the founder is not dealing, I don't see why you'd worry. Particularly since many Californians use it legally.
I suppose that matters if the team plans to move to / stay in or is already in California. I personally don't have any opposition to it, but outside of California, it's much less forgiven by the legal authorities.
It's pretty forgiven across the board these days. There are states / areas in states where it is absolutely not, but the majority of law enforcement members, in the majority of areas, don't give a shit about some kid cheefing away on a spliff while typing a lot, or playing music, or whatever it is they like to do.
Like with alcohol it always depends on the person. Some people can have a drink or 2 and think nothing of it. While others can't drink without going to black out drunk.
I look at pot and people the same way. I've had friends who smoked and were the laziest people you ever met. They were lazy pre-pot and only became lazier. I've had other friends who smoke and they became super successful, quality people.
A girl I dated in college occasionally smoked with her sister. I would give them grief about it, but turns out in HS they smoked every day with the eventually valedictorian of their school. Oh, and they both finished college with 4.0s in finance.
I'm not sure if that's because I have aspirations to submit to YC at some point and wonder how PG might view this (and whether it would affect any decision making one way or another). Or if it's just the general concern with unnecessarily putting myself 'out there' somewhat publicly.
So yes, I do smoke and code. I don't know if I would say I'm 'stoned' though; I find that if I have just a wee bit I'm more focused and on point. It's similar to when I play music; not for the 'creative release' often claimed (though seldom experienced by me), but rather for this deep-focus aspect.