The stigma around pot is a very hard one to break. The fact my dad is as open as he is, is very astounding. I actually had a hard time when I first started using cannabis to get off all of the pills the VA had me on. In my mind, I was a "druggy", sitting around all day doing "drugs". See, I was raised in conservative Idaho, most of my friends were Mormons and pot was heavily stigmatized. I was introduced to it when we moved to Arizona, but I always had a job through high school, and was drug tested on occasion. Following high school, I joined the military, and more stigma!!
It took me about 2 years to get over that "druggy" feeling. Part of that probably has to do with the fact that I didn't hang out with anyone who smoked. Now....its basically no holds barred for me! I am more than ecstatic with the fact I am on almost ZERO Va meds and use only cannabis for what ails me...and I am thriving!! With the pills...I was just "getting by"....but I am now living again! I do hope that cannabis can be brought the rest of the way out of the shadows, and the rest of our society can enjoy this plant like we do. It could be the next step that this country needs.....