first smoked @ age 18 or so, used to do it socially through my 20s (parties, hanging out with friends). in my mid-to-late 20s I started using more often and quite habitually.
now more often than not it is alone since most of my close friends have moved away. even before weed i was sort of a quiet / introverted type. i also have an addictive personality... (all or nothing - inability to moderate). weed and I are too perfect for each other, but not necessarily in a good way. now i'm 33 and quite set in my ways.
I suppose I enjoy it too much to ever stop fully. I'm not really a drinker. I enjoy cannabis more - both the buzz and pretty much everything about it compared to alcohol and other drugs.
it has made me more of a hermit than i should be... quite demotivated and antisocial for the most part. i find it nearly impossible to hang out at home by myself without blazing a bowl or joint. drives my wife bonkers. i also get bored too easily now.
i know i'm not in the worst bracket of stoners, ie. i don't go through a lot - maybe an 1/8th every week or so... and i don't spend too much money on it either. however, i wouldn't want to see the total amount i've spent on pot since i started. i have a great job, nice house and an amazing wife. i have a Bachelor's degree which i obtained despite some pretty heavy usage at the time.
my advice to the young stoners is try to moderate and if you can't, you might be better off quitting. there are some of us who try to reach the old "once a month" or "only at parties" stage and repeatedly find themselves going back to chronic life. people will laugh at you if you say you're addicted to weed, but there is help out there and a lot of people who also believe their dependence has taken over their lives. if you're looking to connect with other stoners and want to discuss your usage, check out this forum:
http://www.uncommonforum.com/viewforum.php?f=10
a couple years ago, that place helped me abstain for several months.
a lot of people will argue that people can be "functional" despite chronic pot use. while a lot of times this is true, it's a waste to live your life simply being "functional". everyone could and should be much more. so while i still use, i would definitely not advise it if you plan on living a productive life, and not simply "functioning".
:beer: