Please sir... can I have some more?

It was a matter of weeks after my first joint of the good stuff and I found myself outside at night with one of my mates and a tiny one skinner.

"I don't know what happened - I just didn't feel anything at all," I told him, speaking about the first chonging experience.

"After you take a toke, breathe in and fill your lungs full of air," he replied, I did it and it worked.

My first high, I felt dizzy, laughing, lost a bit of balance and spent 10 minutes staring into space, figuring out whether I was looking at a shooting star or a moving plane.

The beauty of weed is also its downfall, I've always said it puts you into a state of regression.

For about an hour it brings you back to your fundamental roots, suddenly things like rest, food, water, humour and companionship come to the forefront.

Things seem a little hazy and you get a glow of wellbeing and happiness.

Downfall

The downfall comes when people use weed as escapism. But you can also say that with any drug, everything from television and sex to alcohol and chocolate.

The answer to most problems when your stoned are "it doesn't matter", which is good for a few minutes but when reality kicks in the problems still remain.

Which is why I guess weed is more of an ideal drug for escapism than alcohol as there's no hangover and it is both less toxic and harmful.

But if managed properly it can be a great way to relax and unwind. Many professionals, I've known of teachers, lawyers, solicitors and doctors, use weed.

I didn't really do much that night after shooting star spotting, apart from smoked another 2 or 3 joints, got near-paraletic with the lads and watched some porn on channel 5.

Harmless compared to many other youngsters who were out downing vodka and smashing up telephone boxes that night.