Every time I hear about someone quitting it pleases me so. It is the one thing in my life of which I'm unequivocally proud. I did it all by myself! And for years I had thought I wouln't ever be able to.

I suppose if we had used the 'weed' as it was meant to be used: ceremonially and according to moon phases nobody would ever have got hooked. But, oh, did we abuse it!

Here in Juneau, I have attended ceremonies by a Tlingit medicine man where tobacco and sweet grasses are ritually burned and it's a very different thing from lighting up.

Ebbie