Today? I am a VP developing medical devices for a living. And at least half of the folks I deal with have done pot at one time or another.
And then there's the counter-examples:
(Well, actually Cheech pulled out of things OK. Tommy, though....)
Including a bunch of govt folks.
That would explain a lot...
I could name CEOs of multiple companies that get high regularly.
And I could point out about 4 people I saw here in the Silicon Valley that went from being sharp, highly knowledgeable PhD-level engineers to being pot-addicted garden gnomes.
I've done lots of swimming, too - I swam Alcatraz, and that involves spending a hell of a lot of time at the pool. It's true that it's a surreal existence (especially the 50 meter pool at night), but I never felt the urge to light up some mary jane. Hell - I'm hungry enough after a long session in the pool!
I'm of the opposite opinion - I've seen a lot of productive alcoholics, but a lot of brain-dead potheads. Neither is a behavior worth bragging about.
Wow! That is quite an accomplishment! Those currents around the SFB are insane, and the cold...my hat is off to you.