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: Re: creating convincing characters who are under the influence but avoids stereotypes I'm working on a story set in university. I remember from my time at university that it was fairly common for
Cannabis effects so many people so differently. As with many questions, a good strategy to find an answer it is to ask more questions.
Particularly: One way to approach the substance is through the character using it and the setting they are in. So we will ask questions about the character and setting:
Why are they smoking? (Escapism? Enlightenment? Exploration?)
Does their reason for smoking change with increase or decreased usage?
Are they physically addicted to other substances?
Do they become psychologically addicted to cannabis?
Are they smoking hydroponically-grown cannabis with a high-THC content, or are they smoking brown "mids?"
Would the character know the difference (between high-grade and low-grade stuff)? Do the other characters know the difference?
Are they even smoking? Modern options includes a host of "edibles," "vaping," and "dabs" which is a high-THC-content cannabis oil extracted from cannabis through use of butane filtration. Most of the modern options are considered healthier and less likely to result in lung cancer.
Is the character scared? Are they health concerned? Are they a hypochondriac?
Do they mess up their first hit? Do they cough all over the place and look like a fool? Do they keep their cool?
Will the police become involved?
Do you have a didactic point you wish to make to the audience about drug use?
So many questions.
If you want an "out of place" character smoking/whatever with characters who are far more experienced, it might help to do more field research. This can be as simple as watching youtube videos of "the first time someone tries" something. Consider this kid smoking dabs, which have a much higher concentration of THC per hit than regular cannabis. The kid says he is "stuck in time."
(Warning: Crude language. Might also be uncomfortable to watch. There is a PTSD-like quality to how the kid reacts to the substance.)
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