Reddit user u/FullFever595 opened the thread to others in the legal profession on the Reddit r/LawSchool subreddit. The exchanges not only confirmed what has been speculated about lawyers using marijuana, but it also brought other instances of substance and alcohol use in the profession to light. 

"Lots of attorneys smoke who I know and many use significantly harder drugs," u/kappaklassy wrote. "Never heard of anyone being drug tested and only some [federal] jobs have ever even asked."

Other posters chimed in on how common the use of marijuana among attorneys has become in recent years with more states legalizing the plant for medicinal and recreational use. 

"I mean, who wants to fire 70% of their attorneys?" u/Old-Tree7633 wrote. "More seriously … yes I know plenty of attorneys who smoke weed … And the only job I've gotten a drug test for is a DOJ internship, and not even all [federal government] jobs drug test. But the only places I can name [right now] that you can probably anticipate a drug test are places like DOJ/FBI/CIA (and I'm not even sure all of DOJ?), otherwise you're fine." 

Over 200 comments from the thread led to a clear consensus that marijuana is one of a bevy of drugs many lawyers partake in. 

"With respect, you are joining one of this country's more drug-addled professions," u/p_rex wrote. "For my part, I saw quite a bit of weed in law school, and a little cocaine, too. The legal world is to a large extent a work-hard play-hard world, where pretty laissez-faire attitudes prevail about self-indulgent private behavior."

Other commenters discussed the stereotype of lawyers often taking "uppers" such as cocaine or prescription stimulants like Ritalin, Vyvanse and Adderall to meet the demands of an increased workload.

"I get [Adderall, Vyvanse,] Ritalin etc. [—] those hours aren't gonna bill themselves," u/ReElectNixon wrote. "And that's how many successful lawyers got through college and sometimes even law school. [But] cocaine? I'm genuinely confused as to how someone is capable of doing doc review or coherent legal writing while on a drug like that."

Drinking alcohol has long been a customary practice in the legal industry, and lawyers have expressed feeling the need to drink to feel a part of the company culture. 

In 2016, a study published by the American Bar Association in connection with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation found that more than a third of practicing attorneys in the United States are problem drinkers. 

"My firm has a culture where everyone loves showing off their expensive bottles of [whiskey] on their top shelves above their books," u/Deusselkerr wrote. "Plenty of people have fridges with beer, bar carts, etc. in their offices. It's weird upon reflection how normal it seems. I'm not one of them but I don't bat an eye at it."