If the only translation you’ve read is the public domain one from the 19th century, it was heavily censored/edited. Newer translations are much better, and have all the hash smoking and lesbian sex. (And yea, I’m being literal)
Assuming it's the Robin Buss translation - that's the one you want! Only version that was fully translated in the modern era. The earlier ones were all based off the problematic 19th century translations with various amounts of the "scandalous" stuff added back in.
Thanks for the information!! I just checked my copy, and it is indeed the Buss translation. I was reading it for several week a few months ago, and I ended up putting it down, just because it just wasn't happening for me and I couldn't figure out why.
Very recently I discovered that I need glasses (for the first time in my life). My eyes went from perfect to downhill very quickly. I'm now trying to get used to wearing reading glasses. This is especially important with a book like this, which has a tiny font. Now I know why I was feeling uncomfortable and getting headaches :-)
