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Marijuana, considered a "soft drug" when compared to street drugs like cocaine or heroin, is still addictive and destructive in its own way. Many marijuana users find that like with any other addiction, their lives revolve around marijuana. Approximately thirty five percent of users become addicted and use it to fill a void in their daily lives. Some to the point that they feel they are living in a haze. It is important to remember however, that marijuana as a drug is not chemically addictive. There is no physical craving that occurs when someone stops smoking. The addiction is purely psychological and will put your practice of willpower to good use!
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Disclaimer
The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor for more information on How To Quit Smoking Marijuana. -
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Introduction
- Marijuana is not addictive in the same way as alcohol, cigarettes or heroin. There is no physical addiction, but it comes with its own set of distinct drawbacks:
- The possession and use of marijuana is illegal in most jurisdictions.
- Marijuana can contribute to mental health issues according to the National Institue on Drug Abuse.
- Regular long-term use of marijuana impacts the health of the user.
- Smoking marijuana can affect learning and social skills.
- Long-term regular marijuana use affects memory and speed of thinking.
- Quitting marijuana use can be accompanied by anxiety and depression as you learn to replace your addiction with alternatives that are creative and fulfilling. Evaluate your desire to quit and make your plan of attack to begin. Planning to quit is half the battle. The other half is executing your plan!
Step 1: Select a Meaningful Date to Quit
- You may want to select a day to quit that holds some special meaning. Quitting your marijuana habit may very well be an emotional event, and selecting a date that has personal significance may contribute to making the event even more meaningful and serve as additional motivation. Popular quit dates are:
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- Birthdays (either your own or that of a loved one)
- New Year's Day
- The Great American Smokeout
- World No Tobacco Day
- July 4th (Independence Day!)
- Once you select your quit date, stick to it. Start educating yourself about what you can expect, and purchase supplies that will make your transition to a smoke free lifestyle easier.
Step 2: Coping with Stress
Since marijuana is frequently used as a stress reliever, decide how you will cope with the stresses of daily life without it whether that be working out, deep breathing, yoga, etc. It is also good to decide how to fill the time you formerly spent smoking. Get involved in new positive activities. Learn a foreign language, volunteer your time with community service activities, learn to play a new musical instrument. The objective is to keep yourself occupied so that you have less time to think about lighting up!Step 3: Discard All Related Paraphernalia
On your quit day, trash everything you own that is related to your marijuana habit. This includes pipes, bongs, rolling papers, ash trays, incense, storage jars. Just be sure it is nowhere you can retrieve it. Not only is this significant because you would need to spend money to replace these belongings, but is an excellent way to reinforce your psychological commitment to quit.Step 5: Exercise
The benefits of regular exercise once you have stopped smoking marijuana are two fold. First, exercise produces a type of natural "feel-good" chemical in the body called endorphins. These can help you to feel good without smoking pot. Second, exercise will help to flush out the THC more quickly by targeting fat cells that store it.Step 7: Staying Quit
Stay smoke free one day at a time. Each day that you do not smoke is an accomplishment! Reward yourself with the money you are saving on marijuana by treating yourself. As time passes, stay strong. There will be times that you will have the urge to indulge "just once". To help avoid these situations, try the following:- Keep a journal that includes the reasons you want to quit. When you feel like you might slip, pull out your journal and re-read your list or add to it.
- Practice deep breathing when you feel the urge to smoke until you work through the craving.
- Recognize your triggers and learn to avoid them.
- Find other ways to destress, e.g., warm bath, work out, music, prayer, meditation, etc.
- Join a Marijuana Support Group, attend an online support meeting, and continue to educate yourself about the effects of marijuana on your physical and psychological health.
- Don't put yourself in a situation of being around those who are smoking. Lighting up just one time is the surest path to relapsing and having to begin again.
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Related Mahalo Pages
Marijuana Addiction | How to Get a Medical Marijuana Prescription in Florida | How to Bake Marijuana Brownies | How to Brew Marijuana Tea | How to Grow Marijuana | How to Buy Marijuana Legally | How to Cultivate Marijuana | How to Sell Marijuana Legally | National Weed Day | How to Quit Smoking Cigarettes | How to Get SoberAbout this page
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