How To Quit Smoking Marijuana

Marijuana, considered a "soft drug" when compared to street drugs like cocaine or heroin, is still addictive and destructive in its own way. Read on to find out how to quit smoking marijuana. 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!

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!

Marijuana Facts: Side Effects of Quitting Smoking Marijuana

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Marijuana Facts : Side Effects of Q...

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This video is narrated by Dr. David Thomas who is a practicing therapist. He talks about the side effects of quitting smoking marijuana. For many years, most addiction experts was of the belief that there was not a physical dependancy associated with marijuana use. However, in recent years they are finding that there is some change in serotonin level in the brain. This brings about the potential of physical dependency. They are noticing a higher incidence of depression or mood change, among chronic users as they quit smoking cannabis. Other side effects can include irritability, annoyance and sleep disorders.

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:

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 4: Stick with Your Quit Date

The day has come and it's time to quit! Acknowledge the old routines that were linked to smoking marijuana and try to eliminate those from your daily routine. Identifying behaviors that can trigger a craving will be a great way to help you to prepare for them.

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 6: Drink Plenty of Fluids

Plenty of water will help to flush out toxins and help rid your body of THC more quickly. Green tea is also a good beverage option to hydrate and includes anti-oxidants that will help your body begin to recover from some of the negative effects of smoking.

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.http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/onlinemeetings.shtml http://oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual
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.

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.