Recommendations on how to stop smoking marijuana and what symptoms to watch for

Last night I told my partner I would quit. I smoke regularly--almost daily. Only been like this for about 3 years. But it has become a big part of my life. Partner smokes occasionally. Thinks I smoke too much. So I agreed to stop cold turkey, as we have begun thinking about getting pregnant. This morning I decided to google "quitting marijuana" and it led me here. Almost all post have been about how hard it's been to quit. As I read along, I kept thinking, "wtf... it's not that bad..." I understand and appreciate that it has been that bad for others, but I completely agree with you. If approached with a strong mind frame, quitting can be easier than we think. Since last night, all I've told myself is, "It's just weed." I'm not dreading the "withdrawal" symptoms. I never planned on smoking forever anyway. I'm in my late 20s and in the past few months have already decided it was gonna end soon. I thought maybe the following year would end up being my last (as we might try getting pregnant next year). But it turns out my partner wants me to stop now. My initial reaction: "WTF?! why? it's not like we're trying to get pregnant NOW." after a couple hours (and an argument) I figured I was gonna stop anyway--so what difference does a few months make? Plus summer is coming to an end and I would have to get back to the "real world" and get a job anyway. (I just finished grad school this summer and have had plenty of time "smoke and relax.") Granted, I'm not as heavy a smoker as most other posters, but I absolutely have made it a large part of my life in the last two years. Most of my close friends are "potheads" and others have come to view me similarly. Never bothered me--still doesn't. I respect and appreciate the stoner culture, but it's time for me to move on. So I am. "Cold turkey." It will have it's challenging monents (i.e., my friends not understanding and tempting me). But my attitude remains the same. I'm not scared. I'm my own person. And I'm the same person--high or sober. If I wanna stop, I'm gonna stop. Done and done. I hope others can read our posts and believe the same thing. It can be done, guys! Without going insane. Good luck and best wishes to all!!

This was supposed to be a reply to "Guest" who posted on 7/30/12

Thanks for writing down the words i needed to read.  i have smoked since i was 16, quit for 1 year when i was 19, and have smoked daily since.  i work very hard but struggle in life with my weight and my smoking.  my weed has been the lover who keeps me tranquil, and when i have been out, i have drove in storms and snow to get some.  now that i am approaching 50, of course i buy in bigger bulk, but i always get my bag, pay my bills, and go without till the next paycheck comes.  i know it is a better buzz than alcohol, but at this point, i feel my mind needs it, my body craves it, and i do not know how to give up my lifelong friend. group meetings and such do not work for me, but i have the desire down deep to stop and have no idea where to begin.  i pray for a miracle, that i can be strong and turn away from my sweet leaf lover.  to all who love your weed and want to stop, i pray for you too.. Godspeed to you all.

Thank you for this info. I smoked my first joint 8 hours after landing in Vietnam in 67. I have never even attempted to stop. Now I am considering it is now time. Pot has always been my means of coping in life. Like u I also am a professional. RN CCRN CNN for over 30 years. I never smoked at work but at the end of a bad day at work a joint is all I needed to turn everything around and put a smile on my face. I feel like I am going to lose the best friend I ever had. What makes me think now is the time to stop is because of a bad experience I had. Recently I got a legal Calif. medical marijuana card, I also purchased a Volcano vaporizer. Smoking a joint u get about 17% to 21% thc. Smoking a volcano u are now getting up to 56% thc or more. I smoked on this for 3 months. I ended up in my doc's office totally going out of my mind, so anxious and almost in a state of painc. My BP was sky high had to be started on antihypertension meds also was started on xanax. I gave that $700.00 volcano away for free. I really wanted to take a hammer to it. It is now almost two weeks later. I have only taken a few hits off a joint over this last two weeks. I am feeling much better. Stopped the xanax. So now at this state of only using pot in small amounts I think now is the time to give up my old friend. I can now clearly see pot is more than just a recreational drug it can be dangerous and u are so right about long term use causing medical conditions. Problem now is my wife is also a long term user. After she saw what I went thru smoking that volcano I think she maybe ready as well. We will need to have a long discussion about stopping. Many thanks. David

ugh..here we go... :-)

Oh man, Ive been smoking for 7 years heavily and quit while i was pregnant with my child then started back up after she was concieved. I decided to quit smoking cigs may 19 after 9 years and now, in my mind doing the unthinkable and stopping weed. Today is day 2 and im going crazy. Im a stay at home mom and artist and cant find anything to keep my mind off it. The advise ive read is helping but I have ADHD and OCD and weed has been my life saver for not taking meds. Im kind of a hippy and dont like meds so weed worked for me many years. Anyone else have these problems reply and help me if you did something that worked for you.

Thanks, have a blessed day

I am a 38 year old female, who has finally realized that I need to quit this horrible habbit. I have been smoking daily for 20 years. Started when I was 18, never thought this would end up the way it has.

This has totally taken over my life, I am a mother to a 12 yr old girl, who is just about to start junior high, and unfortunately she knows about my habit...I hate it, its embarrassing and makes me feel like a worthless mother, even thought deep down, I know I am not. I love my daughter, and she deserves to have a mother who is top notch and capable of doing better.

I hate how my life revolves around this stuff, I panic when my bag is coming to an end. I have become so isolated that I never go out with friends anymore, its always me and mary jane...I am an attractive woman with a very pleasant personality (not only when I am hight ;)) and I have not been on a date since 1999-I have not had a boyfriend since 1999.

I feel very fortunate to have come across this page, as I find it to be very helpful.

I have to say reading all of your repsonses is both scary and comforting too.

One of the earlier repsonses is from a man who is close to 50, and states that he has come to the realization that this habbit has totally affected his social life, I get that-and I am finally being honest with myself...I dont shy away from social functions due to anexiety, I do so because I need to get high...and I really do not want to feel this way anymore.

The thought of quitting cold turkey scares the bleep out of me, I am going to attemp cutting down first, then eventually wean off, I recall speaking with a doctor back in 2006 about my habbit-and when I told him I wanted to quit, he actually suggested that I cut down then wean off of it-not to do it cold turkey.

 

I will update you on my progress.

 

Best of luck to all of you!!!!

 

PFlowers

 

 

 

amazing! thank you so much for this wonderful advice

Thankyou so much this is the first article I have read and its really helped I stopped smokin 11 days ago and have had ten puffs of weed in this Time. Thanks again you helped me Lots x

I have been smoking EVERY day for 6 months (I went from 2-3 days a week straight to every day). This is now my 3rd day sober and perhaps it is because I haven't used it for years but I find it quite easy to quit... I do have a loss of appetite although after I started smoking weed daily I started eating less and healthier. I have lost 35 pounds since I started smoking marijuana every day. Marijuana can be used and abused, make sure you don't get into financial/personal problems and make sure you don't become dependant upon it. The reason why I quit is not because I had a bad experience..

I have never felt bad from smoking pot, Personally I am very stable and physically I am doing fine aswell.. Not a sick day in the last 3 years and I have always been a good student. The reason why I quit was to see how hard it would be after 6 months of daily usage...My conclusion: Quitting marijuana is different per person. Some find it very hard to stop smoking, I spend 90 minutes in a coffeeshop yesterday without smoking any weed and I had absolutely no problem just sticking to my cigarettes (there's other things to do in a coffeeshop than smoke. I have made quite a few friends there that still visit every day and there's a load of board games and a pool table).This is my third day sober, I feel like lighting one up but it's quite easy to resist. I have began living healthier since I started smoking marijuana (although this does not seem to be a frequent thing for Marijuana users).You can smoke Marijuana every day responsibly, just make sure you take breaks and check your mental and physical condition every month/two weeks.

 

PS: Written from the Netherlands.

I am also empty and freaking out! I am on my first day of weed free.I have been smoking daily since I was 15 AND NOW AM 53! I have gone to my Dr. for anxiety,panic attacks,naseau,aches...she said is all related. I hope you all can do it! I am gonna really try to quit. I have a new job and will try to keep busy..I just hope I can get some sleep! Good Luck to all!

Thank you your steps rely are making sense. silentio knights.

I would just like to say i never post but this is the first site ive found where i feel people are going through the same thing. My story is that i started smoking weed recreationaly with friends when i was 13/14 yrs old i have pretty much smoked consistentley for the last 24 YEARS i have occasionally given up to prove i could.The last time however was about 7 years ago im a heavy smoker usually 5-10 joints to myself every day. Its nice to know others are facing the same challenges and mainly for the same reasons. The weed has allowed to me to float along so basically im a fully functioning drug addict. Its time to face upto the reality which is the herb has helped me but also hindered me more. i have a smoke at a night time to chill me out but now im sat up till 3 in the morning "chilling" on my own, if i wasnt stoned would probably already be asleep. I can function for long days without it so i know its all in the mind, the minute i walk in my house its the first thing i want and as soon as i do that i dnt want to do anything else. I know im going to struggle but it is something i really want to do. i also want to do it without replacing it with another drug or alcohol. i will check back to see how we are all getting along. To anyone else who is embarking on this hard journey i will say good luck be strong and find a person who you can talk to at anytime for support it helps to keep perspective.

i need someone to talk to during my detox.

I have smoked on a daily basis for 11 years and am going on two weeks of not smoking, although I have slipped up a couple times, I only felt guilty afterwards for breaking the promise to myself and my boyfriend. My biggest motivation to quit is my 4 year old daughter. I grew up with parents who smoked right in front of me and I don't want that for her. I have also been with my boyfriend for almost a year and he is a non-smoker who feels I should not have it as apart of my life, being a mother and career woman. It has been a bigger struggle than I could have ever imagined. The only time in the last 11 years that I quit was the 3 weeks after my child was born. On a daily basis, it is all I can think about, when I am outside of work. My mood has been terrible as I get anxiety/stressed/depressed thinking of never smoking again. Marijuana has been the one thing I can turn to when I am stressed or sad that actually calms me, makes me think more rationally and be positive about life in general. I have always struggled with depression and marijuana helped with that, if only for a time. I am now realizing it just masked my depression/anxiety/feelings of not being good enough. I am considering getting a prescription for some sort of mood stabilizer or antidepressant, because this isn't getting any easier. It also doesn't help that my younger sister lives with me and continues to smoke on a daily basis. I thank god for my boyfriend being understanding that this is a struggle for me, but I feel like that will ware thin soon and I can't imagine being able to stay sober if we break up. I have started going to therapy weekly and where I work, I have access to weekly acupuncture and monthly massages. All of these help momentarily, but as soon as I am home for the day, I just want to smoke a bowl so bad! I keep hearing it will get better, but when? I will continue to visit this site daily, as it does help to see others are going through the same thing I am. Any advice would be much appreciated!