I am quitting marijuana primarily for three reasons. I’m currently on my first night, which has been the worst every time I have quit.
1) I live in a state where it’s very hard to come by and its easier to just quit completely than “take a break” until I can find some or take a road trip to Colorado to get some legally
2) I am starting to get wheezing and an especially bad cough, especially on nights of and the day after smoking marijuana
3) Short term marijuana usage has its benefits; increased self-awareness, increased creativity, increased appreciation for the arts and music, etc. However, after smoking chronically for a while these things start to diminish to the point it eventually has the opposite effect.
One thing about marijuana is it isn’t like nicotine and alcohol. You may crave it but your body doesn’t need it. I’ve found keeping myself occupied is the best strategy, but as soon as I am bored I really crave marijuana and wish I could have some and find myself cursing evangelical Christianity and the Republican Party for assuring that I cannot get it where I live.
I had struggled with severe depression for nearly five years and marijuana allowed me to get out of the negative though cycles that kept me there. For that, I am thankful. However, the way I see it is there comes a point where there is no longer a benefit to smoking and it becomes simply an excuse to waste away time. I believe that is where I am at. When I am high and am having those introspective thoughts, that’s how I feel about it. However, between one and three days the cravings are pretty intense.
I don’t doubt that I will be able to quit. For me, nicotine is the real beast. However, I feel I am going to really miss it for a while and hope that when quitting, I don’t end up back in my crushing depression.
For those who have quit marijuana, how did it go and what were the benefits both short term and long term? When did your cravings start to diminish?
credit:soberrecovery.com