Quitting weed experiences

Smoker's Lounge
21

i was thinking about this the other day. it seems like its been part of my day/daily for quite some time now.

i have weeks were i dont smoke one or two days - specially if work has been loaded. but it is rare.

I had a break for about 4 or 5 months in 2019. it helped me reset and be less lethargic and more active.

I never intended to quit fully, just give myself a break. I tend to choose more cerebral and sativa weed now and tend to moderate the amount that i smoke (i mainly vape on a dynavap which is a small dose)

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22

Cannabis keeps me going steadily, keeps depression away, makes it easier to choose love and acceptance and to decide which direction my thoughts go, I feel more in control of my inner being, I get energized when it makes sense to do something.

My way of life is to do only what is necessary and what brings me joy, which enables me to help others to live a joyful life.
I have a wonderful family that supports me, this enables me to do my research, my art, my music, my writing, and planning for the future.

Without cannabis all this is just a bit more difficult, I get more easily distracted, less inspired to do anything at all, insomnia returns, less joy, less helpful, less awake, less kind, etcā€¦

Cannabis does something to my body that makes it easier for me to live the life I intend to live.
Makes it easer for me to be who I want to be, a kind person.

Daily, before breakfast, I eat 1/3rd of a teaspoon of two different batches, decarbed at 100 C / 212 F for 1 hr 11 mins and 2 hr 22 mins. This way of decarbing creates a wider spectrum of canabinoids and acts as a mood stabilizer for me throughout the day.

I donā€™t need massive peaks of debilitating ecstasy anymore, just a slow release, mellow feeling of ease instead of moodswings and anxiety.

It has become an essential part of my life and no hair on my head is thinking about ever quitting. Unwanted side effects are nonexistent, it is essential, highly efficient natural herbal medicine.

Itā€™s all about intent.

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23

I have been a daily toker for 40 years, and have taken a couple of 3-6 month breaks in the last 2 decades. The most profound effect was resumption of deep remembered dreaming. If you donā€™t have nightmare type issues then that in itself can be wonderful. Physically, the breathing and energy level get a bit better, on a daily basis. Mood change is inevitable and other things to be aware of can cause some unpleasantness. Share with a close friend, perhaps a non-smoking,non-family member ,if available, for support.

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24

You need a distraction and a responsibility.

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25

I feel like after smoking so much also indica sativa deal goes out the window until i cut down and try it in the morning.

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26

Youā€™ll be grumpy and probably have some anxiety and trouble sleeping for a bit, but youā€™ll be fine. I still run out between harvests sometimes and I become a little bit of an asshole for however many days it takes to get some d8 in the mail. Iā€™m actually out right now and would be real grumpy if not for the Kratom.

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27

Microdosing psilocybin mushrooms / truffels while taking a break can definitely help.

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28

Been using every day for maybe five years straight. Decided to cold turkey from October 2021 to right before thanksgiving of this year. The first few weeks were definitely an awkward adjustment. Foggy head, stomach a bit wonky which made eating food a challenge. Just tried to stay hydrated and exercise a lot. The adjustment wasnā€™t too bad. I have definitely become more efficient with my time and I also have been doing more with my life. Now that Iā€™m smoking again, I only smoke before and after exercise and at night. Discipline, motivation, mental fortitude have all become stronger. There will be days when I will have a reason/excuse to be high all day, but if those days happen, it will only be once a week.

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29

Weā€™ve talked about this a little but I have so much weed that if I didnā€™t set boundaries Iā€™d smoke 15 joints a day.

Now I rarely smoke except on special occasions (or 3am if I canā€™t sleep) or to test a new harvest or out of curiosity about somebody elseā€™s harvest. Even then I only take a few puffs. Mostly itā€™s about aesthetics.

Same thing happened when I was distilling.

Mostly itā€™s a habit. Smoking joints? Switch to a bong for awhile. Or hash. Not to stop smoking but to break the habit you are currently in. And depending on how much you smoke a little weening is a good idea.

Detox symptoms exist but are no big deal. Iā€™ve withdrawn from much more difficult things.

Best of luck.

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30

I use weed for my ADHD and GAD. Iā€™ve been off for a couple of times but the longest are a year.

I donā€™t have any problem with quiting itself. Itā€™s not like stop using tobacco or something like that. But I get very vivid dreams and tons of absolutly insane nightmares for about a month or two, after I stop using cannabis.

With my ADHD I canā€™t handle stress on my own and it accumulates over time, so for every day it just get worse and worse until I hit the dirt and are totally burned out. Have happend two times to me and itā€™s the worst thing ever. This is what happends to me If I quit smoking.

So cannabis help me release the stress every day, so I can go on being myself. Will never quit again!

Pz :v:t2:

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31

Consider vaping It,It Is very more intense and stronger as High,It also helps your lunga and the quantity needed Is a lot less than smoking it
@LonelyOC

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32

Well looks like most of us just get high every day every time.

And most of us use cannabis as a mood ballancer.

I have been smoking for probably 19 years now and I remember the crushing hights from a few hits on a joint, today my resistance is way far from those days.

And occasionally I think it is good to make a T brake.

The true is that weed has more positive effects than negative and I only thought about quit before start planting because covid made borders pass harder and prices reached the sky.

I had to choose or quit or plant my stash, I went the easy way.

Appart from being medicated, it is a lovely hobbie to grow this plants and very rewarding when everyting goes well.

Honestly I think that quit weed is a step down and a overkill, most of my friends that got married and have childreen have quitted weed but they still need it because they stop smoking but replaced that with the tavern afternoons hitting beer cans.

So I eventually got to OG and with the propper help from you I got well and like to grow. I also developed a wide bridge with smoking accessories, smoker culture and 420.

Last but not less important is the individual freedom and if quit is your choice, just be aware of the replacement addictions and good luck.

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33

Iā€™ve quit repeatedly over the years, and find it to be easy, IF I really am committed to it. I get irritable for a few days and thatā€™s about it. Thereā€™s no withdrawal or effects other than psychological.

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34

Like you Beacher I donā€™t use much weed I try to keep it minimal and avoid using it during the day unless the pain levels are high.

I have cut out weed for 4 years while waiting to emigrate to Canada, it was OK no real problems, just a hankering now and then for a puff.

Last year when I was doing my 6 day fasts once a month, I was cutting out the weed as well which gave better mental clarity which I really enjoyed, but the increase in pain levels, and lack of sleep was not so good.

Prior to going to WCB permanent injury exams, I would cut out the weed for about 10 days, so I was at max pain levels, but it would piss off Mrs Shadey as I would be moaning and groaning trying to do anything and I would be easily irritated and short tempered from the pain and lack of sleep.

Like Rogue, I find when micro dosing the shrooms I use less weed and donā€™t feel I need it at all sometimes. I think you have to take an honest look as to whether itā€™s needed or just become a habit and reduce its use to as much as you need it, not want it, as your brain is always wanting that dopamine response. That can be a problem when we grow so much and have an unlimited supply, you just have to be more observant of the benefits to negatives, its use brings to you and adjust accordingly.

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35

I quit last year around August, and was sans cannabis for almost a year.

For me, itā€™s been like anything Iā€™ve quit - instant and no regrets and/or side effects. Itā€™s not always like that for everyone, but I attribute that to God, nothing Iā€™ve done. Alcohol was my bad, BAD habit. Praise the Lord, thatā€™s gone now. Slowly after a year of not having any, I came to the conclusion that more responsibility was needed on my part to control the proper use of cannabis. For me, itā€™s pain relief from old joints and back pain. The effect of the year long hiatus? A lot of back and joint pain.

Weed free vs. stoner? Responsibility. Do you sit around all day on the couch and just be a slug - That behavior is to me a ā€˜stonerā€™ vibe. Weed free, In my opinion, is more of the balance you will find once you put the cannabis into the category you need it to fit into. You may, or may not ever be cannabis free. ALL things given from God, are useful, but not all are beneficial - Thatā€™s for you to search out and see. The pain relief I get from this miraculous plant cannot be denied, and I wonā€™t cause myself to suffer needlessly. Just always, in my mind, responsibility, responsibility.

Itā€™s hard for me (even now), knowing as much as I like to smoke it, and I know my lungs would greatly benefit from a reduction - of which this last round of illness has provided to me. Iā€™m looking into vaping again, and/or edibles. But that doesnā€™t take away the desire to be pain free, so Iā€™m still looking into that.

Whomever the Son sets free - He is free indeed. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, itā€™s a journey well worth your time and examination. God bless @beacher :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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36

I was smoking Mexican weed in the 60ā€™s and later but it wasnā€™t regular. I was smoking cigarettes and i can tell you quitting cigs was WAY, WAY harder than quitting weed. About 13 years ago I moved to Humboldt and weed was everywhere I began growing in earnest and was smoking daily and loving it. But after a year or two, I just wasnā€™t getting high as much as stoned which i donā€™t care for, plus looking at my little bubbler, brown with tars from weed smoke, had me wondering what my lungs looked like. So I put a day between smokes. Next year 2 days and so on. Now i smoke maybe 3 times in two weeks and i enjoy the high. If i go 3 weeks I really enjoy it. The only side effects i feel are a craving to smoke the next day. But if Iā€™m busy, especially in the summer when iā€™m gardening, i have no problem. In the winter when itā€™s rainy and cold, and Iā€™m not so busy, smoking is more tempting.
The thing about weed, a lot depends on your physiology. Some can smoke a fatty to a roach and be just fine. I cant. I smoke more than 4 or 5 tokes on a slim joint and sometimes i become a couch potato which I never liked.
But i do like growing weed. Itā€™s so responsive and almost magical (to me) But Iā€™ve got enough filled jars to last me 40 years! I canā€™t give it way fast enough because many of my friends have quit. I like sativa, but this year Iā€™m going to grow some indica to make bed time cookies which I take for sleep. Might be the last grow for me, but I doubt it.
If youā€™re having problems or worries about quitting, try easing off a little every dayu or week or month in a way that suits you. Itā€™s not that hard, really. Good luck!

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37

I started smoking at 15, at 16 it really picked up and I smoked every day for 7 years.

Long story short, I got a dog. One day I was getting high, looked at my dog, and realized she needed to go out on a walk to feel joy. I started walking my dog more and felt pretty good about it, so I decided to take a break from smoking. A week turned into a month, and I decided to get high again. It was pretty great, so I smoked for about a month, and then I took another break that lasted about 6 months. Then I came back and weed was fucking strooooong.

This went on for almost 2 years, then I got into a trade union, so Iā€™m an occasional weekend warrior at best. I grow weed because I had a mentor who taught me quite a bit about growing weed, and he died during covid lockdowns, which coincided with alot of personal strife. But I digressā€¦

When you know you can quit, weed stops having so much power over your life. The anxiety about not smoking goes away entirely. Iā€™ll occasionally get bummed I canā€™t smoke, but it doesnā€™t really go beyond that.

My life has improved significantly since I changed my relationship with weed, but the changes started before I quit, so its not as though weed was holding me back entirely, but the life I wanted didnā€™t have being a stoner as a part of my identity, where as it most certainly was a part of my identity beforehand. Now, it has a different, more fulfilling place in my life.

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38

I quit for a month once, it was hard in the beginning, but then got easier as the weeks went on.

Admittedly that was a long time ago, and most breaks these days are when I go on vacation. Not smoking feels quite different when you arenā€™t in a place where you usually consume - you might want to try a short trip or something just to be somewhere else for a bit.

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39

wow so many different experiences. please note that im not judging anyone who doesnt intend to ever stop smoking, trust me i get it. i never thought my plant friend would turn on me lol

i quit drinking and cigarettes a while ago, no problem these drugs are so blatantly detrimental thats its a real no brainer. weed is so much more subtle and nuanced.

ill stick with my few puffs after dark for a couple more weeks to get my tolerance way down (and get through the holidays lol). if i do quit ill report back here after a bit. in the meantime please keep sharing all, this is a very interesting thread!

@nefrella you have a great take on this thanks!

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40

Thatā€™s whatā€™s up @Rogue ā€¦ youā€™re my kind of human :+1:

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