Benefits of being off weed

**Posts:** 105 · by **bawdyheated** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:14 am

wakinglife wrote:There are so many of us who take breaks from the herb only to get back on it once we're feeling better. I am listing all of the benefits that I have personally noticed since I have quit. My stats are: smoked off and on for 21 years (started at age 12), chronic for the last 5. I have not smoked in 31 days, and with the support of this forum I hope to never go back to abusing the stuff.

Here are the benefits I have experienced. I invite you to add your own, or do your own inventory at home to keep you on track. (Yes, I am aware that there is some overlap between different benefits I am listing.)

Clear thinking; breathe better; smoother mood transitions; sharper mental dexterity; more articulate; better memory; working through stress more effectively; increased energy levels; reduced depression (after the first few weeks off); deeper interactions with others; no "bottomless pit" munching out; boosted confidence; no social anxiety; better focus on task at hand; enjoying simple pleasures more deeply; clear lungs; no concern about hiding something from my son; less stress; increased faith in my ability to control myself; no risk of arrest or legal troubles; increased joy; renewed self-respect; more free time; need to sleep less; more free cash; confidence to try new things; increased humility: asking others for help; better partnership with my girlfriend; better ability to learn and remember new songs (I'm a musician); can travel without paranoia of border checks; safer driving; ho hassles of finding good weed; no need to associate with shady dealers; not supporting organized crime; true bonds with friends rather than co-dependent drug abuse ties; better fitness level; reduced consumption of resources (ex. hydro power to grow the weed, chemical sprays and fertilizers, lighters/matches, rolling papers); new doors opening to spirit world (somewhere I only used to get to via cannabis); increased self-confidence to be "alternative" in ways other than drug use; confidence to take on any task I set my mind to; ability to strike up conversation with anyone I choose without fear or insecurity; no paranoia; increased motivation for self-improvement; feeling of wholeness that is not reliant on an external source.

That's over 40 benefits that I have encountered. I'd love to hear yours. I know that people who are struggling through the early days of withdrawal can use all the encouragement they can get, so please keep them coming!

I'd also be happy to debate or discuss any of the aforementioned benefits if you have had a different experience quitting cannabis.

Peace.

Edit: Go straight to the massive list here:

http://www.uncommonforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=264268&highlight=#264268

Best is, having more free time. I no longer needing to ‘steal’ all that time from my work, family and hobbies to find time to get high and to find and buy drugs

**Posts:** 198 · by **Prycejosh1987** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:00 pm

There are lots of benefits not being on weed. Smoking weed is even worse than smoking cigarettes. People say its better but weed does more damage to the body rather than smoking cigarettes.

**Posts:** 1503 · by **wakinglife** » Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:59 pm

Living weed free leaves the fires in my heart burning bright, ready to step into situations that used to scare me. Example: I go for a weekly cold swim in the ocean with a couple of pals. Definitely a shock to the system that reconnects me to the elements and my body. It feels good to be brave, and enjoy life with unbridled ferocity!

**Posts:** 331 · by **olskoolru** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:41 pm

Wow. I love that this thread is still going strong. I’ve not been in Uncommon for at least 3-4 years I believe.

Benefit:

In my first two years of recovery, I was obsessively on UF looking for answers to my insane PAWS episodes. EVERY...SINGLE... DAY. Now I can barely remember what year I quit because I am fully living life and the obsession about “what is happening to me” is gone thanks to UF and my guardian angel therapist.

Hang in there everyone.

Ru

**Posts:** 57 · by **TrueReality** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 4:33 am

So inspiring Waking life. I am in day 49 and have also used this forum off and on over the past decade or more probably. This time I know it's for real.
I am waking up around 3am every day, go to bed at 9pm, practice yoga and healthy eating. It is nice to have feelings again and not have to mask last traumas but instead deal with them and go deep into a healing space, daily.
I have been up again at 3am and am just writing as a stream if consciousness. Will be reading the benefits to remind me why I quit: thank you.
I do not obsessively use this forum but do find it beneficial to read the posts now and then.
I have not had any negative affects this time round, usual dreams etc but feel like me again if that makes sense. I feel that while high and having no worries was not my authentic self and sh** was only getting dealt with when it had to, ie financial, relationships etc.
Now things are better than ever even though the availability of good product is higher than ever.
Thank you all the food people for sharing your experiences.
Thank you you waking life for being such an inspiration over the years for so many people.
Live love love

**Posts:** 1503 · by **wakinglife** » Thu Feb 04, 2021 2:48 pm

Benefit: Being able to support friends who are quiting cannabis. Recently a couple of people have asked me for advice about how to quit. It feels great to be able to lend a supportive hand to someone who is reaching out.

I have not ingested any cannabis products since 2006. Creeping up on 15 years, this journey of clarity and discovery of my full potential keeps on evolving.

A shout out to those of you who are ready to make a change. You found this place. Now it's time to add your voice and start implementing the tips you gain. Your life is about to gradually keep getting better!

WL

**Posts:** 50 · by **Dale_znovic** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 6:03 am

if you cannot get rid of the weed i would highly recommend you to go for a theraphy

**Posts:** 1503 · by **wakinglife** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 4:16 pm

So glad I decided to try living without my weed crutch. Even when life gets hard, in spite of occasional cravings for escape, I have the inner discipline to do what needs to be done: I step up to the challenges and consistently feel better now than I did when I was a cannabis smoker.

Pro tip: there is a sub-Reddit called "Leaves" that is very active with lots of discussion from people who are quitting. Uncommonforum will always be my "go to" resource, but it's good to have multiple supports in place.

Whether you're just contemplating quitting, you're on day 1, or you're really living life without weed, I wish you well!

WL

**Posts:** 1 · by **_Overlord** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:51 pm

After reading so many posts to motivate me after my decision to stop weed, I have to post mine and share my own story. (please excuse my english as it is not my first langage).

I smoked my first joint at 15yo and start to smoke everyday around 17 or 18 yo. I’m now nearly 39… Counting all these years being a pothead (with some stoppings of max. 2 months and trials to decrease) brings me so many regrets…
As this topic suggests it, I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of giving up this bad habit but I don’t feel it much yet and I guess I have to write about the bad sides to make my redemption.

As a teeneger, I was a shy guy with social anxiety and beside the fun of being high with friends , I probably used weed alone to manage my anxiety and family issues. Weed was my way to escape.

I will not explain all my life since then with all the ups and downs but after a recent breakup with a girl, I feel so tired with my life. No kids, a job I don’t like anymore, and the depressing feeling of having wasted so many years. I have though about suicide and although stopping weed will not resolve everything, it is for sure the first step to change my life and be happy again…

It’s been two weeks now and the first week was horrible. I feel depressed but I know that’s part of the withdrawals symptoms for an old addict like me. I feel tired as I still don’t sleep very well but I’m motivated to stay sober and work on what I want to change in my life and feel the positive aspects of this decision.

Sorry for this "creepy" post but it helps me on my reboot. Thank you for reading me and encourage me if you feel like and thank you to Wakinglife (during so many years!) and all of you for posting all the benefits of living without weed.

I will post on the benefits when I will feel it and be in a better mood.

Cheers and peace to all of you rebooters!

**Posts:** 1503 · by **wakinglife** » Thu Apr 08, 2021 2:23 pm

Benefit: stability of emotions even during trying times.

I was just notified that a 3rd person at my workplace has tested positive for COVID-19. It's a stressful situation. Back in my weed haze days I'd be feeling extra jagged emotionally, and paranoid. Now I have the presence of mind to follow the steps to keep myself safe, without getting pulled in to a spin cycle of rumination.

I'm glad I made the decision to try facing life without weed. I'm also grateful for this community-- I couldn't have done it alone. This forum is awesome.

WL

**Posts:** 1503 · by **wakinglife** » Wed May 12, 2021 2:33 pm

Quit Lit

Since taking a break from booze (much easier for me to leave behind than cannabis) I've been listening to podcasts about overcoming addiction. A few of them made reference to "Quit Lit" (like "Chick Lit," but for recovery). After listening to an interview with Neal Pollack I picked up his book: "Pothead: My Life as a Marijuana Addict in the Age of Legal Weed."

I'm 60 pages in, and enjoying his cringe-inducing reminders of the life I have chosen to leave behind. The writing is over the top, and rather hilarious at times.

Do you have any Quit Lit titles that have inspired you on your journey?

(Benefit: ability to read and remember what I've read. The ability to laugh at what a dumbass I was in my stoner days, while still having compassion for my younger self.)

WL

**Posts:** 1503 · by **wakinglife** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:19 pm

Almost went into a dispensery the other day. Not to buy weed, but "just to look" -- man, my inner pot addict voice is ridiculous!

I'm glad I didn't. Since I stopped drinking at the end of last summer my inner addict's voice has become slightly more active. I am doing my best to stay aware of it, and allow feelings to pass when they arise. (Mindfulness has been helping in this regard.)

I put a day counter app on my phone to help me stay alcohol free. For weed, it shows me years and months. Well past 14 years, 10 months. I look forward to celebrating 15 years free from weed on July 22nd.

Even if these posts are just a place for me to check in, they help me stay on track.

Cheers to all who are putting in tbe work to free themselves from addiction. Life is better without being enslaved by addictive thought patterns!

WL

**Posts:** 1503 · by **wakinglife** » Tue Jun 22, 2021 2:11 pm

In one month I will celebrate 15 years of cannabis free living. The first weeks were hard. At 6 months to one year I felt significantly better. At 1 year, I'd say I was back to 100%. Every year since then I've been gradually growing beyond 100 percent.

Putting down the weed was the single biggest decision I"ve taken to improve every aspect of my life.

For those newly starting on this path. Power through the early days. Take it from someone who's been there: Life beyond weed gets way better!

WL

**Posts:** 1503 · by **wakinglife** » Thu Jul 08, 2021 8:33 pm

July 22nd, 2006

That is my cannabis quit date. In two weeks from now (if I don't slip) I will have lived 15 years without ingesting cannabis. I am posting as a "note to self" before heading on a road trip to my hometown. There are friends there who still smoke. Most of them are supportive of my decision to live weed free. They are not the ones I worry about: this guy (me) is the only person who can decide whether I smoke of not.

Since my life has significantly improved since I stopped smoking weed everyday, I'm going to make the decision to stay on track. Besides, any nostalgic longing for the "good old days" when we'd hotbox my friend's 1978 Civic, are just that: good OLD days. They are in the past, where they belong. Yes, I had fun smoking weed with my buddies growing up. But now, as a grown-as$ed man, I have evolved. There are new ways for me to get "high" -- night-swimming, jumping into the lake off some safe cliffs, being open and vulnerable and deeply connecting with others, riding mountain bikes and paddleboards, ripping around in motorized watercraft, and just the simple joys of breathing in the sweet fragrance of hot summer air.

This trip is going to be awesome. Weed free, and loving life!

WL

**Posts:** 8 · by **Philoctetes** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:31 pm

As I said, I a am not a smoker, but the ex of one smoker. I have read lots of posts in this forum; they are really interesting and they helped me a lot. I think I have understood the benefits of quitting weed, they are so clear that I wonder why people keep smoking Which are the "benefits". Why people do smoke?

Thanks to everyone

(English is not my mother tongue)

Benefits of being off weed

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