Benefits of being off weed

Happy to be celebrating 4/20 without cannabis!

In the early years after quitting, this date felt like a true test of my commitment to living without weed. As the time goes by, I now feel a sense of pride to be off the pot as this day rolls around again. I'm even contemplating writing a Facebook post "outing" myself as a former pothead-- although, as a high school teacher, I slightly fear judgment by my colleagues.

Whether I decide to make that post or not, I have decided one thing: I am choosing not to consume any cannabis today!

Cheers to you if you are choosing to let go of your self-limiting addiction to weed.

WL

It's good for me to keep checking in here regularly, as a reminder of how far I've come. I appreciate the people who share their honest experiences here, whether they're brand new, updating us, or have come back after a slip.

Since so much time has passed since I last smoked, there is actually a chance that I'll forget why I quit in the first place. For example, my old inner pothead was rationalizing as I spoke to my friend who grows the other day. I couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth when I said, "Although I don't smoke any more, it might be good for me to grow a plant or two that I could donate to someone who needs it for medical reasons."

It's a generous and altruistic thought, but not a great plan for someone who spent the better part of a decade trying to cut back or quit. It's through reading people's posts on here that I get the reality check reminder that weed is not something I can take lightly. If I grew it I'd end up smoking some. No two ways about it.

My life is better without it. I think all this time in self-islolation (due to the pandemic) is just getting to me.

Thanks for being here, fellow UncommonForum posters. Together we help each other achieve great things!

WL

Benefit: Clarity of mind to show up for friends in need

As the days approach my Quit-iversary I am still grateful that I no longer ingest cannabis. Last week my friend invited me to take a trip to his new place (a day's drive from where I live). He lost his wife to suicide and is starting a new life back in the area where we both grew up. He wanted me to see how his kids are coping and see the new home they just moved into. In my smoking days, I would likely have made an excuse (the current COVID pandemic would have been reason enough not to go there). But, in spite of the time and effort (and mild to moderate anxiety of leaving my safe bubble) I made the trip. We spent part of the 3 day visit talking about the elephant in the room (his wife's death), and I felt that my clear-headed and attentive presence made a positive impact on him. He truly appreciated that an old friend would show up for him when he reached out.

Just one more benefit of being off weed!

WL

2 days until my Quit-iversary!

July 22, 2006 is a day that makes me proud-- finally taking the step to stop smoking weed. Of course, at that time it was just another attempt. I had no idea I'd make it this far.

I keep posting here because this is the online community that actually allowed me to drop this insidious habit. I am happy if my posts help others, but I admit that they also help me. This might seem crazy, but I'll share it. I have been questioning my use of alcohol lately (thinking about quitting off-and-on for a few years). The hangovers at my age (47) are just brutal if I have too much. I must be a sensitive person, because I can even feel a difference when I've had only one or two pints the night before. So, the point here is not to blather on about my diminishing enjoyment of booze; the real point is sharing an insight about my "weed addict" brain. Yesterday I had the clear thought, "Maybe once July 22 rolls around you can choose that date to quit drinking and replace it with using cannabis responsibly."

What the actual F? I'm 14 years weed free, living a life that is truly more joyous and fulfilling than anything I could have imagined, and a voice in my head suggests I can go back to using weed in moderation?

Nah-uh! Not gonna do it.

Clearly there are things going on under the surface that need my attention. There is no freakin' way I am running back into the arms of mama ganga after I have already individuated myself. I am a strong, courageous human being, and I am going to do what it takes to keep on living this beautiful life without weed.

Thanks for being here. YOU are the reason I am no longer addicted to cannabis.

WL

Good to see you here, wakinglife. You're an inspiration!

I was out paddleboarding with a friend yesterday and he was asking about my experiences quitting cannabis. Like me, he started in his early teens. Unlike me, he is still smoking fairly regularly. It felt great to be able to share my journey with him, partly as a way of acknowledging how far I've come (from smoking daily, to zero cannabis in my body).

Sidebar: we got onto the topic of whether alcohol or cannabis is more harmful. We both agreed: cannabis is likely less physically harmful than regularly drinking alcohol in excess. However, we both also admitted that we prefer cannabis, and that booze is not something we crave (nor feel strongly dependent on).

I made the leap to share that if I was a person who was actually capable of using cannabis responsibly (i.e. every once in a while), I would quit drinking and be an occasional pot smoker. This is the dilemma: everything I know about my personal history with weed is that I am NOT able to use in moderation. (I can use alcohol in moderation, as I don't enjoy it as much as weed, and I loathe being hungover.

Rhetorical question:
Would it not be better for my health to quit drinking, and use cannabis as my social party substance?

(Don't answer that.)

I already know that it makes sense rationally, but my inner pot addiction is NOT rational (it's more primal/body/emotional).

There is a big part of me that knows going back to smoking occasionally is not a wise plan. However, there is still that tiny voice ("what's the harm?") that pops up every now and then.

It is so valuable for me to have a non-judgmental and supportive space to share these thoughts. As an external processor, just getting the words clear enough in my mind to put them on the page helps me see my own folly (and that my deepest wise inner self knows what is actually right for me).

Peace, friends!

WL

Hey WL
your deepest wise inner self is serving you well, it's great to hear you're still on the strong path.

I've recently reached the 3 years and 6 months mark since quitting cannabis and I'm in a good, happy, positive place.

The only time I've been tempted was way back towards the end of day one, I remember thinking ' I'll see how I feel tomorrow '. The next day I went to work and when I got home I just felt so proud I had gone 2 days without it, I had clarity of mind and have never looked back.

I did go through all the physical withdrawal symptoms, sweats, lack of sleep, restlessness etc. After all, I had smoked cannabis daily and quite heavily for 30 years!

A bit later came the PAWS (post acute withdrawal symptoms), emotional stress, feelings of emptiness.

Eventually all these things passed and I now find myself having clear, positive thoughts, i can work through problems constructively and with a positive attitude. My relationships with family and friends is warm and loving and not clouded in the fuzzy, emotionally dulled thinking of being stoned!

Anyway, I'm rambling a bit here! Thank you WL, and all who post on here, you've all helped me greatly, and continue to do so.

Much peace to you all

Rik.

Dear Wakinglife,

First I came across this site and your posts around 2007 when I was searching for help. My story is very similar to yours (time of addiction, time of being clean and also we have similar age). Since then I come occasionally to check what new posts do you have in your thread “benefits of being of weed”.

So the reason I have decided to register now at this forum after 13 years is that I would like to share what helps me when I would like to go and get something to smoke. You have written few times about your cravings, your dilemmas of possible occasional usage. I also do have these cravings even after more than 10 years of been clean…. I thought that this will disappear but no, it didn’t.

I have found out when does this usually happens, these thoughts to get something to smoke. So whenever I’m thinking to go and buy some staff, whenever my mind start playing tricks on me that it’s ok to relax little bit, it’s only for once etc. I ask my self a question: “What am I trying to escape from? Which problem am I exaggerating right now?” When I answer that I find out that I’m just looking for an escape, escape from usually a problem that I have exaggerated in my head, problem that can be solved but I’m making big thing out of it and keep myself tense and thinking about that unfortunate “first joint help”. This eases my tension and craving.

Maybe it helps to someone out there. Good luck whoever is reading this. And thank you WL for still posting.

I'm now 4 months clean.

My benefit of being off weed is sanity - I was insane whenever I was high. In fact, it exacerbated schizophrenia for me. You'd think I would stop after my diagnosis, but I never could for the longest time.

It's nice to be sane for 4 months now.

Benefit: feeling confident to make decisions that suit ME, rather than trying to fit in or seek the approval of others.

"How?" you ask.

I have been a social drinker for the entirety of my adult life. I have decided to take a booze break, and I just passed 50 days alcohol free.

Feeling healthy, sparky, sharp, and full of life!

Thank you WakingLife for all your positive energy. I've been lurking and following your posts for years now.

Finally, I think I'm going to make it quitting weed this time. I've been a smoker for about 20 years, most of that time daily. I've tried many times to quit, but never felt as great as this time. I'm nearing 2 months off, which has to be a record, and never felt mentally and spiritually better in my life.

The feeling of being sober is so much better than being high!

Awesome to hear, Bruce!

Thanks for adding to this thread, and know that your positive posts (or real struggles) keep the ripples moving outwards, inspiring other people to try living cannabis free!

Two months is a solid start. Keep us posted on your progress.

WL

This thread has been alive for more than 50% of my time spent addicted to cannabis, I might have even contributed to this thread before. All of my attempts until recently had failed. Looking back I think I knew they would, I did and didn't want to quit. I liked the idea of quitting but wasn't prepared to go through with it. Until recently it seemed like so much to leave behind. It was such a significant part of my life. This thread focuses on the benefits of being off weed. I wanted to experience those benefits but I couldn't overcome the challenge of freeing myself from addiction. It had been weighing on my mind over the last year again. I wanted to stop. I didn't pick a date but after missing work one day (June 14th) because I stayed up too late, too stoned the night before, I decided it was enough. I just stopped and haven't looked back. Here are some of the benefits I've experienced:

1. Less quilt, actually no quilt anymore about being a stoner, because I'm not. Even as it became legal in my country and more socially acceptable it was always something that bugged me. My inner voice knew I had a problem with it and that always made me feel guilty for not doing something about it. I love being free from that feeling.

2. Mood, my mood is more stable now. Its not always up, or always down but the swings are less drastic and I can recover more quickly when down and my ups are more enjoyable. The anger that came initially when I quit has faded back to my old laid back stoner attitude. I thought being a stoner gave me some sort of a "cool" factor, the laid back guy who took things in stride. I'm still that guy, in fact I'm even better at it now because my mood is more controlled.

3. Eating, I still probably could get a better handle on my diet. I really like junk food but I don't go as overboard now as I use to.

4. Relationships. I care more about relationships now. They get more attention and effort from me. I do more for the people in my life now and I'm not so self-centered.

5. Productivity. Productivity in my work (generally speaking) and especially in my hobbies has gone way up. I took on more hobbies with all my new found "free" time and my existing hobbies get more attention. I don't smoke and then end up fiddling on my phone for 30 minutes instead of focusing on my hobbies (woodworking, for example). Added bonus I'm not stoned and using power tools.

6. Time is more structured. When I was a stoner I'd avoid certain things or do things in certain ways, make plans in certain ways so that I could include time for smoking and getting high.

7. I can drive at any time. Before I'd have to refuse driving my kids somewhere if I was too stoned to drive. I'd have to ask my wife or try to find alternate transportation. If it was close enough we'd have to walk. Now I can drive anytime I need to.

8. Old memories. Strangely some old memories that I haven't thought about in years have resurfaced. Some good, some bad, some neutral. Not sure why this is occurring but its fascinating to remember stuff that I probably haven't thought of in 20+ years.

9. I care about myself. When I was a stoner there was a part of me that didn't care as much about myself. I see myself as someone who I need to be responsible for again. I know I can't improve if I don't give myself the attention I need.

10. More control. I like the fact that since I'm sober all the time I have more control over the decisions I make. I'm less likely to eat the entire bag of chips, or buy some thing I found on amazon on the spur of the moment. I'm less impulsive and more controlled in almost everything I do.

I'm five months clean. There are still struggles and some days are hard. I suffer from depression sometimes and anxiety. Its not all good, but its a lot better than it was. I feel more hopefull than I have in a long time. I'm getting more out of life and I really enjoy being true to what I want from my time on earth and serving others in a meaningful way.

Great post... all those things are true reflections and if you keep choosing not to smoke, you won't. Whether we acknowledge it or not, getting high is a choice. Keep doing the right things.. pleased for you.

Dearest Waking Life...I jumped to this last page and saw you mention quitting the booze, and then the line about replacing it with Pot. I know you came to your senses, and never doubted that for a second. I just had to respond, because I am approaching 3 years with no Alcohol, pot or cigarettes. I am truly clean and sober, due to the 12 step program of AA.
Weed was my addiction, and I preferred the rooms of AA, so I'd quit everything. Yes I relapsed since my last quit when you actually quit, 14 years ago. The bennies from being sober are endless. No hangovers, being present for teenage daughter, and everyone else out there who needs me to shed light in the darkness.
These substances are a subtle foe, and your guard has to always be up, I have found. Doesn't matter how many years we have in, addiction wants us back. So, on to more benefits: Closer relationship with God. Turn my will over to Him and have a tremendously better life for it.
I'll be back...God bless you W.L. I always loved the Poet/Artist in you! So proud of your accomplishment. And so happy to see you still inspiring everyone
-Susan