This is a thread for my guys who've always wanted to quit smoking weed / marijuana but don't know how to...

This is my life story, guys.

So I started smoking weed sometimes around 2017 ish during my NYSC days and I cannot even lie, it was one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me

You know, the sudden release of so much dopamine to your brain and the sudden burst of numerous feelings in your sensory nerves.

Air smells better, food is tastier, music sounds better, sleep is heavenly and the sex is electrifying. It's almost as if you suddenly connect & understand things better. You become a bit more amplified. And then you feel mellow... depending on the strain you take.

And this right here is what makes it so addictive. You just want to get those dopamine flooding your blood cells again... I laugh when people say weed isn't addictive.

Yes! It isn't addictive in the way Class A hard drugs (Coke and other hard drugs) are but it is still very much addictive.


Slowly, before I know it, that one puff led to over 5 years of constant blazing. I started experimenting with different strains and wrapping papers and before long I'm a full blown pothead who can't function without smoking weed.

Did it affect my career? No.

For me, I think because I started smoking in my late 20s I was able to manage weed and still ran a successful business that did multimillions in monthly revenue. So I can say smoking weed daily did not affect my productivity.

If you're looking at quitting weed, the first thing you should pay attention is this - you are likely to go back to smoking. The chances are very high because...

... according to research, the first thing you should know about quitting smoking is that about 90 -95% of weed-smokers (stoners) will relapse in less than 2 weeks from the day the quit.

So be prepared to relapse. I think I relapsed more than 7 times before staying clean for q month now.

Now, let's talk about how I made it to 1 month without relapsing.

Here a few questions to ask yourself- are you a heavy smoker or a light smoker?

Light smokers can easily go cold turkey on the habit and never return to it while heavy smokers on the other hand have to tapper off.

Which means, reducing the amount of weed you smoke per sesh gradually till you run out.

For me, I was a daily stoner but I smoked in small portions because I have a very low tolerance level. This means that I can smoke 1 joint for a whole day or 2 and it'll still get me very stoned.


- Thinking about quitting is usually the first step.
- then you tapper off. (Bear in mind that you may relapse)

- Let your other stoner friends know especially before you visit. Ask them ahead not to offer you a joint. Because it'll be hard to say No.

- If possible, don't bring your stash back home especially if you stay alone. You'll be tempted to rollup and light one.

- Next step is to discard your smoke apparatus- the ashtray, lighters, papers and your beloved grinder

I dumped all my accessories in the thrash but it didn't stop me. I still relapsed. I smoked even when I had cough. It was so bad I couldn't stop

It just got to a point where I was literally tired of it. Because the highs weren't as fun as it used to be. I mean, I enjoyed it but it became boring and mundane.

I never really had a problem with weed because I managed it properly and only smoked to relax after work or when I'm less busy.

The most vital advantage of quitting for me was that I can now have a peaceful personal interrelationship with friends and family.

If you smoke anything at all regularly, you'll find out that it will make you want to stay alone most times because you'll avoid the constant stress you get from people around you complaining.

So you end up hanging with fellow smokers who may not even be really friends with you and you avoid real family and friends.

The second most vital Pro to quitting weed for me is that I can now enjoy things without being high or having the urge to get high first.

Before now, I go need to smoke before eating in other to get my appetite up and to enjoy the food. I'll smoke while cooking or going any house chores because it makes it more fun.

Also remember to pay attention to your triggers and avoid them

For me, anytime I take more than 2 bottles of beer at a sitting I'll automatically want to light up a joint. So I avoid drinking more than 2 Bo.

Remember to hinge your reason (to quit weed) on something stronger than your will to quit. I mean, if you really had such strong willpower you won't be reading this thread.

For me, my current babe played a role. She doesn't like me smoking one bit! And she made it clear by locking up and denying me sex when I'm faded.

So I said to myself, "this is is a good chance to try to quit"

And I used her as a reason because I didn't want to go to bed high and Hot. Not like I cared about losing her but I cared about quitting so I played along with her.

Lastly, quitting smoking weed after a long spell gives your lungs a chance to heal and rehabilitate it's burnt out tissues .

We are lucky our lungs can heal itself like the liver (depending on the extent of damage inflicted)

Your lungs will have an increased oxygen retaining capacity and you'll have less carbon monoxide in your blood cells.

Once in a while, the urge to rollup a blunt or a joint will hit you so hard you can't even concentrate on what work you have at hand, expect it.

In such situations, I've found out that browsing about it helps a lot. I was craving some good Canadian kush so bad last 2 days after I hung out at a bar and the guy behind me was blazing...

Here's what I did; I logged on to Quora (a discussion forum like Nairaland) and searched for "How to handle your cravings to smoke"


I've found out that reading people's comments and firsthand experience helps to soothe my cravings a lot because it's like listening to someone in your shoes who have been through the same situation and overcame it.

I like to compare it to having a support group of fellow smokers who have passed the addiction recovery stage.


Phew! That was a lot to type. Hope this helps every pothead who's hoping to quit smoking weed!

Feel free to drop a comment. Let's support each other here

I almost forgot a crucial point...

When you quit anything you MUST and should find something else to fill up that void.

Understand that what makes smoking weed pleasurable is the release of dopamine to the bloodstream and brain by THC

So instead of giving your brain free cheap dopamine you'll find other alternatives.

Here are other ways to boost dopamine in the body.

1. Sing along to any song you love. I sing in the shower and it works perfectly because i notice it gives me this instant 'feel good' emotions which is exactly what dopamine does.

2. Exercise. A little pushups or squats will do. Nothing extreme.

3. Take a walk in a place with less cars.

4. Read an article for fun online.

5. Watch a movie or comedy clips.

6. Finish a task on your to-do list. That feeling of accomplishment has been proven to boost dopamine levels in the blood.

Tasks as simple as - wash the dishes, makes the bed, write out the plans for the week anything simple and achievable will do.

7. Shower.

8. Cook.

Okay that's it for now. I'll share some links below to help you with more information:

https://mcwell.nd.edu/your-well-being/physical-well-being/drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/quitting-marijuana-a-30-day-self-help-guide/making-the-decision-and-managing-cravings

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-tips-to-stop-smoking-marijuana-fast

https://www.genesisrecovery.com/benefits-of-quitting-marijuana

Very informative also to add, seek professional help when battling addiction

The O.P had no withdrawal syndrome basically because he smoked just a blunt a day after a productive day, and in his write up he was disciplined and had an engaging routine or business

Like all disease (addiction is an horrible disease) seek proper treatment from a medical and rehabilitation centre, this treatment cost less as they hardly get customers and they work wonders

Babajide Sanwo-Olu was never ashamed as a big boy, and former eco bank director, serving Lagos State Political appointee to go to LASU to seek help on Alcohol addiction, he got sober and got clean now he is the Governor of Lagos State




.

In all you do, never be addicted to anything!

Do not abuse anything!

Life is in phases, and men are in stages!

Nice... For me to get over addiction it a mind thing not pratical. Certainly those tricks might work in the process of giving it up from your mind. I celebrate myself also about winning over my addiction too

Dammn niggaarrs go avoid this thread like plague .

Stopping weed caused major depression in my life.. But thank God I've overcome.. I'm now addicted to food.. I ear 6-7 tikes daily
. right now I want to start working out cause I know with the way am eating I will start loosing shape

It's good you quit, it's for your own good.
Nice article tho.

Mooh247:



Very informative also to add, seek professional help when battling addiction

The O.P had no withdrawal syndrome basically because he smoked just a blunt a day after a productive day, and in his write up he was disciplined and had an engaging routine or business

Like all disease (addiction is an horrible disease) seek proper treatment from a medical and rehabilitation centre, this treatment cost less as they hardly get customers and they work wonders

.

On the contrary, I had withdrawals.

During the first 3 days, it is normal to get quite irritable because you want to take a puff but can't. And it's only natural to get a bit angry and bad tempered if your 'feel good' hormones crashes instantly.

Day 4 to Day 14, I was plagued with mild but constant headaches. The type you feel before the onset of a flu.

It's also safe to say that people react differently to abstinence from substance use after indulging for a long period of time.

Some may have mild headaches coupled with fevers. A little sweating, little tremors, difficulty concentrating & sleeping, nauseas, lack of appetite and nightmares.

I experienced a bulk of these symptoms the first time I tried to quit but only made it to Day 12. This time around it was just the headaches and some vivid dreams.

I think the nightmare part occurs because weed has been proven to cut off a bulk of the sleeping stage called REM (rapid eye movement) which is the stage where one has dreams.

So when you quit expect your dreams to come back with in a full force.

Finally, weed addiction & withdrawals is extremely different & easier to cope with than that experienced by tobacco addicts and other psychoactive drug users... Weed addiction isn't physical, it's more psychology (meaning that one simply misses the feeling and doesn't have a physical need or demanding urge with damaging effects)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797098/#:~:text=Marijuana%20produces%20dependence%20less%20readily,of%20those%20who%20try%20heroin.

Why would I want to stop

Zaheertyler:
Why would I want to stop

That's an important question. If you find no answer to that then why stop? Like I said I was just tired of it, it got boring and I've had my fill.

Edit... So here is an update to this post almost 1 year afterwards ..

I relapsed and fell back to my old habit of smoking.

As I'm typing...

I currently have a blunt in-between my middle finger and my pointing finger🤞while the ring finger and pinky supports the base of my phone as I type.

Hmmm *a deep breath*

I think this may be a more tasking goal than I expected but then. .. I've never really been strong on my will to quit

CandyOps:
For me, I was a daily stoner but I smoked in small portions because I have a very low tolerance level. This means that I can smoke 1 joint for a whole day or 2 and it'll still get me very stoned.

How can you smoke a joint for 1-2 days?
Won't the light go off or you deliberately put the light out.
Pardon my ignorance.

Drella:


How can you smoke a joint for 1-2 days?
Won't the light go off or you deliberately put the light out.
Pardon my ignorance.

No naw, he would be dragging it small small; throughout the night self just so the light won't off.

CamusMidas:

No naw, he would be dragging it small small; throughout the night self just so the light won't off.

Alright thanks.

Drella:


Alright thanks.

Glad I could help.

Damn
Why you put pic of weed

Now I don call my dealer again

CamusMidas:

No naw, he would be dragging it small small; throughout the night self just so the light won't off.

Lol. If the light goes off, you could always light it again

.

suicidesheep:


Lol. If the light goes off, you could always light it again

my guy been no understand how person no go fit finish one joint at a go

Abeg I fit come pick up your remaining stash and tools? Anybody else that want to quit pass me your stash,I know how to dispose of it properly