Ways to Stop Smoking Weed: The Most Common Methods

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When people begin to arrive at the realization that their marijuana use is getting out of hand, and to recognize their own reasons to stop smoking weed, it’s common for them to try several ways to stop smoking weed. However, the most commonly attempted ways to stop smoking weed tend not to be successful—so if you’re considering trying these, you might reconsider and move on to a more fruitful method of quitting. For most users, active membership in Marijuana Anonymous (MA) is the actual answer to the question of how to quit smoking marijuana, although many people resist trying MA and waste their time on the following methods first.              

Ways to Stop Smoking Weed: Switching to Another Substance—And Why It Doesn’t Work

When a person first recognizes that smoking weed is getting out of hand and causing problems in their life, one of the natural ways to stop smoking weed often seems to be the idea of switching to beer or other alcohol instead.  Alcohol is legal, after all, and doesn’t carry the same stigmas as illegal drugs, and one probably thinks one can enjoy a beer in place of the joint to achieve a similar effect of a buzz, without the adverse side-effects of the weed.

However, a person whose use of weed has already become problematic is likely to use alcohol in exactly the same way—that is to say, problematically. Marijuana and alcohol are considered “gateway drugs” to one another, because the use of one so often leads to use of the other. And once a person’s inhibitions are removed by a beer (or a few), he’s likely enough to return to the weed as well, compounding the problem by using both substances.

Ways to Stop Smoking Weed: Cutting Back—And Why It Doesn’t Work

Another of the favorite ways to stop smoking weed is the promise-to-self to cut back on consumption. Someone who realizes his use is causing him trouble will theorize that it’s okay to continue using, so long as he uses less than he has been. Probably the reason why this line of thinking is so popular is because a person using weed has gotten some enjoyment out of it, and even if the use is becoming less fun than it once was, it’s a difficult step to take to admit that it’s time to quit altogether.

However, for most people whose use has gotten out of hand, there’s already addiction at play, and addiction doesn’t bow to trifles like promises. Particularly once the inhibitions are removed by a first joint, the impulse to keep going is more than most people can overcome with mere willpower. For almost every problem user, the struggle to control consumption eventually ends in the realization that they need to truly figure out how to stop smoking weed.

Ways to Stop Smoking Weed: Setting “Rules”—And Why it Doesn’t Work

Along the same lines as trying to cut back, another of the popular and misguided ways to stop smoking weed is the attempt to set rules or parameters on usage.  A person makes the resolution only to use on the weekends, for example, or to use with a marijuana vaporizer, or never to use alone. There are any number of variations to the parameters people set for themselves, but they ultimately apprehend that setting strictures is actually not how to stop smoking pot, and that a more comprehensive program will have to be attempted.

In all of these scenarios, the user is most likely to acknowledge eventually that they need to stop their substance use altogether.  At that point, it’s time to turn to the effective ways to stop smoking weed—the ones that involve fully quitting—like Marijuana Anonymous.


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The Have I Got A Problem website is a free online resource to help people better understand any issues or concerns they may have about mental health or addiction. The website includes resources specifically focused to; general Mental Health, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Insecurities, Self-harm Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Coping, general Addiction, Alcohol, Smoking, Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana (Cannabis) Ecstasy, PCP, Mephedrone, Ketamine & Crystal Meth.

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"Before I became a mother I saw no reason to quit smoking weed, but now I have every reason to quit."

Anonymous

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