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Marijuana Support Forum Running
Hello Everyone!
I am pleased to announce that the Marijuana Support Forum is up and running.
To register as a user on the forums, please visit the Registration Page. Your password will work on both the blog and forums. Existing blog users can login to the forum using their regular blog passwords. Please note: You may receive two confirmation emails. I am working on a fix for this today.
There are 3 forum topics thus far. Marijuana Addiction, Research and News, and Member Journals. The Member Journals area is your place to share your story about quitting marijuana!
I will be making changes over the next couple of weeks to the themes and control panels. Please bear with me during this time.
Peace
You are doing a great job, both with your goal and with this site. Just a note regarding the site - the polls archive link does not seem to work.
March 30th, 2008 at 1:59 amYour recovery blog was linked from another website that I frequent.
I have to say.. I applaud your efforts at staying clean. For many it’s far better than the alternative.
However….
There’s no such thing as marijuana addiction, at least in the physical sense. Your mental state was such that you chose to fill in the gaps by getting high or perhaps dealt with other, deeper issues by numbing yourself by getting high.
Either way, it’s not an addiction.
I’m appalled by the brainwashed masses that keep talking about marijuana addiction.
You want to know addiction? Go smoke crack or shoot heroin. Maybe drink a fifth of whiskey every day for a few years or smoke a couple packs of Marlboros a day. You’ll understand addiction.
The withdrawl symptoms from weed are a little fog-headedness for a few days. Withdrawl from long-term alcohol abuse can kill you. Heroin withdrawl, whil not deadly, makes the addict want to die because it’s so painful.
I don’t really feel that quitting the ganja is really blog-worthy. Hell, quitting cigarettes is far more difficult than stopping the weed.
If it’s so difficult quitting weed, here’s some very simple advice: Fill in the time you used to spend getting high with something else that is productive and positive in your life. It might be religion, social activities, video games, writing (even if it is this blog), photography, painting, rebuilding engines or juggling. What you substitute doesn’t really matter, so long as you’re still getting a positive emotion from what you do to replace the feeling of being stoned.
Good luck and god speed, but you are not and never have been an addict. Don’t let yourself be brainwashed by propaganda.
March 30th, 2008 at 4:23 amdear anon,
you really should mind your own business if you disagree with us. i believe marijuana is an addiction for me and for many others as well. i did cocaine for a year and a half and gave it up easily. i smoked a pack of cigs a day for a year and gave it up easily. no sweat whatsoever. i’ve been struggling to quit weed for years and years. this is none of your business and i couldn’t care less if you don’t believe me. but you have no right to tell others whether or not they are addicted to something. people can be addicted to sex, video games, food, whatever else, and even though it’s not crack or heroin, they suffer withdrawal and have to accept that they are addicted in order to heal. your opinion matters less than the opinion of a piece of dog shit. don’t waste your time writing about what you think is or is not blog-worthy here - you, anon, will be dodged and ignored. i’m writing this directly to you as an fyi in case you were wondering why you’re a moron.
p.s. piss off.
March 30th, 2008 at 10:41 ama.
I love ignorant muppets who speak on issues they know nothing about.
for the “anonymous” poster, addiction varies from individual to individual. Over the past few years there have numerous studies released that demonstrate a large number of heavy weed users do experience physical addiction, and experience a variety of physical withdrawal effects when they quit. It varies for everyone when they quit, some people experience physical effects, some people don’t….it’s that simple.
maybe muppet, you should do some research before you speak on an issue you are clearly ignorant about. As for saying “this isn’t blog worthy”…..get a life. Seriously, who comes trolling on sites to criticize others for establishing a support system and kicking something they view as a negative habit/addiction in their life. I would suggest you have far more severe problems than anyone here struggling with their addiction/habit, how sad is your actual life if you feel the need to do things like this? You’re clearly a complete loser with nothing going for you.
March 30th, 2008 at 3:00 pmI don’t disagree with you (collectively) quitting. Good for you. You have discovered something about your lives that y’all feel need changed, and you are taking steps to make that change. More people should have that sort of mentality.
However, marijuana is not addictive. PERIOD.
Don’t think I know what I’m talking about?
For one, there are mounds of research on the subject.
Second, I worked in a drug rehabilitation program years ago and was a semester away from coursework to complete counselor certification from TCAADA.
You have no idea about my life and what I do. I choose to remain anonymous for matters of personal privacy. I’m not about to put my skeletons on the web for the world to see.. Well, not any more than they already are.
So again, I will state this fact: Marijuana is not addictive.
Kudos for making a positive change in your life.
Hopefully (but also doubtful) it will help allivate the piss-poor attitude, too.
MY OPINION is that this isn’t really blog-worthy. That said, neither are most of the other mundane things that people do on a daily basis that are the subject of many blogs out there.
For whatever reason, I happened into this one, which happens to be about a topic for which I do possess knowledge. I will not claim expertise, as I know that would certainly be false.
There is a common thread among all you who are “recovering” from pot addiction:
March 30th, 2008 at 6:20 pmYour parents, your school, your church, your government and quit possibly your friends have pumped you full of a bunch of bullshit propaganda. You’ve been subjected to it from so many sources and for so long, you believe it.
Anonymous-
OK we all get it. You don’t think that pot is addicting. HOWEVER in OUR OPINON, We do! We are here for SUPPORT from each other not stupid arguments on whether or not you think our problem is considered an addiction or not. If I didnt know any better I would think you were addicted to blogging. You might want to get some help…I am sure there is a site out there for you!
On a lighter note…
March 30th, 2008 at 7:02 pmI am on day 5! It has been difficult but I am very positive about quiting this time and this site has been a great support for my ADDICTION to pot.
Good luck to everyone out there and I will check in tomorrow.
You grossly misinterpreted my words, PT,
MY OPINION is that this is not blog-worthy.
A FACT is that marijuana is not addictive.
Quitting marijuana is no more difficult than quitting soda. There wil be some mild withdrawls as you adjust to not having that feeling. You’ll likely be irritable and quite possibly bored.
However, it will pass within a week or so.
Again… Fill your stoner time with productive, positive and possibly healthy activities, and you’re set, really.
Now, if you have that emotional quagmire that you tried to ignore or cover up by smoking, perhaps it is a good idea to see a therapist to deal with those issues. It all depends on your reasons for smoking. If it was out of boredom, then obviously this won’t apply.
Let me ask this…
For those of you who are giving up the ganja, what did you do with your pipes and bongs and rolling papers? Did you get rid of them? Even the one in the back of the closet that you think you might be able to keep for sentimental value? Get rid of it, and you get rid of a lot of temptation.
How about lighters? I suggest getting rid of those, as well. If you smoke cigarettes, start using matches. Everyone knows that lighting a bowl from a match is nasty as all hell….
I’m sure you can see the logic there.
Just a couple helpful hints from the anonymous one that you love to hate.
March 31st, 2008 at 2:53 amWhile I totally agree with Anon about herb not being addictive when compared to “real” drugs like H and Crack, I DO believe that the mental addiction to the drug is very strong. I’m on day 7 myself and I still feel the urge to burn one up… This is exactly why I visit this wonderful blog daily. It’s comforting to hear others talk about their feelings and experiences regarding trying to quit. Which is why it’s TOTALLY WORTH IT! If a person is willing to take the time to do something positive for others then what’s the problem? Stop being a hater Anon… did you start a blog that wasn’t as well received or something? You must have took at least 10 minutes of your time to right your posts no?
Whatever the case is… I can’t log into the forums for some reason
HELP! 
March 31st, 2008 at 6:02 pmThanks for the suggestions Anonymous, I will keep them in mind with my struggle in my MENTAL addiction to pot.
March 31st, 2008 at 6:47 pmDay 6 and counting….
Thank you anonomous. This is exactly why I have not been able to give up this terrible “habit” for 17 years and have felt totally and completely alone in this…not being able to attend meeting for fear of being laughed at because smoking is not viewed as an addiction. G-d bless the few of you who have had the courage to admit that this is an addiction with mental and physical withdrawl symptoms.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:30 amI’m on day 1 of no marijuana whatsoever (sort of weened through the week) and it’s just starting for me. I used to smoke cigarrettes and do lots of coke both which were easier for me to kick than pot. I know the addiction may not be physical of which I’m glad. I think though that if pot is your crutch of choice it’s a very hard emotional addiction. I’ve been a pothead for 20 years and Ive kicked it only once or twice. In the past, the (emotional)”detox” process did not last long but is harder than most would believe. Pot is my crutch, it’s my rock, it’s my best friend. Right now, I’m agitated, nervous, nauseous and a feeling of wanting to jump out of my skin. I only hope to get through the next few days as the cravings are strong. I know sleep will be a big issue as it usually is anyway. The only reason I am even giving up marijuana is that it really emphasizes my anti-social behavior. I race home every night to smoke and shut out the world. I don’t go out with my friends anymore as I’d rather just sit at home alone and smoke. I think a lot of people can smoke pot without all the baggage I get from it. I would love to be the kind of smoker who can just have a joint now and then. I have finally accepted the fact that will never be me. If I have it in my prescence, I’m smoking it all until it’s gone. Both of my parents were alcoholics and I’ve read that children of alcoholics can develop a more severe even physical addiction to marijuana. Now don’t get me wrong. I love the stuff. I think it should be legal. I think it’s way better than alcohol. It’s just not for me. I hope to keep reading your experiences as I go through this over the next week or two. I have never tried to quit after being an everyday smoker for this long before. I probably have not had more than one day off in over 7 years. So to Anonymous, there are some facts you state I understand, but you do not understand how a severe emotional addiction can manifest. Like I said, I pretty much just put down coke, cigarrettes, acid, x and alcohol without much ado at all. It’s always been pot for me. I can’t guarantee this is it for me, I just hope it is. I need to be out there in the real world again. I feel like I’ve been in a fog for most of my life. I’m happy to read what others are gong through. Thanks for sharing.
April 5th, 2008 at 10:01 amto Anonymous:
April 7th, 2008 at 7:40 ammarijuana may not be physically addicting like alchohol and herion but for those who have used it for years have developed a deep and stubborn pathway to the brain’s reward center. On the basis of your definition you would have to say gambling, eating and sex are all not addictions. Addiction is a personal defintion, people on the site struggle everyday for sobriety, i don’t see your point in trying to lessen the extent of a potheads already large arsenal of problems. This forum is for support, your negative comments are not wanted or welcome, your credentials are only as good as your name - Anonymous
there are difference between PHYSICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL addiction, guess they don’t teach that in re-hab school
April 7th, 2008 at 9:52 amThis has been my 12th day without weed, and I haven’t had the cravings or urge to smoke at all today.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:21 pmWhat I have had are waves of emotions, mostly sadness, and dispair. These emotions come on strong at times and are uncontrollable. I have had a lot of trouble sleeping, and dreams that are distressing. I have been very discouraged by my lack of ability to function.
I am still committed to staying clean, because I know that by smoking I would only be relieving the symptoms for a while. Being sober for these several days has brought to light some of the ways in which my life is not working very well. Sadly, I seem unable to change that. Well, it just takes time, and determination. And in my case, I am admitting that I need help to straighten out some of this tangled up mess inside my head.
Hey Rob,
I had been clean for 4 weeks. Sort of got through the dreams, sweats, anxiety etc, and had started getting off to sleep no problem, although waking fairly early. Yes it was very hard to function in the first few weeks. I ended up taking a few hours off work in the afternoons for a few days (I have a good employer), just to cope.
So, last Saturday, over at a mates place, I thought I would be ok to have a few tokes. To be honest, I dont mind experimenting a bit to see what the reaction will be. It helps to know the extent of the affects and helps me learn what I can and cannot do.
Anyway, the smoke was good, however an hour or so afterwards, that familiar sort of ringing in my head. My sleep has been affected again. Its not like starting back at day zero, but even just those few puffs had a marked affect. Made me sure that I need to stay right off it.
So stick with it Rob, and from my experience, dont be tempted. I was so glad to have gotten past the rough bit, shame to spoil all that hard work with a little spliff, just not worth it.
T
April 9th, 2008 at 2:55 amHey Cassie,
Really good to hear that you have stopped. I stopped cigarettes, and this sleeping problem is hard, but I know I am going to be much better without the dope. Considering they just brought in new drug testing laws for drivers in my state in australia, it will be good to be “legal”.
Good luck !
April 9th, 2008 at 2:59 amHey Trevor,
Thanks for the honesty. I have decided to take an anti-depressant for awhile, and get some therapy. My problem with depression is deeper than marijuana withdrawal. Nonetheless, Marijuana detox is real.
I think sometimes I try to give up all my crutches at once, and find myself belly flopping on the floor like a fish out of water. I quit smoking cigs almost 2 years ago now. That was the hardest thing ever! Then I slowly weened myself off of zoloft after almost 15 years of taking it. So, I was without any meds by Christmas 07. Now that I have given up weed, and not drinking much at all, (3 beers in 12 days), it is a little too much.
Yesterday was so bad, I cry A LOT!
Today, I have found a research study at the local university hospital where I can take lexapro under docs supervision for the next 6 months(free). I know it will not be a miracle cure, but it will hopefully give me the break I need to be able to work at my job, and do the hard work of re-evaluating where I am in my life of almost 50yrs.
The reason I quit taking zoloft, and quit smoking weed, was because I could see I was so medicated and just going through the motions, without any real plan for the future, isolated, alone, retreating further into my own world.
In other words, It wasn’t working very well for me.
To tell the truth, the smoking of weed doesn’t seem to be the issue so much as the underlying emotional pain that rears it’s ugly head when the smoke-screen is removed. So, my hope is that with the help of meds, and counseling I will be able to move on, and see my potential realized.
I know that some will say I am weak, and I would tend to agree. I wish I had the strength figure all this out on my own. There is no quick fix for changing life-long patterns of behavior. I can’t reverse a lifetime of withdrawal by just deciding to do it.
I have a lot to learn.
I can tell you it would be a whole lot easier to get high right now, and make all this confusion go away for awhile, but of course it would not solve anything.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:15 pmHey Rob,
i know the thought of a smoke might take the pain away, but only for a short while. I am just getting back to “normal”, one week after a couple of puffs ! I wont try that again. Dont worry about being weak. You dotn sound it to me ! My ex was on zoloft for a long time, and from what i saw, the doctors were happy to prescribe them, with no thought of coming off.
I have also stopped ciggies a few years ago, and was never much of a drinker. What prompted me to stop the dope was a period a couple of months ago. I couldnt sleep, started with a couple of beers in the evening to help me relax. Still couldnt sleep. Then maybe a cone, that would put me out, still no sleep. Then an over the counter relaxant from the chemist, which just got me high. In the end i got sleeping tablets, starting with Stilnox. Some nights I slept, others i didnt, and still had to get to work ! Visions of Heath Ledger came into my thoughts, and I just decided after 30 years of dope, I needed to be able to sleep without inducing it !
I am only getting about 4 hours a night now, but it is slowly slowly improving, and all i take is warm milk with honey.
Keep learning. A joint now will only repair the damage that the last joint made, and so the circle will go on. The first few weeks are the hardest, but they do end. What are you going to do with the cash you are saving?
All the best, Trevor
April 10th, 2008 at 12:31 pmMARIJUANA IS PHYSICALLY ADDICTIVE
When I go without for a day, or even just smoke a little bit in a day, I start to have real withdrawal symptoms. It feels much like having the flu. Of course, there are also mental symptoms.
I’ve quit cigarettes, coke, ecstasy, oxycontin. What are the physical symptoms of quitting cigarettes? There are very few. I can definitely list more PHYSICAL withdrawal symptoms from quitting weed than from cigarettes. Weed is harder to quit than cigarettes.
It sounds like you think you have found a magic drug with no side affects, and no withdrawal symptoms. This is how I used to think also, when I was young and ignorant like yourself. You can either believe me, or find out the hard way for yourself. Like I did.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:46 pm