Side Effects of Marijuana

Hi Everyone,

Smoking Marijuana used to be a lot of fun for me, I am not going to lie. But it was a bit of a slippery slope. I don’t know exactly when it happened, but the side effects of smoking marijuana started to become worse than the ‘high’.

Marijuana Side Effects
I started smoking heavily while I was in university, at around 18 years old. I was able to keep up my grades, and social expectations, but still enjoy a regular smoke…..for a while. Gradually, I started to puff more often, until I was smoking 1/4 oz of fine herb every 4 or 5 days. I would wake and bake, then smoke a cigarette (I wasn’t a cigarette smoker…but I thought it got me more high) first thing in the morning. Then I would chase the high all day.

I carried on like this for YEARS…I was really stuck in a rut.. The marijuana side effects were way worse for my life than the short feeling of the high, and I knew I had to stop smoking weed…When you think about side effects, you probably think about coughing, red eyes, and the munchies…but what about the larger lifestyle side effects of smoking weed?

For me, there was always some anxiety about people finding out I smoked, or being stoned in public. There was also the anxiety of running out. I used to run around my apartment looking for scraps in the cracks of the coffee table, couch cushions, and on the floor. There was also the $20,000 or so dollars I spent smoking weed. That’s a down payment on house….or a brand new car. My health suffered, partly from smoking, partly from being lazy, because that’s what happened when I got high.

I have gained some perspective in the last 6 months. I don’t really identify with the ‘the person I was’ when I was such a heavy smoker. Don’t get me wrong, I know that was me, but I am kinda embarassed about it. I have friends from that point in my life who only know me as a stoner, and that’s a label no one wants. To my close friends, I have made some apologies, because I wasn’t holding up my side of the friendship like I do now…luckily they have given me the opportunity to prove it. Who would have thought that long term marijuana side effects would be losing friends….it happens.

If you can relate to this, and are still smoking, there are a few things I want to tell you. First off. You CAN do it! Second, think of the weed side effects that you have…and don’t think of just the red eyes and stuff…think of your lifestyle, and if this is the lifestyle you want to keep on living. Personally, I needed to quit weed if I wanted to progress as an individual. I know it sounds a little corny….but it’s truth.

One thing that I recommend is the ‘Cannabis Coach‘. It’s a 5 part audio program that can helped me clear out some of the mental chatter in my head, and really commit to quitting weed. I was pretty private about my addiction, so it was listening to the program helped to keep me accountable.

Leave me some comments if you have specific questions. I do my best to answer them.

Tagged as: marijuana side effects, Side Effects of Marijuana, stop smoking weed

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Marijuana on the Brain This is Part #2 of a 4 part series on Reasons to Quit Marijuana.

As stated in Part 1, I believe that it is a great idea to create an inventory of all of the reasons that I want to quit smoking weed. This servers 2 purposes: To clarify the negative effects of marijuana addiction in my life, and to use as a reference guide when I crave smoking pot, and think about relapsing.

The Negative Psychological Effects of Marijuana:

Motivation: Smoking pot heavily makes me super lazy. I struggle to get the most basic tasks, like housework done on time. I was always a procrastinator, but smoking pot and being a procrastinator is a horrible combination. This has been called A-motivational syndrome. I need to focus some research on a motivational syndrome.

Concentration: I can’t get in, and stay in ‘the zone’ very well when I am high on marijuana. I am become easily distracted and struggle to get tasks finished. I used to be able to work for hours without noticing the time go by. I now glance at the clock every few minutes and work feels like more a chore than way I have been sober for a few days or more. Sometimes I fade out when people are talking to me and I begin to daydream, or just shut down altogether. This had never been an issue in the past.

Memory Lapses: I forget things. Wallet, Keys, clothing, important dates, birth dates, names of people I was just introduced to, or the fact that I was just introduced to them. Smoking marijuana seems to affect my ability to transfer thoughts or ideas from short term – to long term memory.

Stress: Forgetting things, being late, falling behind, and being anxious and paranoid all of the time is stressful. I am sure you know what I do to relieve the stress. This really is a vicious cycle. I also have to hide this part of my life from coworkers and family which can cause a of stress as well. There is also the fear of being busted by the police, going to jail, or having to deal with sketchy dealers. I don’t like people to know I am stoned in public, so I stress out if I think they do know.

Mood Swings: There is the joy of scoring, and rolling up a fresh spliff, the anxiety of almost being out of weed, the anger and frustration of not being able to find a hookup and many other rollercoaster rides. There is an emotional high knowing you are going to get high, and a low after you are high, knowing you don’t want to do it anymore. I sometimes feel empty when I can’t find anything and am completely out of pot.

Depression: For me, I feel depressed because I eat terribly, break promises to myself, and am highly stressed when trying to maintain an addiction and normal life. When I fall behind and procrastinate, I feel like shit. Keeping busy is the best way for me to break this mindset. When I eat well, exercise and don’t smoke, I feel great. I am usually a positive person, and make sure that my inner monologue is positive as well.

Anger: I feel angry when I am not in control of when, where, and how I smoke weed. I also feel angry and anxious if I have weed, but am doing an activity other than smoking it. This has been a struggle in relationships when I would rather get out of bed, and get stoned, than cuddle up with someone for the rest of the night. I have resented people for interfering with my addiction.

See Also

How to Quit Smoking Marijuana

Part 1 Physical Reasons to Quit Marijuana

Part 3 Reasons to Quit Marijuana – Relationships

Part 4 Financial Reasons to Quit Marijuana

Tagged as: a motivational syndrome, anger, depression, emotions, marijuana and depression, memory loss, mood swings, Negative Effects of Marijuana, psychological problems, Side Effects of Marijuana, stress