Quitting Weed (Marijuana) How To: Benefits And Experiences
Posted by CBD LION on on Oct/Wed/2021
Quitting Weed (Marijuana) How To: Benefits And Experiences
Are you looking for how to stop smoking pot? If so, then you have come to the right place. Cannabis is a miracle substance that has given people access to natural relief for centuries. Whether medicinal or recreational, getting high can be an enjoyable experience but can also be overdone. If you are spending most of your waking day high and unable-to-control impulses - it might be time to consider quitting marijuana and switching over to hemp products instead. They'll provide many of the same potential health benefits with one significant difference: no psychoactive effects!
What is weed?
Weed is slang for marijuana, the Cannabis Sativa plant. It can be consumed in many ways like smoking, eating, topical and sublingual. Cannabis users consume marijuana to get it's medical benefits and the euphoric high.
What gets you high?
The primary cannabinoid that causes the high is Delta 9 THC. This compound is found in the highest concentrations in the marijuana plant.
Trace amounts, up to 0.3%, are found in hemp but will not get you high.
Is marijuana addicting?
While no substance found in marijuana creates dependency, the high from using it causes a psychological compulsion.
In the United States, marijuana is a Schedule I substance under federal law which means that if consumed can lead to addiction. In this case, addiction does not refer to physical dependence but instead psychological dependency, where people get withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking marijuana.
Symptoms of addiction to weed
Some indicators of psychological marijuana addiction include :
- Change in appetite and sleep patterns
- social isolation from friends and family to smoke more often.
- anxiety/paranoia from high THC consumption
Side effects of Marijuana consumption
Getting high can have its downsides. There are few common ones associated with using marijuana and cannabis.
Mental Fog
If you spend most of your day high, you may notice how it becomes harder to concentrate and think clearly. Smoking weed high in THC makes your head feel cloudy, slowing down the thoughts process.
Decreased short term memory
Short-term memories are not as well retained when high on marijuana or cannabis as a sober state of mind. You might have trouble remembering recent conversations.
Lethargy
Getting high is associated with relaxation. Too much relaxation can result in an inactive lifestyle reducing the amount of energy you have.
Marijuana users report how their energy levels tend to decrease as a result of being high. You might feel that you don't have the power to complete tasks, and your drive is no longer there.
Motivation
It can be challenging to motivate yourself when high, especially if there are tasks that require a lot of brainpower. Once the effects wear off, you might regret how much time was wasted sitting on the couch with an elevated heart rate.
How to stop consuming or smoking marijuana
To quit marijuana use is not easy, and it will take dedication to stop using.
Some methods to help kick cannabis usage without a substitute would include:
Change your habits
Marijuana is not physically addicting to the body like alcohol. It is a psychological addiction. A big part of breaking psychological addiction is changing your habits. Again we encourage friends and family to help you turn bad habits into good ones.
Good habits you can develop to replace marijuana include:
- reading more books watching documentaries or studying a subject you are interest in.
- exercise and meditation instead of smoking joints every day.
- hanging out with your friends that don't consume.
Smoke or consume hemp
Not all cannabis will get you high. Many marijuana users self medicate with cannabis. With the proliferation of hemp, it is now easier to get the medicinal benefits of cannabis without the high.
Some hemp flower does contain trace amouts THC so you'll want to find strains with lowest amounts of THC as possible. CBG flower usually has the lowest THC amounts. It will provide the same taste when you smoke but not leave you high and gives your body many cannabinoids for relief and to promote a healthy balance in your body.
Other products that can help on your path to quitting marijuana include tinctures, gummies, lotions, and capsules.
You no longer have to go cold turkey to fight your marijuana addiction or heavy use. Hemp and CBD products make it a smoother transition and help calm any cravings. If you used cannabis to sleep, this might help with the change.
Change your environment
We are a product of our environment, and if it has a lot of substance use, we too will likely abuse it. One of the best things you can do is get yourself in an environment with no drug use. Freeing yourself from the temptations of marijuana use will be one of the biggest things you can do to quit.
Productive Hobby
When quitting marijuana, you'll find yourself with a lot of time and have urges to fill that time by getting high. Having spare time with nothing to fill it with can bring on anxiety and cravings.
Finding a serious hobby to occupy your time will help your mental health and curb anxiety. You'll want to find a long term activity that has lots of room for growth and accomplishment. It will help you find new friends and get your mind off the marijuana withdrawal.
Some hobbies we recommend include:
- Yoga/Exercise
- Meditation
- walks, hiking, outdoor activities
I found martial arts to be beneficial. It helped my mental health and gave me something practical to do with all my free time without weed. Martial arts is also a great way to meet new people who challenge you physically and mentally.
Benefits of quitting marijuana
While marijuana has many incredible benefits when used in moderation, suspending from heavy cannabis use can bring on a lot of good help and alleviate some negative symptoms.
Understanding why and when you are consuming cannabis is crucial. Some consumers may benefit from smaller doses or others may benefit from decreased frequency of use. Everybody's metabolism and experience with cannabis varies from person to person.
Clear head
After you quit marijuana, after a couple of weeks, you'll notice some cognitive improvement. You will feel that you have a clear head and can focus better. Mental tasks that would be too taxing when high are much easier to complete.
More Energy
Most people using marijuana are trying to relax by calming anxiety and turning off the thoughts in their brain. It may be a desired effect for the user, but consequences include a lowered energy level.
It's an addition by subtraction situation. When your remove marijuana use from your life, you are eliminating a sedative from consumption. By not consuming THC, you are not bringing your energy levels down.
When you suspend marijuana use, you'll find yourself having the energy to do more things. You'll be able to go to the gym and get a good workout in. You can stay up all night working on creative projects or whatever you feel like doing requires effort.
Improved respiratory health
After you stop smoking or vaping marijuana, your lungs will begin to recover. When you smoke weed, the substance enters your lungs and stays there for up to three days after use. If this happens regularly (one or more times per week), it can cause respiratory problems like coughing and wheezing over time. As soon as you stop smoking pot, these symptoms will gradually subside as your lungs can cleanse themselves.
Stages of quitting marijuana
The body and brain do not have a physical addiction to marijuana, but there is likely a strong psychological addiction you will be faced with overcoming. It will not be easy to transform the addictive state of mind, but it will be much easier with support from various tools and daily behavior. Excessive cannabis use is not classified as one the dangerous substance use disorders and has been overcome by many utilizing these tools.
Week 1
The first week without consuming marijuana, you will feel a great sense of relief and a bit nervous. Heavy consumers may experience some headaches or mild stomach pains as your body detoxes from the THC chemicals in weed, but this should pass within a day.
The change in your daily routine is the most challenging part in the recovery of cannabis use. If you find a hobby or area to focus your attention on, it will be much easier.
It takes about seven days for your neurotransmitters to start the rebalance process. Some withdrawal symptoms you may find yourself with are poor mood and, in extreme cases, depression.
Week 2
In days 7-14 after quitting, you can expect any withdrawal symptoms to wind down. If you consumed marijuana to help you sleep, you might find yourself dealing with insomnia or wild dreams. Utilizing CBD can help mitigate these sleep symptoms after withdrawing from heavy cannabis use.
Week 3 and Beyond
During week 3 of your recovery, your neurotransmitters continue to approve and reach a point pre-marijuana use. Withdrawal symptoms persist in fading.
You will still face cravings, though. That's why a change of environment is best for long term success when quitting or decreasing your overall marijuana consumption.
CBD: Cannabis benefits without the high
Quitting marijuana can be tricky, especially if you are using it to self medicate for your health. Quitting cold turkey can bring on withdrawal symptoms in heavy users.
There is still a way to use cannabis without the high and risk for abuse. CBD products can help provide an easier transition from marijuana and potentially reduce any withdrawal symptoms. CBD provides the medical benefits of THC without the high.
Hemp Flower
If someone is used to smoking marijuana flower, replacing it with a similar substance without the high can be a step towards recovery. Hemp flower contains many cannabinoids and terpenes found in marijuana strains but has less than 0.3% Delta 9 T H C.
While it may not be the perfect method, it can begin a transition to a better habit.
Tinctures and Edibles
CBD tinctures and edibles are an alternative to hemp flower. The difference between them is how quickly it will take effect and how long it lasts after ingestion.
Tinctures are taken using pipettes or droppers under your tongue; you may experience relief within minutes and last 2-4 hours.
Edibles are a tasty way to consume hemp. Each usually packs between 10-25mg of CBD.
Topicals
For those looking for treatment in specific areas, CBD topicals are the answer. They can be found in lotions, roll-ons, sports tape, and bath bombs.
About CBD LION
Cannabis experts founded CBD LION to deliver the benefits of the plant without the high. We focus on bringing high quality produced products at affordable prices. We have multiple lines that are THC free as well.
Our products are produced in our ISO 7 lab and 3rd party lab tested by the lot. Each product features are QR code to bring you to the test results page for transparency.
We have a broad product line consisting of Hemp Flower, Tinctures, Edibles and Topicals. Many customers have used CBD to help curb their marijuana habit.
In conclusion
Marijuana consumption in moderation can be a powerful tool with many benefits, but like with everything, too much of a good thing can be bad thing. Everyone's cognitive capacity can vary greatly when using marijuana. For those that overconsume and struggle with habit change may benefit from professional therapy if the person has an addictive personality. Marijuana doesn't create any physical dependency as alcohol and tobacco can, but psychological dependence in users can occur. Withdrawal symptoms occur the first few weeks, but with the right tools and mindset, one can change their cannabis consumption to desired levels.