Benefits of quitting cannabis

I used Cannabis from age 18 to 40, for the last 20 of those years I was a several times a day smoker, in pipes/bongs, and it was pure as I didn't use tobacco.

I gave up for a number of reasons, but the benefits have been:

more level moods... not grumpy first thing in the morning and silly after a pipe, but just more level;

waking up more slowly... instead of waking up and leaping out of bed, I very slowly wake and am aware of waking up... this is, for me, one of the best things about being a non smoker;

no sore throat;

no coughing up black phlegm;

no worries about being busted;

better relationships with my children, as not having to disappear for a sly smoke several times a day, and explain that what I'm doing is 'having my medecine' and 'no, it's not from the doctor' etc etc;

less time wasted.. 5 minutes here and there just to have a sly pipe, looking for somewhere to have it, finding a toilet so i can have a smoke... all that is no longer needed... hooray!;

more money.. £15 or £20 a week adds up to quite a lot over 20 years!;

a good feeling about having given up, despite.......>

I miss it.. I miss my music, as music is really quite flat without it, but this is the main disbenefit, and it is well outweighed by the benefits.

So, I say, GO FOR IT FOLKS, you can quit.... and I'm writing a book to help people do that.  If you want to contribute to my book, send me a message, I'd love to tell you more and hear your story!

yours, John

Hello John and welcome ,

Thankyou for joining us , we sure need more people like  you around. I'm sure you will get some contributions to your book on these boards .

Good luck with your book , you are an inspiration -

CAT

Hi John,

I liked your point about 'waking up slowly' I have to say that that's been something I've enjoyed.  For most people dreams end just before you wake up, so since I now regularly wake up naturally I sometimes remember snippets of them, which is quite nice.

I could also relate to what you say about music, smoking did used to enhance it, but that tiny benefit has been so buried under an avalanche of disadvantage as to be of no value.

I'm interested to hear more about your book.

WELCOME, John! - 3 years!!! - you give us all a great deal of hope and I have no doubt that your book will be beneficial.   There is certainly a need for more support and positive reinforcement against this addiction.  I feel blessed to have found this group - being able to share this struggle with others has made all the difference for me.  

I actually thought when I started over 10 years ago that it helped me relate better to people - especially my children.  And perhaps it did, in those first months when one toke would last 6 hours and put me in a great frame of mind.  But as it evolves to several times a day (and at least once during the night for me) - it becomes more and more isolating.    

And as for sleep - one of the reasons I was motivated to quit was reading the following sentence while reading "The Magicians Nephew" to my grandsons:

   "And no sooner had she finished it than she smiled and her head sank

     back on the pillow and she was asleep: a real, natural, gentle sleep,

     without any of those nasty drugs, which was, as Digory knew, the thing

     in the whole world that she wanted most."

I realized that 'sweet, natural, gentle sleep' was the thing I missed the most.  I started toking to help me sleep - and yet it was that deep, restful REM sleep -  and slowly waking up that I had been missing for many years.  Now, even though I am experiencing night sweats again after my little relapse, the sleep is getting better.  I need to get back to the 5HTP - a natural supplement that enhances your bodies ability to produce seratonin - and I will often take Tylenol PM to get to sleep at night.  Still not getting that 'naturally drowsy' feeling.

Please keep posting - we can all use your insight and encouragement. Your success benefits us all.

Grandma

cool 3 years, i would love to hear more about ur book too....

As said above, would love to hear about the book. I think it's much needed.

well done. I've just joined. I could contribute if you still need people. Been smoking 22 years and I can categorically say it has pretty much ruined my life.

as i new quiter i ty for posting your feelings on here

Hi John I've been clean for about 3 weeks now, after using for 14/15 years. Had to ask someone who'd know- when do the terrifing dreams and night sweats stop?

Hello all... thanks for the messages, and I only visited here as I got an email notification that Greasehorn had added me as a friend.  So HELLO Greasehorn!

Well done G for your 3 weeks clean stint... great, keep it up!  My dreams calmed down after a few weeks, but I didn't get night sweats.  I wonder if you used tobacco as well?  I didn't, so no nicotine withdrawal.

The book is coming on slowly.  I have so much else going on... but a friend has said she'll do the data analysis for me and that will help me move forward.  When I'm looking for case studies, I'll be back here to ask. 

All the very best to all of you reading this... John