Thoughts about pot

Two months ago i quit taking hydrocodone. Recently i have juggling the idea of stopping "medical cannabis". I feel as tho its a crutch. But i havent hit that rock bottom that i think drives ppl to stop using. And i may not be 100% comitted to being cannabis free for the rest of my life. But here i am on 4/21 and yesturday was my last day to use(in which i deff did indulge, being 4/20 and all) i will be taking part in a 30 day sobriety test as i have not been fully sober from pot in maybe 4 years. But im having a bit of anxiety, i may or may not be physically dependant but like cigarette smokers i believe it may be a habitual thing such as oh im up time to smoke, or im eatting time to smoke, or sleeping. Etc, ( the more i write this out the more i realize it may be a bigger prob then i think). Anyways any thought on this would help and could incurage. I know this post mainly attracts addicts of other subtances.. Thoughts from Any ex/current smokers would help as well. Thanks for ur time.

[Baker3336]

I too am an ex hydro addict(52 days). I have been smoking pot for 20+ years and I still do. I understand alot of people on these forums disagree with the use of cannabis and I totally respect that. I just feel that it is not as harmful as most of the prescription narcotics. I think if you or anyone that chooses to smoke pot can handle it and not make it lead back to the other problem drugs you were on then it's ok. But only you can be the judge of that. If you think it's not good for you then by all means stop using it. I think all medicines they have their benefits. Some people need the opiates to live a good life because of serious pain. I do have back problems and sciatic nerve issues but I didn't really need norcos for it. Marijuana helps me just enough to be able to sleep and deal with some of my aches and pains and I enjoy it. I personally feel strong enough that continuing to smoke pot won't lead me back to pills, it's kinda like cigarettes and coffee. Those 2 things aren't going to make me want pills, it's just part of my life. Good luck to ya.

[justneedtotalk]

Baker3336 said it best I think.....I too have been a habitual smoker for over 17 years....Due to the nature of my wife's beliefs I do not bring it around the house or in front of her so I rarely smoke anymore.....I did however use it to get past the roughest parts of withdrawal.....I know many disagree with its use because a drug is a drug is a drug which is completely true BUT it truly was a god send to take the edge off of those REALLY bad days.....I am almost 5 weeks clean off of a nasty hydro habit and have stopped using it as well.....I probably will never go my entire life without using MJ again but I do not want to be an every day smoker.....I want to live drug free and see how that feels for a while....I too have legitimate pain issues but they are manageable without the weed.....I think for some if it helps with chronic pain then go for it!  It is a lot better then the pills and as long as you are legal and do not cause any legal ramification upon yourself then it cannot be that bad....Good luck and congrats on the clean time!!!!

[more0then0a0virus]

Hi. Well, I smoke pot 4 maybe 4 years. But not so much as you do. In averege10 joints a week, almost all during the weekend, but when I`ve got more money then I smoke it as much as I can. I agree that marijuana is helpful. It`s easier to fall sleep, and it helps to rest psychologically. You should look at this: http://www.ukcia.org/images/research/relative_harms.gif
It`s British research. It compares legal state of drugs with their harm.

I can bet I don`t smoke it as much as you do or did, but I also have anxiety issues almost every time when I spend a few days stoned.  

But if you really want to drug free life, I suggest you not to have weed anywhere near you. You could, for example, get it every day at the evening, and then smoke it if that`s an option. I know that if I, personally, have got a few grams by my side, I can`t stand not smoking it. First few days, or for you weeks maybe, without it are a little bit difficult, I admit it. It takes time to adjust on a different pattern of life. You just have to be ready for that and I believe it will be ok. You also have to want it and be willing to try as much as you can.

It has been proved that marijuana is much less addictive then tobacco. Try not to smoke it for a few days. You are going to see how it goes.

I admire you for this whole hydrocodone situation. It`s really something. But my advice to you is: If you get to the point you need something, and I hope you will not, choose marijuana. It`s the best because it`s not so harmful for your organism.

I hope you`ll succeed... Good luck.

btw: I don`t know English very well. Sorry if I`ve written something stupid.

[Baker3336]

It's a known fact that marijuana is not physically addictive. Yea, if you smoke it all the time you may have difficulty with the mental part of quitting. You'll have no real  physical withdrawals. I've smoked for a long time and I can go days without it, no problem. I have multiple times. So that in itself makes it much safer than prescription pain medicine. If you don't like the whole smoking aspect of it there are many alternatives such as ingesting, vaporizers, etc. As you can probably tell I am pro legalization and decriminalization of cannabis. This probably isn't the right place to have this discussion though so I'm all done with this topic. Good luck with whatever decisions you make and congrats on being hydrocodone free.

[more0then0a0virus]

I totally agree with Baker3336:
1. Marijuana should be legalized if alcohol, zillion time more harmful substance, is. And I  don`t want to discuss it here either.
2. Physical addiction or withdrawals of cannabis do not exist, even thought some experts believe that being tired is one of the symptoms (?stupid? No offence).

this is something interesting about pot:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4GzKy62UBE
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n31Nuj_AvTg

So, enjoy and try to do what you think it`s right. I totally respect your decision. Maybe the change will be good for you. Wish u luck.

[wannabfre2b]

Hi there, I agree, pot isnt as addictive as alcohol OR cigarettes, and does help with pain at times, I have a Marijuana Card, and havent used it in quit a while, but i have been smoking pot since high school, (alot of years ago), it helps people with eating disorders (helps get hungry, etc), but as someone else said on here it does cause some anxiety.  But I was a hyrdocodone addict for almost 5 years, (back pain) and i would much rather use pot instead of pills or alcohol for pain.  I question it sometimes about cutting off your ability to stay with a spirtuality thing, it seems to cut that off, but, i dont know, its not as bad as everyone says, if it keeps you away from the bottle of pills, its doin its job in my book, in this state they are trying to take it away after the people voted for it, dont know,,,,its all up to the individual, if it works,,its better than narcotics for sure, its not tearing up your liver, and besides, i think music, good music sounds GREAT stoned, just my opinion,,,,im not saying its good or bad, but its better than using pills.  Take care out there.

[ibizan]

i smoked pot almost daily for 11 years...from age 17-28.i haven't done any drugs or drank for 27 years now.It is stated that pot is a psychologically habit forming drug and I agree w/that.When i would initially try to stop using it...i had insomnia and irritability so back i went to it.My tolerance grew and grew .......when i stopped in 1983 i was up to 10 joints a day on what was termed good seedless sinsemilla back then...and it just wasn't doing the trick anymore......the high wasn't that good.Course i was drinking and doing valium and cocaine as well.I would like to see pot decriminalized and legalized....we sure could use the money for tax purposes here and i think drug dealers should have to pay taxes like everyone else!But i wouldn't touch it again w. a 10 ft.pole......i"ve gotten many monkeys off my back in the past few years!each 2 their own!

[pinklashes]

I dont judge and wouldnt presume to know what is best for anyone else, but I  can say that I was in rehab for awhile with two men who were there for pot addiction.  To them, it was quite real and they said they had extreme anxiety and insomnia when they tried to quit. I dont know the actually medical reality -- Im just saying that to them it was a real addiction with real withdrawals.  They had very similar stories of loosing tons of money, slowed brain function, unhappiness, family issues from their time with pot.  I dont know whether or not it is addictive and if it helps some of you then that is good.  i do remember though that it became as bad for them as pills were for me and it seemed to have some really bad repercussions for them.  When I think about it, its like -- pills themselves arent bad - they help plenty of people.  But, for me (or for an addict) they can be a bad thing.  Well if your an addict then pot could also turn into a bad thing even if its not as bad as other substances.  This is just my opinion from having met people that had a rough time with it and wished that it hadnt been so socially acceptable for their own well being.

[more0then0a0virus]

I remebered something. After I smoked a lot of weed one summer (my short-life saving went to it), I also had sleeping issues...

And about the tolerance: I also have had some periods of intensive smoking and I needed much more pot then usual. e.g.I smoked 50g in a week, and the last 3grams, that I smoked in an hour, didn`t have affect at all. I completly forgot about this...

But when I stoped 4 few days, I was again stoned from 1 joint.

And if marijuana would be legalised, I belive it would be much less support to different criminal actions related to drugs (like smuggling weapon)... But I am going to see what happns when marijuana is legalised. I˙m going to Amsterdam in the summer. It`s a school trip...

[Punkinhead75]

I smoked and drank for about 15 yrs.  I also dabbled with speed along along the way.  It has been almost five yrs clean.  These days I can honestly say that I fall asleep easier, relax easier, I have less anxiety and depression.  I don't get as angry as I used to and I am also better able to work through difficult situations with better results.  I too have a bad back which can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.  Since getting clean I have found that I am better able to live with the pain without having to take a bunch of pills, get high or get drunk.

Today I am much happier than I had been when I was using.  When life gets tough or I'm having a rough day I have true friends that will help me get through it either by lending a hand or providing some spiritual guidance.  I don't need to live all numbed out anymore.

Congrats on the clean time with the hydro's.  I hope you get some insight in regards to the pot smoking.  Giving yourself a chance to live without the weed is a great idea.  Good luck!!!!

[Hydroholic19]

Awesome thoughts!!! I have been thinking about this today. I think MJ can be abused, or harmfull, i also see that when used correctly it can be a harmless substance. After this month(kinda like an experiment) i will weigh out the pros and cons, also find a middle ground where i can enjoy cannabis without sacrificig life quality. Or maybe quit all together at least for now. Im a student, and i feel as tho pot may affect my preformance, so the month without will let me know. i may be an "addict" or have an "addictive personality" but i  dont want to live a life where im fearfull of a couple drinks or a bong rip. So i guess im just learning how to live a normal balanced life. Thanks for the great posts and thoughts everyone!!!

[cewilcox]

I have been smoking MJ for years. I have chronic pain from chiari malformatio which is a incurable brain malformation that gives u symptoms like MS and feibro. I have used every pill known to man and nothing works. I belive smoking a little a day as needed is good. I agree that it is addicting but not like other stuff. I can stop for days but I get depressed and hurt horribly. Smoking helps relieve my pain and my depression. I realize though when I smoke too much it will not work for pain as much. It took me years to convince my family that MJ is better than pills and know that I told them and show them how I am on pills versus MJ they would rather me smoke anyday. As for school I have my associates and still going for my bachelors. If u need it before class its okay just don't before tests! I would try not to just smoke for the high but for your need and when u have felt better don't keep smoking. I am trying to get on vapors because the coughs cause headaches for me. My sister has been adicted to pills her whole life and she smoked. I am currently helping her get off pills by letting her continue smoking but to only smoke when she feels need for a pill.