Marijuana is a commonly used drug for medicinal and recreational purposes. With more and more states decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana, its use is increasing. However, marijuana isn’t as “harmless” as people want to believe.
Regular marijuana use comes with risks, including the potential for abuse or addiction.[1] Quitting marijuana can be difficult, but it comes with health gains, positive changes, and an overall healthier lifestyle.
Quitting marijuana has clear benefits, even if you only use it on occasion. These benefits may include:
Based on research from the American Lung Association, marijuana smoke contains toxins, irritants, and carcinogens, similar to tobacco smoke. It may contribute to respiratory problems like chronic bronchitis.[2] The health effects of marijuana are determined, in part, by how it’s consumed. Marijuana that’s smoked using pipes, bongs, joints, or blunts contributes to respiratory conditions. However, if you quit, you may breathe easier and suffer from fewer lung infections, asthma symptoms, and other respiratory issues.
Smoking marijuana can affect parts of the brain responsible for learning, concentration, and memory. People who smoke marijuana may feel like they’re in a “brain fog” and unable to focus, concentrate, or learn. With heavy use, some of these cognitive effects can be long-lasting, but quitting marijuana can have a marked improvement in your memory and learning, especially if there has been heavy use.[3]
Marijuana may make you feel good at the moment, but some people feel depressed and anxious once the effects wear off.[4] Like other substances, marijuana use can be tied to a desire to relieve emotional or psychological pain or stress. Unfortunately, regular marijuana use isn’t a treatment for mental health issues. It can make them worse. Quitting marijuana can have a dramatic positive impact on mental health, leading to a renewed sense of motivation and purpose.
Marijuana can cause your heart rate to increase, which can raise your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Regular heavy marijuana use can have detrimental effects on the heart, including increased heart rate and potentially raising the risk of cardiovascular issues.[5] Quitting marijuana weed gives your heart a chance to recover and return to a healthy state, allowing it to function normally.
Some perceive marijuana as a less harmful drug compared to others, but it still carries risks of addiction and adverse health effects. While it may not be as addictive or dangerous as heroin or other “hard” drugs, that may not make it any easier to stop using marijuana.
With chronic use, marijuana can cause dependence, which is when your body becomes used to the presence of a substance. If you stop abruptly or significantly reduce your dose, you can experience withdrawal symptoms like intense cravings, mood swings, and emotional disturbances.
If you want to quit marijuana, it’s best not to do it “cold turkey” or on your own. The withdrawal symptoms aren’t usually life-threatening, but they can be extreme enough to cause you to use marijuana just to feel better. You also need to treat the psychological effects of addiction, which requires guidance, support, and accountability.
Professional treatment for marijuana use disorder, the proper term for marijuana addiction, can be an effective option to quit marijuana. This environment provides evidence-based treatment, safety, and support to help you manage withdrawal symptoms and work through the underlying causes of addiction.
If you want to quit smoking weed, here are some tips to improve your success:
These tips can help whether you try to quit on your own or in a treatment program, but quitting weed and staying sober is often more effective if you enter a treatment program for marijuana abuse or addiction. With professional help, you can develop a strategy, manage your cravings, and commit to a life of sobriety.
It’s extremely difficult to quit marijuana on your own, especially if you’ve been using it heavily or for a long period. Professional help can be the best option to help you quit marijuana, manage withdrawal, and learn how to cope with cravings and relapse triggers.
Marijuana addiction treatment isn’t one size fits all, however. Treatment programs are highly personalized and may include:
Depending on the extent of the marijuana addiction and other factors, treatment may be on an inpatient or outpatient basis with a range of therapies.
Quitting weed can have incredible benefits, including improved mental health, heart health, and cognitive function. If you or a loved one is struggling with marijuana abuse or addiction, you don’t have to face it on your own. Overcoming marijuana addiction can be extremely difficult, but professional treatment can give you the support and tools to commit to a healthier lifestyle.
Research has shown the potential benefits of marijuana use for certain health conditions, but more research is needed to understand its effects fully. Many people who use marijuana, especially smoking it, are doing it for recreational purposes. If you use marijuana and are beginning to see negative effects, such as respiratory problems or worsening mental health, or you’re concerned about becoming addicted, quitting may be the best choice.
Heavy marijuana use is generally considered daily or near-daily marijuana use, which increases your risk of addiction and adverse health effects. However, you don’t have to use marijuana every day to see negative effects.
If you try to replace marijuana use with another substance, such as smoking cigarettes instead of marijuana, you’re only replacing one dangerous addiction with another. Healthy hobbies and activities can be helpful in recovery, however, such as learning a new skill, going to the gym, or taking up arts and crafts.
Quitting marijuana can be challenging, and the experience is different for everyone. What may work best for you may be different from someone else, which is why an addiction treatment program may be the best choice to get personalized therapies and support.
[1] Cannabis use disorder – statpearls – NCBI bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538131/ on 2024, June 8.
[2] Association, A. L. (n.d.). Marijuana and lung health. American Lung Association. Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/health-effects/marijuana-and-lung-health on 2024, June 8.
[3] Crean, R. D., Crane, N. A., & Mason, B. J. (2011, March). An evidence based review of acute and long-term effects of cannabis use on executive cognitive functions. Journal of addiction medicine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037578/ on 2024, June 8.
[4] ScienceDaily. (2019, February 13). Cannabis use in teens linked to risk of depression in young adults. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190213172307.htm on 2024, June 8.
[5] Cannabis and heart health. (2024, February 15). Cannabis and Public Health. https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/heart-health.html on 2024, June 8.
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