Marijuana is the most consumed illegal drug globally. Its consumption is becoming regularized in more and more countries, as well as moving more and more money. The great economic interests driven by marijuana mean that more and more companies and organizations are beginning to promote false myths and exaggerations about the supposed therapeutic benefits of consuming marijuana or its derivatives.
In this article I will tell you about some of the benefits of quitting smoking marijuana completely and how your life can improve when you stop smoking joint.
What happens in your body when you stop smoking marijuana?
When a person has become accustomed to smoking marijuana frequently, quitting will cause a series of effects, both pleasant and unpleasant.
First I am going to explain the unpleasant short-term effects (due to withdrawal syndrome or dependence on marijuana) and then I will explain some of the long-term benefits (all positive and very pleasant).
Short-term effects of quitting marijuana
Marijuana is an addictive drug. It is true that cannabis is not as addictive as cocaine or alcohol, but it still causes serious dependency problems in many people (I see it every day in my addiction therapy sessions, and detox centers are full of people who have developed such an addiction that they feel unable to control their use without help.)
Cannabis is a very complex plant with many different substances, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) being the substance responsible for the majority of negative effects and dependence. The body becomes accustomed to the almost constant presence of THC so it is difficult for him to re-adapt to its absence when the person who has developed dependence stops smoking frequently.
It is also important to take genetics into account. There are people with a greater predisposition to suffer problems from marijuana use (addiction, anxiety, psychosis, etc.), and others who are less likely to suffer problems. Some people develop dependence after a few months of use, and others after years.
Whatever your case, the more you consume, the more likely you are to suffer problems, especially in people who consume daily or smoke several joints a day for years. In those cases, it is only a matter of time before problems arise.
When a person has developed tolerance and dependence on marijuana, It is common to feel unpleasant sensations when reducing or cutting consumption Luckily, these effects are temporary and disappear when the person manages to remain abstinent for a few weeks.
Most people who use marijuana frequently do so as an attempt to cope with everyday anxiety, sadness, or boredom. They get used to smoking joints more and more often, every time they feel stress or frustration, which is why they end up becoming dependent on cannabis (not feeling able to deal with unpleasant situations without smoking a joint first).
Those people they miss the opportunity to learn to cope with unpleasant emotions without getting high, so when they try to quit smoking they easily panic. Fortunately, it is something that can be fixed (for example, a good addiction psychologist can help the person cope with stress and anxiety on their own).
Physical effects of quitting marijuana (short term)
Psychological effects of quitting marijuana (short term)
These effects are the result of marijuana withdrawal syndrome, They are temporary and disappear when the person manages to remain abstinent for a few weeks and the body gets used to the absence of marijuana again.
7 long-term psychological benefits of quitting marijuana
Frequent marijuana use causes brain damage that can completely change the way a person’s mind works (especially in adolescents, since their brains are still maturing). Therefore, when marijuana is stopped, most of the negative effects of marijuana use disappear. Many people feel completely recovered just a few weeks or months after their last use.
Keep in mind that these are long-term benefits, and the sooner you eliminate marijuana use, the sooner the benefits will be experienced. They also depend on the type of consumption that the person had, in some cases the withdrawal syndrome can last longer, and in others the benefits are enjoyed a few days after giving up the joints.
Related article: “5 excuses for cannabis smokers not to quit”
What is the best way to quit marijuana?
The best method to quit marijuana is psychotherapy, especially when working with an addiction professional. Psychotherapy allows the person to:
Know yourself in depth and understand how marijuana addiction developed.
Detect the personal difficulties that the person was trying to face using marijuana.
Practice new strategies to deal with unpleasant emotions on a daily basis, so that you no longer need to smoke a joint to feel good.
Prepare a good relapse prevention strategy adapted to the person.
My name is Luis Miguel Real, and I am a psychologist specializing in addictions. Over the years I have helped hundreds of people overcome their addiction problems, in many cases cannabis dependence.
If you have understood that you need to quit marijuana to fully enjoy your life and achieve your goals, contact me and we will get to work on your case as soon as possible.
