How to Stop Smoking Weed

Even as states move to legalize weed for medicinal and recreational uses, there are still a number of reasons why it could be important to stop smoking weed. The federal government still considers it illegal and many employers will continue to require you to pass a drug test before they are willing to put you behind the wheel of a delivery truck or let you be responsible for a piece of machinery.

More importantly, inhaling smoke into your lungs is never healthy, nor is it healthy for your family and friends to be around second-hand smoke. Learn how to quit smoking weed.

Why it is Hard to Stop Smoking Weed

Even with an important reason to stop smoking weed, it can still be very difficult. Before you decide to stop smoking weed, it is important that you understand these difficulties. First, smoking weed is probably a psychological habit. You use it at the end of a long day at work or over the weekend to help you unwind. It may be that you are a social smoker and you only smoke weed when you are with your friends. Second, your body may be physiologically addicted to the chemicals that smoking weed puts into your body. While there is some debate regarding how addictive weed is, it is important to understand if you are having trouble quitting because you feel a "need" for marijuana. This is because your brain is chemically looking for the reactions with the chemicals delivered by weed.

The good news is that there is help available, and most of it is inexpensive and easily available.

Break the Habit to Stop Smoking Weed

There are many ways to break the habit of smoking weed. However, it is important to understand that the most successful tools are those tools that work for you. Keep this in mind as you develop your plan:

• Understand why you smoke weed. To stop smoking weed, you need to understand when and why you smoke it. For example, do you smoke it only when you are stressed? Do you smoke it only with friends? By determining when, where, and why you smoke weed, you will be better equipped to quit. Some experts suggest keeping a journal for a few weeks before you stop smoking so that you can better understand this. While a journal might not be realistic, the concept behind the journal is good.
• Set a goal to quit. Those who try to stop smoking weed by going cold turkey generally fail within the first three months. It is important to set a goal to stop smoking weed by a specific date. Give yourself time to gradually stop smoking. Generally, this should be eight to 12 weeks.
• Gradually stop smoking weed. Once you have set a goal and you understand why and when you smoke weed, put together a plan to gradually stop smoking. For example, if you smoke weed every day after work and on the weekends, start by limiting the frequency and the amount. Maybe you move to smoking every other day for the first two weeks. The second two weeks might see you stop smoking weed on the weekends.
• Reward yourself. As you successfully accomplish your plan, provide yourself with a reward. This will help keep you motivated while you move towards your ultimate goal to stop smoking weed.
• Don't forget why. Make sure you define why you want to stop smoking weed and then don't lose focus. If you have decided to stop smoking weed to be a better parent, then put pictures of your kids in places to help keep you motivated.
• Get help from family and friends. Ask them to help you be strong, help you to avoid being tempted, and to be patient with you if you have any withdrawal symptoms.

Break the Addiction to Stop Smoking Weed

Unfortunately, the habit may only be part of the challenge to stop smoking weed. The other part is an addiction. The good news here is that there are some options available to help:

• Chantix and Zyban. These are medications that are believed to help the brain break the addiction. It is believed that they change the chemistry within the brain to break the craving and even block the receptors in the brain from being able to interact with the chemicals in weed. Unfortunately, these medications come with a downside. First, they can only be prescribed by a doctor. Second, they come with a black box warning from the FDA. This is the biggest safety warning that the FDA places on a medication because Chantix and Zyban can cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors, hostility, and depression.
• Herbal supplements. These are supplements that use natural ingredients to help the body and the brain not crave weed. The advantage to these supplements is that they are available without a prescription. In fact, you can purchase them on line without even leaving the comfort of your own home.

So, if you're ready to stop smoking weed today, we've reviewed the top solutions. Click here for more information.