If you think you’re addicted to marijuana, now might be the ideal time to figure out how to stop smoking weed fast. Marijuana legalization in Texas is complex and ever-evolving, but one thing that hasn’t changed (as of now, at least) is that recreational use is still illegal. That means you can face legal trouble and costly fines if you’re caught smoking or selling marijuana (though there are ongoing efforts in the state legislature to lower criminal penalties).
Your criminal record isn’t the only thing you’re jeopardizing with chronic marijuana use. While you can take cannabis products such as CBD oil for certain medical conditions in Texas, these products must be low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that’s responsible for the drug’s high. Smoking marijuana regularly can lead to addiction, as well as a higher risk of side effects such as:
- Sleepiness or dizziness
- Headaches
- Dry mouth or eyes
- Nausea.
- Hallucinations
- Weight gain from increased appetite
- Elevated heart rate
- Poor fetal development
- Lack of coordination or slow reaction times
- Mental health problems such as anxiety or depression
If your marijuana use is uncontrolled, you need to learn how to stop smoking weed every day. There are a few ways to achieve this goal, but perhaps the best is with the assistance of professionals who are trained in addiction treatment.
How to Stop Smoking Weed Cold Turkey
You’re probably familiar with this method, in which substance abuse comes to a sudden stop. Quitting marijuana cold turkey, without tapering off or going through an established program, seems simple, but there can be consequences. Marijuana, like other drugs, can cause withdrawal symptoms when chronic use ends. If this is how you stop smoking weed, you may experience:
- Mood swings (irritability, nervousness, anxiety)
- Sleep disturbances
- Headaches
- Fever, accompanied by sweating or chills
- Decreased appetite
How to Handle Withdrawal Symptoms
Unfortunately, withdrawal symptoms may persist for several days, which can make it tempting to start smoking marijuana again. To increase your chances of success, follow these tips:
- Let people know about your plan: It’s hard to quit marijuana on your own. Build a network of trusted friends or loved ones to offer support and accountability.
- Address the “whys” of your marijuana use: Examine the reasons you started smoking. Are you in a stressful job, or do you hang with a crowd where social marijuana use is encouraged? When you identify the reason why you use marijuana, you can then develop healthy coping habits to rely on instead. If your boss is driving your team too hard, blow off steam with a vigorous after-work gym session. Or join a yoga class to meet friends in a healthier environment. Find what works for you.
- Fill your time wisely: Idle hours with nothing to do can be spent getting high—or you could be more productive by participating in a hobby or class, or investing time in relationships with friends and family.
- Prepare for withdrawal: Stay hydrated, eat a healthy diet, and practice stress-reducing techniques like deep breathing to help mitigate withdrawal symptoms. You may also want to have a family member or friend check in on you to make sure you’re doing okay. Most importantly, If you ever start to feel overwhelmed by withdrawal symptoms, contact your doctor.
How to Stop Smoking Weed Gradually
If you’re trying to learn how to stop smoking weed daily, a cold-turkey approach may sound daunting. That’s when you want to take it slowly, perhaps over the course of a few weeks. Once you’ve got a date to reach your goal, you’ll want to:
- Determine your tapering approach: Some people may opt to just use their remaining stash, and stop there. Others may want to cut down on the frequency of use—if they smoke a couple times a day, they’ll transition to once a day, then to every other day, and so on. Finally, another option is to use products with weaker THC levels to wean your body off marijuana’s effects.
- Give yourself a reward for progress: Set goals for the end of each week. When you meet them, give yourself a reward. This could be anything from a nice dinner at your favorite restaurant to new clothes. Like the cold-turkey method, this is where a network of friends comes in handy to cheer you on and keep you on track.
- Meet with a counselor: The gradual approach to quitting gives you the luxury of time. During these weeks, meet with a professional therapist who can help you look at the role marijuana use plays in your life and give you tools for moving forward.
- Create safe spaces. This can be a tough time of transition if your social life revolves around weed. You may need to set boundaries, tell friends you can’t smoke with them, or decline attendance to events where marijuana use will be prevalent.
How to Stop Smoking Weed With Help
You may decide that you need the support and structure offered by a rehab program, especially if you want to know how to stop smoking weed every day. When choosing a program:
- Find an experienced provider: You’ll want the expertise found with a proven drug addiction treatment program. Find a center where the admissions team can talk to you specifically about marijuana treatment.
- Decide if you want residential or outpatient rehab: You can live at home and continue with your daily routines when you are in outpatient care. However, inpatient treatment gives you a place to focus on recovery without distraction.
- Look for customized care: A rehab facility should provide individualized treatment plans with an approach that encompasses different therapies, such as 12-step support groups or family counseling.
- Don’t forget about aftercare: You may want extra help in the early days of recovery. A quality rehab facility should offer a full continuum of care, including follow-up programs after treatment ends.
Call Stonegate Center for Marijuana Rehab
Our evidence-based treatment and faith-centered principles can help you learn how to stop smoking weed and start living a life free of drugs. Contact us at Stonegate Center to learn more.
