[StudebacherHoch]

(07-30-2014 12:25 AM)urbannomad Wrote:  

“That shit will rob you of your ambition.” (Samuel L. Jackson said in Jackie Brown)

For some - but then again, the same thing could be said about any NUMBER of pleasurable activities including alcohol, sex, video games, Facebook, etc.

I've smoked pot for 48 years, since I was 12 years old. Pot is the ONLY stimulant I imbibe in. Now, the question at hand - did it "rob me of my ambition?" Well, since I'll be 60 in a month, it'll be a little easier to make a judgment call as to whether pot made me an "unmotivated loser living in my mom's basement" (typical prohibitionist stereotype bullshit).

Here's my life-long pot smoker scorecard:
- multi-millionaire
- successful 35 year career in finance
- semi-professional musician (have scored music for HBO and others) and photographer (my photos have appeared in several international magazines and album covers/art)
- great relationships with my family & friends
- healthy as an ox - still skateboarding pools at almost 60
- two years from retiring at my home on in a country club

You want my advice? Avoid alcohol, cocaine, or ANY other drugs like the plague!

[Satoshi]

I stopped smoking daily in November last year and didn't smoke at all since March.

Started hitting the gym and I've gained 13 kilos since then. I've been getting more social and active. Get more work done and I do it better as well. Have started reading a lot and also put more time into language learning. I've cut the cigarettes as well actually, about a month ago.

Some spent high I would usually not do much important at all, usually just listing to music, watching movies, browsing the internet or just laying in bed. Now I'm doing more productive things with the same time.

No one will stop if they don't have motivation. And going from smoking daily to sometimes is really hard, I feel for that several times. My recommendation is to stop completely, but I suggest you make your own choice.

Good luck!

[Chaos]

^ Amen to that. And congrats to those 13kgs, well done.
Did you cut down alcohol aswell?

I had my periods as a daily smoker and I haven't accomplished anything productive while being high. Still, I enjoy to having a smoke and listening to some epic music but I'm better without it.

Another thing that sucked was to relearn falling asleep sober. That was hard.
My sleep was definitely better after a fag and I slept like a log.
Now I sleep significantly less and I'm often more tired.

Seems like we all have a bit of different experience from smoking but personally, I'm better without it.

[Cr33pin]

I smoked everyday towards the end of highschool and a few years after until I joined the Air Force... then I quit cause I certainly didnt want to get kicked out of the AF for smoking pot. When I got out of the Air Force and started to blaze again it just wasn't the same... it usually made me feel paranoid and uneasy. So I pretty much didn't smoke anymore.

Fast forward 10 years later I tried to smoke again and it was hit or miss.. sometimes I would get high and things would be funny and I enjoyed it, sometimes I would get high and have a panic attack, and a few times I would get high and it just took me to a dark dark place...

Every now and then I will take one toke if its around and offered but I usually just say no to drugs. LAst time I smoked was at a MGMT concert in Peru like 5 or 6 months ago

[Floyd]

Tobacco definitely has symbiotic relationships with both weed and alcohol for me. Both seem to lead back to smoking cigarettes regularly, then I'm not taking care of myself which fuels the idea I might as well drink and toke a bit more. I'm trying to move to pure toking without tobacco and its increasingly likely I will need to stay out of the pub for a while; although I do manage to not drink alcohol at least 50 percent of the time while out. I only really enjoy it as a social lubricant.

Boredom due to not enough meaningful activities that day, loneliness caused by involuntary isolation rather than prearranged me time which actually nourishes my psyche, and overwhelming anxiety fueled by undispelled energy (Testosterone) from lack of exercise that day, and/or currently inadequate sexual options are the main fuels in the fire for me and overuse.

If your struggling to reach your goals with weed whether they be sustained moderation or abstinence I have found based on past experience and victories its a case of tipping the balance. First port of call being to get some additional support other than from you to yourself. A good friend or circle of them, wise family members, a counselor or priest/religious friend, a decent therapist or therapy group and/or a support group like the 12 step fellowship or SMART recovery if necessary.

All the reasons you smoke weed excessively are there waiting for you each time you attempt sustained moderation or abstinence. Refill your life with quality people and meaningful activities that you enjoy and challenge your somewhat sedimented state of affairs from pot. You'll find these 'reasons' tend to kick in stronger while your alone tempting you to pop out and grab a little smoke just for the evening...You've worked hard all day and its not like its expensive. Your feeling restless and a bit bored just chilling in front of the box. Your not going to be seeing her until Friday, your not up for the football game with your mates at the bar in town, nobody wants to hear about your battles with weed blah blah blah...oh fuck it...easier just to get stoned.Dazed and confused all over again.

Man this weed shit sure is clever. Just when I think I might have got it licked and peeled off all the layers I look around and its standing right there behind me, smiling, giving me that look. As if to say ' It ain't over yet man. I got your hind-brain in my hands and your balls on a platter. You can try all the tricks in the world to get rid of me or try and keep me in a box which you can open when you want me. Hell you can even post on forums about wanting and how to give me up. But at the end of the day I'm going to keep kicking your ass until you stop believing I'm the answer to something.' Anyway, Best of luck with the struggle guys.

[jamaicabound]

I smoke weed daily, I don't necessarily think that smoking weed enhances my life in any way so for that reason I wouldn't mind cutting it out but as with many things it's a habit and it's hard to break. I typically don't smoke until after 9pm at night after I got most of my stuff done for the day adn am going to watch a show or read a book and go to bed so in that sense its not like I'm lazy throughout the day due to smoking. I would say I wake up a bit more cloudy headed than if I don't smoke before bed.

[heavy]

This is interesting. I'd never done any illicit drugs in my life until around 30 when I tried weed a couple times. In the last few years I've still only tried it a few times.

That said, I actually want to start smoking more. I will probably smoke more in the near future. I wish they would legalize it in my state, and I hope the trend continues to normalize the use of it.

I always heard high sex is unbelievable, and I can say...last time I smoked I had some of the best sex of my life. It was an amazing night of sex. Of course, it was a one night stand.

[Floyd]

Agreed. A matter of degrees and where your at in your relationship with it. Weed can be fun and I still live my life, but there's always that creeping feeling I'd live it a lot more with little if any weed in it. Just where I'm at.

[jamaicabound]

(11-02-2015 12:08 PM)heavy Wrote:  

This is interesting. I'd never done any illicit drugs in my life until around 30 when I tried weed a couple times. In the last few years I've still only tried it a few times.

That said, I actually want to start smoking more. I will probably smoke more in the near future. I wish they would legalize it in my state, and I hope the trend continues to normalize the use of it.

I always heard high sex is unbelievable, and I can say...last time I smoked I had some of the best sex of my life. It was an amazing night of sex. Of course, it was a one night stand.

Weed and sex is an interesting combo, I feel like you can kind of lose yourself in the experience when stoned. Always enjoy sex but you kind of lose your sense of time and other things going on and just are totally in the moment, sometimes heightened sensations as well. NOthing betterthan just laying around for hours fucking and smoking and fucking and smoking all night or day long.

[HonantheBarbarian]

Ugh

I hate to admit this but I am a heavy smoker. And I love it. I toke at least 3-4 relatively large bowls of very potent stuff throughout the day. Almost like a breakfast, lunch and dinner type deal.

I smoke more than almost everyone in my normal day to day life. Even other smokers are taken back at times. I smoke before my workouts to "tune in" and focus. Then I smoke after to wind down and chill and get ready to eat.

I do like to think that despite all this I still get a lot of work done. But I'd be a liar and a fool if I said I wouldnt be much more productive if I just kicked the habit entirely. It's been almost a decade now and I've tried to concoct and realize all sorts of reasons to quit, but a while back I just finally made peace with the fact that it's a habit I thoroughly enjoy, and that everyone essentially has their vices. Am I really any better or worse than someone who is glued to Facebook several hours a day?

One thing that I have changed is that I NEVER under any circumstances leave the house smelling of it. I can't begin to say what a massive Lowering of value it is, when someone walks up to you and opens their mouth and reeks of skunk breath. I've noticed it with customers at work and decided I'll never make that impression on people. If I'm going to smoke than I need to at least cover my tracks and be somewhat discreet.

[jbkunt2]

I smoked weed a lot for a solid 8 years.

I stopped at around 23. I'm 28 now.

I highly recommend kicking the habit to anyone who does. It's counter productive, unhealthy and makes you content I
- saps motivation.

[Giovonny]

MODERATION!!!

Don't smoke everyday! Don't let it become your main source of fun, happiness, passion, exhilaration, ecstasy, euphoria, "flow", YOU MUST CREATE THESE TYPE OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS FROM YOUR NORMAL, SOBER BRAIN. YOU MUST ENJOY YOUR LIFE!

Don't relay on weed to have an exciting life! Make your life fun.

Much of the reason why I live my life the way I do -- gaming younger girls, etc. -- is because I need my life to be exciting. If my life is not exciting, I run the risk of becoming depressed, anti-social, and unhappy.

--

When I was smoking too much, what helped me cut back was substituting it with some coffee or tea, this will give a slight jolt and that made things easier. Also, I would eat a lot of berries because berries are fun to eat and they give a little boost which takes me my mind of off the weed. Chewing gum sometimes helped. Ginger chews are fun sometimes or any gummy type of candy.

But, really, the #1 thing is you have to do is make your life more exciting and exhilarating.
--

I recommend that young people, people in their teens and 20s, hold off on smoking weed for as long as possible. The brain is not even fully developed until the mid 20s, I believe.. If you do smoke, please do it in moderation. Teenagers should not be smoking! The brain is too young and life is stimulating enough! I didn't start til I was 25

[rishboy77]

I surprised nobody mentioned edibles so far in the whole discussion.
Pro's - no smoke or smell, lasts much longer in your body since it goes into your bloodstream, can be taken most places since brownies look and taste like the real ones, etc

Personally I find I sleep better with the weed but it is true you wake up sometimes feeling lethargic.
That said I find I drink and smoke tobacco a lot less with the brownies.
They are easy to make at home.

[OGNorCal707]

Smoking a lot of weed can have it's pros and cons, positive and negative attributes, a lot of it depends on the person and the circumstances of their situation.

For sure it will make most people a lot more lazy and less motivated to do things which generally overall we can agree is a negative. However as cannabis improves and advances there are constantly new varietals being produced so a big part of the equation is finding a specific strain that works for you, depending on what you're looking for.

Generally sativa strains have a more uplifting and energetic affect which will be better for daytime smoking, before accomplishing chores or errands, or social situations. Whereas indica varieties are usually known for a heavier "stone" affect that often is heavy in the body, creating a more sedated effect that isn't as ideal for daytime, but can be good for pain relief, or alleviating stress or anxiety, relaxation, getting a good night's sleep, etc.

So aside from knowing what type to smoke, it's also good to have self control and moderation, if you know smoking is going to inhibit you from accomplishing work then put it off till later after you've got stuff done.

One thing that is a positive about smoking ganja is that it can really mellow you out and help you let go of a lot of stress and anxiety, and possibly deal with other issues like anger, etc. Sure there is often the negative stereotype about the burned out stoner who's too "mellow", but I think there is something to be said for being laid back, grounded, having a greater appreciation of nature, simple things in life, stepping outside of mainstream thinking and the cookie-cutter 9-5 lifestyle that so many people live.

[crazyfingers]

I think I liked it better when it was illegal.

[Cyr]

I went from smoking 5 or 6 days a week and getting really high at least twice a week, to quitting completely cold turkey.
I did this at the end of September/ the start of October.
Here are a few of my observations:
- It was surprisingly easy. There are only a couple of occasions a week when I think that I'd really like a joint, and even then its just a fleeting thought.
- It definitely impairs intelligence (at least for me). I've started university at the same time as I quit smoking, and over the past month, I've found my work getting easier and easier, as I get smarter again.
- My game has improved a lot since I quit smoking and I'm pulling a lot more. Fairly self explanatory, but I think getting to high has cost me a lot of bangs.

[Brian Shima]

Dab and Vape Life. Much smoother, cleaner high.

[Mojorisin808]

I smoked for around 15 years, almost daily. I quit a few years ago because I didn't enjoy it anymore. Something changed, I started getting anxiety every time I took a few hits, almost like a panic attack. Not sure if all the years smoking messed up my serotonin levels or what. It's a shame, because I do miss it. I think within moderation it's not bad.

[steak]

I'd like to share my experience of successfully going from smoking weed basically every day to becoming an occasional pot smoker. For the last 3 years I smoked not quite every day, but close to it. I would take breaks for a week or two at a time but by most people's standards I got high a lot. The truth is I just really liked to smoke weed and it provided a lot of positive traits in my life.

But there were definitely downsides, it hindered my ability to learn new things at a pace I wanted in life. I noticed I was smoking shitty weed that wasn't even getting me high because it was just habitual.

So here's what I did. I went to a place in the USA where it is legal and for about a month I smoked some of the best shit that exists, like 27% thc and it was awesome... for about a month. Then I flew back to my third world paradise and I no longer have any desire to smoke. I actually got weed one time smoked for a night and then threw it out because I just didn't want it.

I think my process of psychologically getting over it went like this. I realized I had a bit of a problem -> I had the best of the best got my fill -> I went to an environment where I couldn't get that good shit anymore. It was all on my terms psychologically speaking. If I were offered a bag of really good weed I can honestly say I would probably smoke it once, and then probably throw it out the next day because I know I wouldn't want it before it became dry and less potent. It wasn't difficult at all for some reason.

[RiskIt4Biscuit]

Know thyself and all that.

What you will notice is people saying different things about grass, because it is slightly different for everybody. I say it`s highly individual.
Some can smoke all day and go through life successfull, while others will end up as the posterchild of the anti-propaganda machine aka the stupid lazy stoner who don`t get shit done. Some fall somewhere in between.
There is no right or wrong for everybody, it is just what`s right or wrong for you..
You will know what it is..

But there`s a reason for the saying old habits die hard.
Weed is easy to quit, and stay away from, when you are motivated.
Even then you might fall back into it weeks, months or years later..
I believe it`s the old circuits in the brain firing up again (old habits)
The more you do it the stronger the circuits gets (correct me if i`m wrong here)
You will notice it best if you smoke several days in a row after abstaining for a long time (if you are one of the ones who had problems with it), not so much, if any at all, if you just do it once every blue moon..
Of course, if you are getting more consequences (paranoia ect) than benefits from it, you shouldn`t even do it at rare occasions.

Moral of the story is weed is not a one-size fits all thing.
If you have issues with it you could try different strains. CBD heavy grass could work better for the ones who loves the high, but experience consequences from blazing it.
If that don`t work you probably know what the right decision is and quitting should be easy.

[temsike]

Anything that demotivates you or makes you lazy should be avoided or used in moderation. That includes masturbation, porn, video games, and cannabis.

For this older guy, sex + cannabis = 10. Sex - cannabis = 7 (at best). I always smoke before sex and I prefer women that do also.

[hydrogonian]

After a 15 year regular habit, at times all day almost every day, I more or less quit 5 years ago.

While there are times when I think that some would be nice, the 15 year haze left me with a legit appreciation for the mental clarity of sobriety.

Also, I feel like I have the lungs of an older smoker. Don't let anyone tell you that MJ does not do lung damage.

I'm also on my way to being fully sober of alcohol, though I haven't had a real taste for that since my early twenties. It's only the social environment that keeps me occasionally partaking as I almost never crave it. Though, when I do partake I can easily go overboard on liquor. I hope to soon arrange my life so that I can avoid it altogether as I'd rather experience what long term and complete sobriety can do for my emotional and overall cognitive state. Right now, I'm probably averaging once every two months or so. I want to extend that.

Most people have an idea that these drugs are only affecting you around the time that you consume them, but in fact they lead to long term structural changes in the brain that take a long time to correct. I want to experience the correction.

If I were to take up MJ again, I'd be a super snob for pure sativa / land race strains. I'd have no desire for indica strains and their side effects.

[hydrogonian]

(11-04-2015 09:53 PM)Mojorisin808 Wrote:  

I smoked for around 15 years, almost daily. I quit a few years ago because I didn't enjoy it anymore. Something changed, I started getting anxiety every time I took a few hits, almost like a panic attack. Not sure if all the years smoking messed up my serotonin levels or what. It's a shame, because I do miss it. I think within moderation it's not bad.

I experienced something similar, but it was when I quit that I got the anxiety.

A little known fact is that MJ affects the brains natural amphetamine pathway. This is likely why some people, such as myself, are motivated to accomplish tasks on it and why it stops my mind from wandering to everything else but the present. It acts in-part like a herbal adderall physiologically speaking, even if the net feeling is different.

Like all amphetamine acting substances, long term use can impart anxiety either after a lot of continued use or, I suppose, when one quits and until the mind readjusts.

[Phazlenut]

(07-23-2014 08:14 AM)BoiBoi Wrote:  

Has anyone of you gone from longterm stoner to "responsible" once-a-while-smoker? If so, how did you do it?

The same way we abandon the other tenets of hapless modern consumerism for the productive, creative ways of the past.

In other words, grow your own, blaze your own. Barring some very uncommon geographical circumstances, you should get at least one planting season a year outdoors, and barring some extreme financial hardship, you should be able to get limitless indoor grows.

[HonantheBarbarian]

Just wanted to chime in on this old but very positive and informative thread.

I started smoking weed 10 years ago, and it remained a daily recurring habit during that entire time.

About 2 weeks ago, I ran out of my "stash" and I decided not to hit my dealer up again for more. I am now going on close to 3 weeks of smoking zero pot after consuming it 4-6 times a day in large quantities for a straight decade, and I want to share my experience with any other guys here who are thinking of finally jumping off the wagon. I am 28 and going on 29, and I realized that it just isn't a good look for me anymore. I have an addictive personality and im not the kind of person who can smoke once in a while and leave it at that. If I have some on me, im going through it. So I decided to separate myself completely from it and just restart my reality without weed.

The first two or three days were absolutely miserable. It was one of the strangest feelings I ever had. I was both lethargic and fatigued, while at the same time manic and energetic. Sort of like the feeling you get when you drink a little too much redbull, but someone spiked the redbull with Percocet. After about day 4 this feeling slowly went away and was replaced by... boredom.

I didn't realize, until I achieved clarity, just how much time and productivity I would sacrifice on the green stuff. I made excuses like "It helps me with my art, it helps me get better workouts and eat better". Its all bullshit male hamster, man. All it helped me do was procrastinate and run away from my destiny.

Since I have stopped I have:
-Harder boners

-Gained 4-6 lbs of lean muscle mass, which has been noticed and commented on by multiple people. I have gained so much good weight you can see it in my jawline. I eat voraciously, junk food grosses me out. Id rather have a homemade ribeye and cook it my damn self

-Started waking up at 7AM even though my alarm has always been traditionally set to 9:30AM. Eventually I just disabled the alarm on my phone since it wasn't necessary

-Started taking cold ass showers, completely unprompted. The idea of doing this in a stony haze was unfathomable

-Started fixing shit around my house that I didn't even realize needed fixing before

-I drink lots of water now. I always hated drinking water, since it doesn't taste like anything preferring orange fanta instead. I now view it as a beautiful, nourishing substance and plan on getting a fluoride filter

-Better social acumen, I was always sharp, but now im on another level with people and they notice

Since I have stopped I realize:

-My habit was pushing good people away and attracting toxic losers

-My habit was cockblocking the shit out of me. Weed game only works on girls that smoke weed. Which is awesome, but there are so many women out there I needlessly alienated because they couldn't relate to my habit

-My habit was cockblocking my friends. Cause we would all go somewhere together with a group of hot chicks and I would sneak off into a back alley to get my smoke in. This made my entire group look lame, it would fuck up our logistics, and I was completely unaware of it

-Even when I thought I was "killing it" at life, I could have been "nuking it to oblivion" sober

Last night was a close (stoner) friends' birthday, and I wanted to go out to chill with him, but I realized I would more than likely relapse once the smoke hit my nostrils. So I passed. My goal is to reach 90 days, to where my brain is completely rewired to be sober. I still drink a hell of a lot of bourbon, but this is a nighttime habit that I don't see as anywhere near as destructive or pervasive.

I'd like to credit my man Travesty, im not sure which thread it was, I think it was on the newbie forum somewhere that he said to figure out what all your bad habits are and cut them out one by one cold turkey and embrace the discomfort. It resonated it with me and I put it to action immediately.