- Throw out all your pot, as well as any supplies or devices. If you remove the things that make it easy for you to start smoking again, you might be less likely to give in to your cravings.
- Flush any remaining weed down the toilet, so you can't simply dig it out of the trash later.
- Destroy all of your supplies. Or, if you can't render them useless, throw them into a disgusting dumpster so you're not tempted to climb in and get them. (You might want to wrap them in a discreet trash bag first, though.)
- Flush any remaining weed down the toilet, so you can't simply dig it out of the trash later.
- 2Make your decision clear to your support system. Tell trustworthy friends and family members what you're doing, and ask for their support in quitting. You'll probably find that they're thrilled to see you quit and support you however they can.
- This is especially important if you want to remain close to people who are active smokers. Tell them that you're not trying to get them to quit, but you'd appreciate it if they don't pressure you into using. If you get no support from anyone or if they try to get you to "join in", consider whether that person really belongs in your life if he/she can't respect your choices and requests.
- This is especially important if you want to remain close to people who are active smokers. Tell them that you're not trying to get them to quit, but you'd appreciate it if they don't pressure you into using. If you get no support from anyone or if they try to get you to "join in", consider whether that person really belongs in your life if he/she can't respect your choices and requests.
- 3Prepare for withdrawal. The good news is it's temporary: marijuana withdrawal begins 1 day after you quit cold turkey, hits a peak after 2 or 3 days, and eventually levels off after 1 or 2 weeks[1]. The bad news is, there are symptoms. You might not experience any or all of them, but it's important to have a plan in place for what you'll do about them instead of going back to pot. Here are some suggestions for common symptoms[2]:
- Sleeplessness: Try to avoid caffeine for the first few days, and hit the hay as soon as you're tired in the evening.
- Decreased appetite: You might feel nauseated at first. Try to eat bland foods that are easy on the stomach, such as bananas, rice, toast, oatmeal and apples.
- Irritability: As you experience the mood swings that accompany withdrawal, you might find yourself quick to anger or prone to crying. Plan for these ahead of time, and when they happen try to take a step back and acknowledge what's happening. Tell yourself, "This isn't me, and this isn't the situation. It's the withdrawal." Repeat it as often as you need to.
- Anxiety: Feeling on-edge or generally out of sorts is a common symptom of withdrawal that can come with quitting any drug. When you have a spare minute, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and remember that withdrawal is only temporary.
- Sleeplessness: Try to avoid caffeine for the first few days, and hit the hay as soon as you're tired in the evening.
- 4Find a replacement activity. Instead of using, devote your new free time to a hobby or sport. Try to make it something you can do as quickly and easily as lighting up — such asplaying guitar or going for a run — and turn to it whenever you're tempted.
- 5Stick with it. The worst of the withdrawal should be over in a week or two, and we've all heard that saying about how it takes three weeks to make or break a habit. By the time a month's passed, you should be completely in the clear and free of your addiction. It might seem like an eternity while you're dealing with it, but try to remember that it's not that long.
- Plan a small celebration a month from your quit date. Having a milestone to look forward to can help you stay on-track, and you can use it as an excuse for a small reward like a night out or a present to yourself.
- Plan a small celebration a month from your quit date. Having a milestone to look forward to can help you stay on-track, and you can use it as an excuse for a small reward like a night out or a present to yourself.
Method Two: Quitting Gradually
- 1Set a goal for when you want to be completely pot-free. Scheduling it somewhere between 2 weeks and a month out should make it close enough that you don't lose sight of it, but not so close that tapering off feels impossible.
- 2Establish a tapering plan. Plot out how much you'll use between now and your quit date. Try to make it a linear process — for example, at the halfway point between today and the quit date, you should be using half as much as you are now.
- Put your plan on a calendar, marking how much you'll use for every day, and stick to it. Put the calendar in a place where you have to look at it every day, like next to the bathroom mirror or on the refrigerator.
- Put your plan on a calendar, marking how much you'll use for every day, and stick to it. Put the calendar in a place where you have to look at it every day, like next to the bathroom mirror or on the refrigerator.
- 3Portion out your pot ahead of time. Instead of relying on yourself in the moment to only take what's in your tapering plan, set up your portions ahead of time. That way you don't have to think about it — you just take what you've promised yourself you will.
- 4Find distractions. As your pot use tapers down and you're spending less time using, find activities to do immediately after you smoke. Transition straight from that to doing another hobby or sport you enjoy, so that you don't have time to notice the difference.
Method Three: Seeking Professional Help
- 1Visit a psychiatrist for pharmacological help. A medical doctor (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathy (D.O) can prescribe medications designed to help you ease off of marijuana.
- Make sure you're committed to quitting before you make an appointment. Not only is visiting a doctor expensive, but many will not take you as a patient again if you continually relapse.
- Make sure you're committed to quitting before you make an appointment. Not only is visiting a doctor expensive, but many will not take you as a patient again if you continually relapse.
- 2See a therapist. If there are underlying issues that are driving your marijuana use — such as depression or anxiety — talking them through with a professional could help you quit. If possible, try to find someone who specializes in addiction issues.
- Look at different modalities. There are several modalities, or types of therapy, that might be appropriate for pot addiction. Talk therapy is the most common kind, but you might also investigate cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- Look at different modalities. There are several modalities, or types of therapy, that might be appropriate for pot addiction. Talk therapy is the most common kind, but you might also investigate cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- 3Join a support group. If you're having a hard time quitting on your own because of peer pressure or a lack of confidence, a support group might be the answer for you.
- Narcotics Anonymous is in several countries, and provides free membership and meetings. Search online for groups in your area.
- Narcotics Anonymous is in several countries, and provides free membership and meetings. Search online for groups in your area.
- 4Check into inpatient rehab. If nothing else has worked and your marijuana addiction is seriously endangering your health and happiness, you might need the extreme help that inpatient rehab offers.
- Exhaust all your other options first. Rehab is difficult and expensive, and not something you should enter lightly. If you are truly out of choices, though, it might be the best thing.
- Find out how many inpatient days your insurance company will cover.
- Exhaust all your other options first. Rehab is difficult and expensive, and not something you should enter lightly. If you are truly out of choices, though, it might be the best thing.
EditTips
- Look around on the internet for site's containing information about Cannabis use and dependency. Reading about other peoples experiences can help give you an idea of how to tackle your addiction.
- You have to want to quit before you can. Weigh the benefits of quitting against the benefits of consumption; find something about sobriety that is appealing to you, and make it your goal.
- Write down things that you will soon be able to afford with your spare cash, and keep reading them.
- Quitting cold- turkey is the most effective.
- Twenty minutes exercise during periods of intense withdrawal can ease symptoms.
- Sleep most of the time in the beginning stages if you can get away with it.
- Try autosuggestion. Think repeatedly "I will quit smoking weed." See How to Use Autosuggestion.
EditWarnings
- Limit contact and time spent around people who continue to indulge. Even though they may be your friends, peer pressure is often a major issue with quitting cannabis.
- Throw out all your pot, as well as any supplies or devices. If you remove the things that make it easy for you to start smoking again, you might be less likely to give in to your cravings.
WarningsLimit contact and time spent around people who continue to indulge. Even though they may be your friends, peer pressure is often a major issue with quitting cannabis.
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