Marijuana has helped millions of people treat their medical conditions. It also provides enjoyment for people who want to use it for recreational purposes. However, there are plenty of good reasons to stop smoking marijuana.
Some people need to prepare for circumstances where, unfortunately, the law or their employer doesn’t want them smoking. Others may want to switch up their lifestyle, and quitting weed can be the jumpstart they need to do it.
Others may be worried about their health, their finances, their motivation, or their life choices in general. Their reasons not to smoke weed outweigh the benefits that cannabis once gave them.
So, if you have considered quitting, here are few great reasons to stop smoking marijuana — either temporarily or permanently — and the benefits it can provide.
Poor Lung Health
One of the best reasons to stop smoking marijuana is because of the damage it can do to your lungs. However this does not mean you cannot consume cannabis for medical or recreational purposes. There are other options such as vaping, edibles, and even swallowing capsules. These options are safer for your body, with no research indicating any kind of risk associated with consuming them.
Marijuana is a safe substance, it’s just not the best idea to consistently inhale burning compounds. So find a different channel to consume your weed if you feel your throat getting sore or irritated from smoking.
High Costs and Personal Budgeting
Another one of the most common reasons to stop smoking marijuana is because weed can be expensive! At around 200-300 dollars for an ounce, not everyone can afford to indulge.
If you find yourself having trouble budgeting, marijuana is an easy target to lower your non-essential spending.
You’ll quickly discover that quitting provides extra cash in your pocket at the end of the week. This benefit alone makes for a strong incentive. It’s one of the main reasons not to smoke weed, either temporarily or permanently.
If you smoke too often, taking a 100 percent break can also help you cut back on your expenses. You can build up your tolerance and revert to smoking just occasionally, such as on weekends or special occasions.
Gaining control over your habits can, therefore, be a great first step towards building better personal and fiscal responsibility overall.
An Employer or Criminal Court Test
Another one of the most important reasons to stop smoking marijuana is to preserve your personal freedom. Holding down a job that requires mandatory drug tests or having a court day scheduled are strong reasons not to smoke weed. Drug testing is an unfortunate reality of the world we live in. Those convicted of crimes are often required to submit to screenings for drugs that have little or nothing to do with their charges.
Workplaces can also randomly drug test people without suspicion or cause — if stated in your contract. Regardless of the reasoning, failing a mandatory drug test can land you in jail or cause you to lose your job.
If these are the risks you’re facing, not smoking is the only responsible way to respond to the situation.
Not Enjoying it Anymore
Many people quit smoking because it starts to affect them differently, especially as they get older. The number one culprit is anxiety. As people have more responsibilities, the anxiety-inducing side effects of certain strains can cause them to worry.
Worse, some people have trouble motivating themselves to do necessary chores after smoking. This creates a vicious cycle — people worry about things but can’t put the effort they need into changing or fixing them.
For those suffering from anxiety, there are marijuana strains for anxiety that help manage the condition. But, if they already smoke, taking a break or quitting could be the cure they need.
Other people may no longer enjoy the sensation of being high. They can get sleepy with some strains and over-excited with others. They may decide they don’t like smoking, vaping or eating weed.
If you’ve fallen out of love with something like cannabis, there’s nothing holding you back from quitting. Saying “no” to buying pot or accepting weed you’ve been offered can be a step towards establishing personal boundaries and exercising self-control.
Need to Change Your Habits
Make no mistake— certain strains of weed can spark your creativity.
Some of the most accomplished creative minds, artists, and business people smoke weed. This includes Mark Zuckerberg, Maya Angelou, Martha Stewart, Michael Phelps, LeBron James, Michael Bloomberg, and tons more.
But something that helps some people can be a distraction to others. Marijuana tends to make you more easily amused, and boredom is often the true motivator behind people changing their lives around.
Some people find their weed-smoking habits eventually interfere with their life. They may not do household chores, or they may forget important responsibilities. They may also put off taking the initiative to start a new business, for instance, or begin exercising more.
Cutting weed out of your life — even temporarily — can often help you reorganize your priorities and begin scheduling your day differently.
Avoid Other Bad Things
Some people have triggers that make them do things they regret. And for lots of us, that trigger can be weed. People trying to lose weight may have a hard time struggling with the munchies, for instance. Others may get addicted to hard drugs or alcohol, and smoking weed makes them want to do it all over again.
If your reasons to not smoke weed are really reasons to not do other things after you smoke, then wanting to stop completely is understandable.
Get Better Sleep
Even some of the best marijuana strains for insomnia can have side effects that harm your ability to get deep, natural sleep. Since many people tend to smoke at night, they may have less-restful sleep or wake up feeling a “haze over.”
Not smoking can help restore balance to your brain chemicals and earn you some restful, deep sleep with full REM cycles. It can also help you wake up without feeling groggy or tired.
Clear Thoughts and Emotions
Marijuana is a psychoactive drug, make no mistake about it. While the effects can be enjoyable and beneficial, there is no doubt that it alters your brain chemistry.
The more you smoke, the longer you would have to stop for your brain chemistry to be completely restored. Some studies even show that marijuana hurts dopamine production, making it harder to feel satisfied or get motivated to do things.
Some people notice this effect when everything they experience seems to be covered by a haze. They may miss their normal range of emotions, or they may want to experience life without having things “enhanced” by THC.
What Are Your Reasons to Stop Smoking Marijuana?
The things we listed above are all solid reasons to not smoke weed, but they may not be yours.
If you have quit smoking, want to quit, or have experience taking a long break, then tell us why you decided to do it. Write your story in the comments below, and maybe you’ll inspire others to make the life changes they need to feel happy and in control.
