Marijuana Addiction & Recovery Support Group

I think the illusion of control is what keeps many people from quitting. That is something the AA book talks about, which is sold at MA meetings and which 12 steps are adapted for marijuana anonymous (MA), too.

The AA book says something like it is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker [user] to control and enjoy his drinking. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.

I spent years wishing I could control and moderate my use. When I learned that like alcoholism, addiction involves "an allergy of the body, an obsession of the mind, and the phenomenon of craving" which can only be arrested by abstinance, and using the spiritual guidelines of the 12 steps can give us a removal of the obsession to use.

Yeah some people don't want to quit that's fine. When people do and find they cannot and they can reach out to others who like them have used support of eachother with a common goal to live clean. I'm going on 5 years clean and sober and I use MA and AA and I don't miss being high - I get high on life. That's just for me.

I am a non-user in relationship with a user. I check this sg regularly to find insight into why people use - what might be considered "addiciton". I've tried to keep an open mind and a tolerance for my beau who uses regularly for "medicinal" reasons, to "help sleep", to "enhance the experience". We're breaking up over the mj issue because although he thinks he is in control, his behavior, frequency of use, deception around it indicates he is not. I do know people who smoke occasionally and they claim it's an indulgence, that it doesn't rule them, that if it bothers their partner, they'll quit. I have difficulty with this level of use, too, mainly because it's still an illegal substance.
This is not a forum for debate on whether it should or should not be legalized. But the fact that it is illegal makes it impossible for me to tolerate.

I agree with Loved1 about marijuana addiction and applaud her for her continued sobriety. It is so much more fun to be with someone who is not high - who is clear and connected to self and others and engaged with life.

Thank you.

I think 90% of so called therapeutic pot use is bogus---little more than an excuse to get high.
It is proven to help cancer patients with post-chemo nausea and lack of appetite, but beyond that, not much if any therapeutic value.

in my few years of experience with cannabis clubs and their patients, it is clear that the majority of 'medicinal marijuana' patients are merely pot junkies in disguise.

my ex thought it was therapeutic for everything, lol. He said it was an adaptogen...that it helps you with anything you try to do. Stimulate appetite before eating, helps digest after eating, helps you go to sleep, helps you wake up, helps you drive, helps you teach yoga...sure! Oh, and it's also a spiritual ritual. Even while watching cartoons? Oh of course! Who are you to judge me, from the outside, you don't know what is happening inside me. At one point I decided I'd only smoke on "special occaisons" or "celebrations." Then I thought..."every day is a special occaison! Life is a celebration!" hahaha...yep. Just a mind game. Now I don't really know if there is a healthy way to use it. I feel better off just staying away. I am enjoying life more without it.

Good post, vib!

I've had some of my most spiritual moments while gooned on the couch watching infomercials!

I had one friend dependent on pot and he said it helped him with depression and insomnia and moodiness, but I think sometimes the high is sought to just postpone the come down which causes those very things he is using the pot to treat! I don't know I just know I coudn't stay high all the time, it stopped working eventually and I was just uwing to feel normal because when I came down I started to feel like crap physically and emotionally and my life was unmanageable. It took me many years of using to get to that point where I used for any reason and all day every day for years.

Borgnine: Lol!

yes, exactly. My ex also claimed it helped him with insomnia, anger stuff, etc., but really I think that he is just putting off dealing with the real causes of those issues, which came from his childhood, and which never really got better, only avoided. And the irritability that was a part of his withdrawal when he occasionally had to go without for a little longer than he was comfortable ...well, amazingly, smoking a bowl cured it! Miracle herb! So sad, how he would say, if he didn't get high one day, he would be so overcome with energy, he didn't know what to do with himself. He saw this as a problem that weed solved...getting rid of his extra energy. Eh.

vib----I went thru the exact same thing as your ex.
Stuffing all my 'issues', dealing with them thru pot, telling myself it 'helped' when in truth it was exacerbating the problems.

This must be a very very common aspect of addiction. We think the substance helps - and in a way it does at a time when we are overwhelmed or unsure or frightened - but then it becomes the default modus operandi and we have an extra problem of addiction to deal with, and still lack the fundamental problem-dealing skills. The only way out is through,, right?