The Fog I Created with Marijuana

This isn’t just another anti-marijuana article or some sort of political statement about whether marijuana should be legalized/decriminalized. I was hesitant to write this blog because I figure many will not read it and some might even respond in anger.

Following is what I experienced after habitually smoking large quantities of marijuana every day from the ages of 16 to 21. I used other drugs as well, though the lasting side effects of the marijuana use had a surprising effect on me.

By the time I went into treatment for polysubstance abuse at 21, I was already burned out. Of course, the heroin I was coming off was the biggest problem but once the withdrawals from that were over, I still didn’t feel right. I felt dull. If you have ever smoked weed, I felt how you feel after you smoke a large amount and then wake up the next morning; not really like a hangover but just kind of groggy and out of it. The problem was I felt that way all the time.

For those who have used marijuana, I know you have had your own experience. Mine was much different than most casual marijuana smokers. I used marijuana like a drug addict and spent a lot of time getting high, with many of my days dedicated to simply seeing how much weed my friends and I could smoke.

The heavy marijuana smoking began at age 16 and I would smoke multiple times each day if I could. I almost never missed a day of smoking. I caused problems in my family, caused fights with friends and stole money. All of that just to go buy weed. This is not an exaggeration.

I also had the problem of doing everything to excess; drinking, smoking weed, drinking energy drinks. Luckily, I eventually got help with my addiction problems and now I have been sober for many years.

I started to pop out of it during the new life detox. The running and sweating did a lot to better my health and mental state. But I still had that lingering fog. The only reason I know it was from the weed was that no other drugs had made me feel that way.

It got better, although it wasn’t until I got into objectives where I really popped out of it. If you aren’t familiar the objectives, they are just simple exercises and processes to bring a person more into the present, so they are more aware. Many drug addicts live in the past, and I was no different.

I had begun doing one of the processes and suddenly, the fog lifted. I was super uncomfortable at first. The feelings of everything being so vivid and being able to notice things around me was overwhelming; it was like night instantly turned into day.

The thing is, I am not really against or for marijuana legalization. I feel that marijuana being outright illegal doesn’t work, but I feel its legalization should be monitored. I also believe the amount of THC contact should be limited to a certain percentage like is done in the Netherlands.

But whether marijuana is legal or illegal, it can still be abused. And for that, the person should seek help. If you know someone struggling with an addiction to any substance get them the help they need.