Topics include: Exceptions and Disclaimers for why smoking weed may be important to some people.  Listen to Sober is Dope Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Soberisdope  Benefits of Quitting Marijuana: 1. Improve Your Respiratory Health According to the American Lung Association, marijuana smoke contains some of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens as tobacco smoke which is commonly associated with difficulty breathing, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. In addition to that, marijuana smokers tend to inhale the smoke more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, increasing their exposure to tar which can scar the lungs and lead to pulmonary fibrosis, which has a 3- to 5-year survival rate. Marijuana can also create air sacs in the lungs, making users more prone to infections and exposure to the bacteria and fungus often found in street cannabis. Eliminating weed from your system can also give your body a chance to heal the air sacs in your lungs, improving your respiratory and cardiovascular systems. You’ll be less prone to lung infection and pneumonia as well. If you have asthma, you might also notice those symptoms improve over the course of several months.  2. Provides Mental Clarity & Greater Cognitive Functioning Smoking weed directly affects parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, concentration, and decision making. In short, regularly smoking marijuana can leave you with severe brain fog. Heavy marijuana use can also cause memory loss, an inability to focus, and difficulty learning. Even though studies show that some cognitive deficits remain after users quit marijuana, some cognitive functions, such as memory loss and the ability to learn new information, can improve. A study out of Massachusetts General Hospital revealed that adolescents and young adults who refrained from using marijuana were better able to process and remember new information compared to peers who continued to smoke marijuana. After quitting marijuana you may also notice that you have a much easier time forming coherent thoughts and communicating with others.  3. Improve the Health of Your Heart Marijuana makes the heart beat faster. Smoking marijuana can also increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke as THC and other cannabinoids travel from the lungs to the cardiovascular system. Chronic marijuana use can also inflame and increase the size of the heart. Luckily, quitting marijuana decreases swelling in the heart, allowing the organ to function more normally, lowering the risk of stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular issues.  4. Make You Less Vulnerable to Mental Health Issues After marijuana’s temporary high, most weed smokers feel depressed and anxious. In fact, a large percentage of marijuana users use the drug as a way to alleviate stress and escape emotional, physical, and psychological distress. Unfortunately, marijuana can make mental health issues worse. Several studies show a correlation between cannabis use and depression. Luckily, quitting marijuana can rapidly improve your mental health. In fact, many former marijuana smokers say that having a renewed sense of motivation, energy, purpose, and a sense of drive has been just as valuable as improving their health.  5. Helps Rebuild Better Relationships with Friends & Family As your brain becomes accustomed to marijuana, consuming the drug becomes one of your main priorities. You may also begin to feel more comfortable when you’re high than when you’re sober. Sober is Doper. 

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