Hi Max!

Thank you for sharing your current status and experience with cannabis! I can completely relate with smoking to help me focus. People always talk about the de-motivating qualities of marijuana but I found that it often had the opposite affect for me, helping me get focused and single minded enough to actually complete more tasks. I always joked that I was the ultra productive stoner type. :)

When I was smoking, my preference was joints. I tried vapes like the Pax and it did seem to be a cleaner, clear-headed high. Edibles were the worst for me and I usually steered clear after some bad experiences. At the end there I was using a dab pen for a time but felt some negative affects on my breathing so had to stop.

I definitely think you are onto something with seeking CBT. Us stoners think we can process everything ourselves, but sometimes we really do need an outside perspective to help us connect the dots where we couldn't and offer some new tools to process stress. I think it's wise to have more tools in the coping tool box than just cannabis.

Some tools I have implemented as I have weaned my way off are: doing strenuous hikes to release stress and get my endorphins up, grounding in nature with bare feet (free electrons baby!), writing down my feelings, and doing some talk therapy to help me process all those thoughts rolling around up there.

I have learned that being in nature has a huge calming effect on my otherwise frazzled psyche. Finding methods that give you the results you are using cannabis for can be a great way to lessen use or quit altogether. As of today, I am still sober and feeling good.

Best of luck on your dissertation and navigating the holidays! Let's get through this together!

Great to hear from you Max.

-Tammy