I have been smoking pot since I was 12. I am now 21, and am ready to quit. When I first started smoking pot, I felt it helped me to open up. I was able to make friends easier, and I felt like part of a group. Now, I can't even go outside after smoking a joint I feel so paranoid. I smoke all the time. Spending over $600 a month on the stuff. I no longer enjoy the feeling of being high. I am at the point, where I just don't know where to turn. I want to say I am trying, but I'm not. I don't know how to try, because I don't know any different. For example, I came home from work today, and decided to cook dinner first, rather than smoking a joint. I have been making the same meal every monday night for the past 4 years, and when I started cooking it, I forgot the ingrediants, I didn't know how long to keep the chicken in for, or anything. I was so confused. I don't know how to live without smoking pot. I know it sounds stupid, but it's true. I need some advice, anything.
I have made some drastic changes in my life, hoping to succeed. I moved to a new city, where I didn't know anyone. Thinking, if I don't know where to buy it, I won't be able to smoke it. Was I wrong. First person I met, my next door neighbour, a dealer. There goes that plan.
I have cut myself off from my friends --- but that just left me smoking even more weed, and by myself. I'll sit at home and smoke 1/2 an ounce by myself in one sitting if I have the day off work. Somebody please... any advice you can give will be appreciated...
I'm probably putting this on the wrong website, but hey... it's worth a try right? I'm desperate.

Sounds like you've got the addiction big time. If you can just stop smoking, you will get your life back. No addiction is easy to break, but cannabis addiction is the easiest one to break so hang in there, and I wish you good luck in dealing with this. There are marijuana annonymous meetings online you can check out, and there you will find lots of support. Good luck!

You should really go to a doctor and get evaluated for mental illness. Cannabis has no physical addiction, but it does have habit addiction. It is very very likely that you are using the cannabis to give some relief from a severe depression related illness.

Stopping the cannabis use will NOT make things better, continueing the cannabis use will NOT make things better either.
Again you seriously need to get to a doctor and get evaluated for mental illness. Everything you are describing is classic depression, even down to the isolation.

The path I followed is somewhat similar to yours (but 20 years longer). Pot was never really a problem for me but alcohol was. Low self esteem and depression won't be helped by destructive behavoir. As far as quiting(sober for 35 months) it took an all time emotional low for something to click and after that is was"fuck that, that ain't ever happening again" and it hasn't and it won't! So for me the hard part was making the decision but after that the rest was easy. Now that I'm sober quitting tobacco was easy.... after the doc took 10 x-rays of my chest looking for lung cancer at age 39...it was another of those "fuck that" moments. As far as advice to offer I'd say get some help(bipolar?)and see if some RX drugs can ease the pain and destructive behavior. I think a mature(older) mind may be stronger and what seems impossible at 20 is easy at 40.
Gave up beer
Gave up smokes
Now I live to ride
and share some tokes.

All right, I am now registered!
Well I do regularly go and see a psyciatrist. Have been since I was 12, and I love my doctor. I do have a mild case of depression. It really only lasts during the winter months when there is less sunlight. I have been taking medication for this, and have not had any problems since I was 15.
Whether or not I am depressed has nothing to do with how to quit for me... At least that's my opinion. And I am well aware that weed is not physically addictive, however it is just like smoking cigarrettes for me. If I don't smoke, I get irritable. It is the habit that is addictive.
I feel I am ready to quit. I just don't know where to start. Should I try to cut down? Should I go cold turkey? What can I do when I start to get irritable?
I have been living on my own since I was 14. I wasn't the type of kid though, that dropped out of high school or anything. I finished high school when I was 16, because I worked so HARD. I went to college for 3 years, and now have an unbelievably well paying job. I am able to spend $600 on weed a month and not notice. Perhaps if the money effected me, it would make a difference, and I may be able to quit easier. The only time I do not smoke weed is at work. And I have absolutely no problems not smoking at work. I feel I think much clearer, and I don't even think about smoking. However, with my job, I only have to go into work once - twice a week. The rest of the time I just work at home on my own computers. I have been trying to go in more often, so that I can at least 'practise' being sober...
But any advice, little things... cold turkey? cut down? whatever.... thanks all!

I would recommend that you get educated on the medicinal effects of cannabis, as a starting point, and a trip to the doctor is a good idea too.
Be prepared though to be put on Rx drugs for depression. Be prepared that your doctor will likely tell you that cannabis is THE problem, and by quitting it all your problems will go away.If you believe that, and follow their advice blindly then you will likely remain in the terrible condition you find yourself.
There are other medical conditions that must be looked at, and that is where the medical doctor comes in handy...some conditions manifest themselves in depression...such as anemia, high cholesterol, rotting/abcessed teeth, bad marriages....(the list is endless)
Many things can cause this condition, it's your job to find the ones that make up your life, make the appropriate changes, get over it, and get on with living a happy productive life.
If you educate yourself, (that includes all the information your doctor and pharmacist will share), about the nature of depression, and the medicines available to treat it, you will likely find what I and many others have: that nature provides the best medicines, fresh air, sunshine, and the plants the earth provides.
Having said that, I also know that sometimes the depression is so great that Rx's are necessary to get us on our feet again and functioning in the real world (as sad as it is).

When I got recommended to the Compassion Club in Vancouver it opened my mind to the world of this incredible plant. I was able to learn the difference between a sativa and an indica. And most importantly WHY it was important for me to be 'an indica girl'. I learned that those of us with any 'mental health issues' are likely to not do as well smoking sativas (as the cerebral effects are likely to become overwhelming to us, nevermind the heart-pounding excitement) (depressed people are already exhausted from within and generally don't feel good when the brain goes faster than the body can...my opinion)

Cannabis serves to enhance the given situation. If you are happy and care free...a happy care free experience, if you are sad...then you are likely to fully experience the depths of that sadness..and if you are feeling PARANOID?..you guessed it...ulta-paranoia....situation enhanced...
The mind is a powerful thing. If it believes something, it IS true, so if you believe that cannabis is making you sick, it will, your mind will make sure of it.
If you believe it, it will be.
The paranoia is likely coming from several factors, and I would tell you is this.....

You are having normal responses to some abnormol situations.
Abnormal situation = being chemically unbalanced
Normal response = seek ways to get better

Abnormal situation = unjust laws against a plant that is capable of feeding and fueling and clothing and medicating and easing the world
Normal response = attempt to 'stay safe' by staying away from harmful situations

Abnormal situation = cutting ones self off from all sources of support
Normal response = to question/examine everthing that made up the situation to begin with

I chuckled when you said that you moved and first person you met was....that my dear, is LIFE keepin your lessons in front of you until you have dealt with them.
You will also live in that neighborhood and NEVER see the guy in '20?' who is also a drug dealer, the neighbor isn't ruining your life any more than the guy in '20?' Recognize THEY don't have the problem. Move a hundred times, the only thing that will change is the keys to the doors....

Thank you all for your comments. I have spoke with a doctor today, and have decided, to just stop.
I have yet to smoke a joint today, and right now, feel very low. I understand that will happen, and I am taking a medication, and I am hoping it will help me keep myself balanced.
The thing is, other than the marijuana. My life is going rather well. I have been in a common-law relationship for the past 4 years, and we couldn't be happier together. I love my job, and get paid great.
I guess one of the reasons I am scared to quit, is because I don't know how to feel without the pot. I will have to take it one step at a time, learning to live without it....
So this is day one... the first day in 5 years that I haven't had a joint. It's 3:00 now, Let's see how the rest of the day goes.

SUCCESS! 11:00pm almost... I usually go to bed around 1 or 2 am.... but I have succeeded in not smoking any weed at all today. I feel better than I did earlier... now let's just see how well I sleep.

Wow, reading your posts has been kind of like looking in a mirror, except I'm going on 35, and in a wonderful relationship (married, happily) two kids. Been fighting post traumatic stress disorder and depression for two years. Stopped my extreme consumption of alcohol two months ago(went cold turkey, with no apparent side effects), but can't give up my bud. I am going to follow your posts and see how you do. Maybe I just don't want to give it up bad enough yet. Actually, I would like to get to a point where I could be just a recreational user, anyone think this is possible?

Your circumstance is very common among young users. Many of the folks in these forums have been there and done that including myself. It is easy to get in over your head with this stuff. Your an adult now at 21 years of age, and you need to get respondsible wether you quit entirely or not. Coming down off of a long high is not an enjoyable experiance, but give yourself a few days to clear out and things will get better. You do need to walk away from it for awhile, and if you ever go back just remember it will kick your ass worse the second time around if you overuse. Hang in there, I promise you are not alone.