Can I truly live a life without marijuana?

Written By Kat L.

At almost 11 months clean and sober, it is hard to imagine a life completely without marijuana. I smoked pot for over 30 years and tried to quit many, many times to no avail. I lived and breathed marijuana. It was what I lived for on a daily basis. I planned everything around whether or not I would be able to be high. I always had it on me wherever I went and did many things I now regret under the influence of marijuana. I never thought I would be sober and happy.

I have to stay in the day, in order for me to wrap my head around the idea that this is a forever thing for my life. This is why I am so grateful that it is a day at a time program. Because of this, I can focus on the day at stake instead of future tripping about what I’m going to do when my mom dies or my partner gets gravely ill or something.

Thank God for this program’s core purpose and 12 Steps to keep me on the straight and narrow when things happen. Thank God for the love of the people in the rooms to help hold me up when I get down. As long as I can pick up the sometimes 500 pound phone to call someone to ask for help when I need it, I just might be able to stay sober another day! I don’t need to worry about the future. I have no control over anything, God does that for me. But I do need to really work the program as it’s meant to be done and use my sponsor for the advice and wisdom I don’t yet have to be successful for many more years to come.

Published by A New Leaf Publications

Two hands open and outstretched in front of a bleak sky

More Articles

  • Counting the Days

    Artwork by Alan C. Published in A New Leaf – January 2016

    Counting the Days
  • Remember Me?

    Written by Cassie C. Remember me?We met at a party.When I was much younger.You were my best friend.Always there to lift my up.Always there to make me laugh.Always there to help me not care, Nor to cry:I was always the life of the party.You numbed me from reality.From the hurt, and pain inside.You made me…

    Remember Me?
  • “Puff” Piece for 420 Soberthon

    By Ras M. of District 27 I used to smoke to stop time. I just needed a pause – from the oncoming crazy, and my subsequent flooding of anxiety. Of course, there would be the crazy again, 5 hours later. When I stopped smoking, I found it challenging to fill large chunks of time in…

    “Puff” Piece for 420 Soberthon
  • Reclaiming 420 in Recovery

    By M. of District 27 For the past 6 years I have struggled to put clean time together, both in and out of the rooms of MA. Every time that April 20th rolls around, I have tried in vain to block out the existence of this once seemingly celebratory day and the memories that it…

    Reclaiming 420 in Recovery
  • Sober Creed

    Created by Brian B. Published April 2025 As a former U.S. Army military police officer, I learned early on the power of motivation, discipline, and perseverance. Although I couldn’t become a Ranger due to my specialized career, the Ranger Creed became a cornerstone of my mindset. I wore the Ranger tab inside my pocket over…

    Sober Creed
  • Heard in a Meeting

    “For a long time, I thought I was consuming cannabis, but then I realized, cannabis was actually consuming me…” – Anonymous Published in A New Leaf – April 2025

    Heard in a Meeting