290 thoughts on “Marijuana Addiction”

1. A very clear and concise account of the true effects of marijuana on the physical body, the mind and life in general. It is surely not the ‘soft’ drug it is purported to be, it comes by stealth and steals one’s life, saps one’s vitality and turns amazing human beings into gibberishing and paranoid zombies who are always full of a grandiose idea or two.

2. We can not be ourselves when we use drugs and alcohol so our family and friends really don’t get to be with us at all.

3. What a great blog! Your lived experience comes strongly through the page and your honesty is very revealing. What a great support this is for those who either want to learn more about how this drug affects those in their lives or those who take it and need a starting point to quit and to know that not only quitting is possible, but also that life can turn around.

4. It’s a great point you make about how putting up a wall between yourself and world only served to create “…a protective layer or shield that only held me imprisoned in unresolved stuff and emotions.”

5. I have experience of drug abuse in life, not so much me using it but observing it in others, cannabis, so called a soft drug, even medicine some say, is very unsupportive and has negative impact on those who take it, a lack of clarity, consumed in paranoia, checked out, it is a serious issue and has a great impact on those of use it and those who live around a user.

6. This is such a clear of account of the use of cannabis to protect and numb oneself from life versus a path of responsibility to coming back and dealing with life and all its challenges.

7. Having been a huge pot smoker myself and addicted to every other drug imaginable I agree with Serge Benhayon, marijuana is the 2nd most addictive drug. The fact that people think it is okay because it is naturally grown is absolute nonsense and a story they need to believe so as to not take responsibility for how they are choosing to live their life

8. I could never understand how a pot smoker could work, as when I smoked I was more often then not so paranoid that I could not look at any-one, I could hardly string 2 words together and could not be bothered to do any thing much at all. From this, you can imagine the state of my car, my home and me? Thank goodness that is never to be repeated.

9. I have been addicted to just about every drug that was available in my day, as well as alcohol. Marijuana was by far the most addictive and the hardest drug to come off. It is very interesting that many people think this is a harmless drug as it is naturally grown….not true.

10. “To me, this makes marijuana the ultimate retarding drug of the 20th century”. Marijuana is not the innocent so-called “natural” drug that people like to think it is. It has a severe effort on the health and wellbeing of those who use it.

11. Yes, this is what smoking marijuana does, it numbs and buries our hurts and emotions so they are left raw and unhealed in our bodies, ‘to help medicate ourselves to be able to cope with life, really only hiding from real life and burying our issues so we have more crap to deal with later – a truly vicious circle / cycle.’ We then have to deal with this ‘mess’ later in our lives or in our next life.

12. Thank you for sharing, many people who smoke marijuana are under the belief that it is a harmless and a non addictive drug, this is so far from the truth as you describe. Great to have your experience shared so honestly.

13. I have experienced drug use, some times from my own experience, but also so much more from it being around me, through life….it has serious implications on the quality of life, but not just the person that chooses it, the ripples are felt all around and it is not just what people call hard drugs, I include nicotine, alcohol and marijuana, they are the cause of huge disconnection and self abuse.

14. This “harmless drug” has consequences way beyond our own life. When we make these choices it can create pain in people around us that takes a long time to heal – if ever.

15. ‘I felt raw and sensitive but the great thing was I was able to feel again. ‘ So beautiful to feel that Anon. And it is hugely important that we all get to feel that as we go through our own many addictions in life.

16. By and large the world continues to ignore the harmful effects of marijuana. What I have always found interesting is that if you visit any mental health clinic it is well know how many people who smoke marijuana end up with psychotic episodes yet we continue to say it is a harmless drug. It just goes to show that there are literally none so blind as those who refused to see the absolute obvious.

17. Where I live, the use of marijuana is not as widespread as is in some other places in the world, and recently an ex-member of a boy band has been found in possession of it, and there’s quite a big shock and the media has gone crazy as it is a punishable crime. There definitely is naivety about this reaction, but what we are trying not to see is the only difference between marijuana and alcohol is that one is legalized and taxable and the other is not, they are both addictive and mind-altering substances known to cause behavioural changes that can sometimes be extreme and violent, yet the users often consider it to be just recreational/social. We can try telling someone not to do things or criminalize their choices, but that would never work.

18. In general we think that the altered state Marijuana, or any other drug, gives is harmless and something we deserve for the hard work that we do or because of the difficulties in life we have to cope with. But when we look closer, which is so clearly portrayed in this blog, it is actually the addiction to these substances and the scene you then enter form being addicted, that defines your way of thinking that is actually way of of who we naturally are as we can see also clearly in the adicted by the way they care for themselves and for others.

19. Well there is a blog telling it like it is. Well done and thank you. The addiction is incredibly hard to kick when we are not honest about what the addiction is protecting us from. In your case it was marijuana, for another it may be alcohol, anger, sugar, drama. Whatever the ‘go-to’ they are all coping mechanisms for not wanting or feeling like we can cope with what we are feeling. Understanding that offers us the power to make a lasting change.

20. The evil in marijuana is that many are under the false belief that it is ok or even good for you, this could not be further from the truth. If you don’t want to have any commitment to life, if you want to be paranoid, if you want to live a life in delusion then yes smoke Marijuana, if you want to have a real, clear and true life then stay well away from marijuana.

21. I would like to see more articles on the effects of Marijuana on the human body and psyche. There is too much putting our “heads in the sand ” over drug use and I feel that we all need to start to wake up and educate through others experiences, so that we and our children know the truth! The same goes for alcohol abuse, until we start to be truly honest our children will suffer and be deluded around these so called “good time” must haves! Life can be enjoyed just by being in the company of others.

22. There is a big push in this country (Australia) to legalise marijuana for medicinal purposes. Given what I now know about this drug at the energetic level – as discussed in this article – this cannot be a good thing. I’ve heard many stories in the media, usually involving dying or seriously ill children, promoting it through the use of sympathy. Yes, there is a human, devastating side to the illnesses we manifest, especially when so young, but there is nothing in me that supports the use of this drug or its extracts for any purpose.

23. Terrific account of an amazing resurrection Anonymous. Whether its marijuana addiction or another type of addiction – sex, alcohol, overwork, gambling, porn, food, sport and so on – we carry, if we’re serious about living with true vitality and purpose we’ll do what it takes to get the monkey off our back. Having the support of Universal Medicine’s education and healing services just makes it a whole lot more doable, and meaningful.

24. Thank you Anonymous for sharing this here. In the run up to the General Election in the UK, one of the political parties here have just launched their manifesto and are proposing to legalise cannabis. I know there are many apparently ‘rational’ arguments for doing so but however this point is argued, legalising something like this will be seen as condoning its use. The need to ‘medicate’ ourselves so that we do not feel is one of the most widespread behaviours in our world but medicating does not answer why we do not want to feel and it does not address the real issues and never will. We may not want to feel our pain and this is understandable – but maybe our pain is showing us something important – that how we are living is not working and we need to make different choices. Choosing to numb ourselves to the pain is not effective – we need to go to the root cause – and Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine are offering us all this choice today. We are truly ‘delicious’ within and each have the free-will to choose this inner connection at any time.

25. Thank you anon for your account here of just how unnatural and denaturing marijuana is for us and not at all the lighthearted drug it is often made out to be. Just because something is made from a plant it doesn’t mean it’s good or harmless for us to smoke or eat it, far from it in this case.

26. “My family is only starting to know the real me now as I gradually let myself be seen by all – not always a comfortable experience, but so very worth it.”
    this is incredible- you are saying that when you were immersed in marijuana culture, your true self was buried. How cool that your family now know who you are and what you are truly about- shame they missed out for so long, and they would also have had such an incorrect perception of who you actually are for all those years too- great that is now being addressed and the true you can shine through.

27. I have noticed that heavy marijuana smokers will say how calm they are after having a joint, yet it seems to sap them of energy and leave them uninspired to say the least. i notice its easier to drop out of engagement in life when using marijuana heavily, it seems to have that side effect, regardless of how much it is accepted and regarded as a low grade drug.

28. its fascinating how damaging the impacts of marijuana smoking can be, yet its reported to be the most natural ‘safe’ illicit drug. I have heard so many users of marijuana say how much they ‘relax’ and chill out with a joint, and how apparently no one ever gets aggressive when using it, unlike alcohol, which is notorious for fuelling arguments.

29. Drug use has such a wide reaching impact not just on the user but on the family, friends and community as well.

30. Anonymous, I just love your analogy of addiction with the salivation of Pavlov’s dogs – it’s so true of any addiction and a great reminder of how powerful it is living in anticipation of the perpetual highs without consideration to the consequential and inevitable low that all addiction inevitably brings.

31. Amazing thank you so much for sharing, what a journey to go on and to now come back to you. I am always astounded by the degree in which we can turn our life around when we start taking responsibility. Although not everyone is ready for it, could it be that taking responsibility is the answer to many of our so called problems.

32. There is the illusion when smoking marijuana that it somehow helps to deal with or dissolve stress and issues but the insidious truth is as written here that it just burys them deeply with no learning and so when trying to stop smoking it you often have to face all of these unresolved issues and all that comes with them.

33. This is a very painful story of being trapped in the underworld of life through the vicious cycle of addiction, all for the sake of not feeling or dealing with the issues that need to be felt and cleared. It’s amazing the lengths we go to to do this, and then justify it in our minds to convince ourselves that it’s ok. This blog is a valuable gem that everyone would do well to read. Thank you for sharing your story.

34. What has become so apparent to me by reading this blog is just how widespread and normalised our de-faulty behaviours and choices have become as a humanity. Not that I want to judge but exhaustion, seediness, lethargy, Drug use and other forms of escaping are high… my question is , is this our true potential and is there more? Thankyou so much for sharing this kid as it shows the potential is real and true love, joy can be loved in life – the external stimulants never measure up to that natural beauty.

35. What an honest blog! I hadn’t fully understood the effects of marijuana and how it can destroy lives. It is inspiring that you have come out the other side of this drug use and seen it for what it is. Understanding why we are drawn to drug use, what it is that we are burying and what it is that we ultimately don’t want to face is the first step to kicking out any addiction.

36. Thank you for the insights into the world of marijuana smokers, and the effects it has with regards to burying your issues, so that you do not feel any sadness. It is clear that it has become a huge problem because it is so widely accepted and unfortunately that’s when it is seen as harmless, and normal.

37. Escaping life is always at the expense of the potential we are here to step into.

38. It’s become more and more evident to me, that any understanding of drug addiction on its own will never work. For the truth is, being addicted to marijuana is the same as being poor, being good or a rock star, being a great employee, partner or a rebellious student. Every single thing we puruse and drivenly seek, is just another flavour of hiding from our true power. How can you judge another for the choices that they make, when you look at your past and all the poses that you chose to avoid the simple truth of the Love you are? Our addiction to these stories and dramas are the greatest hindrance to ourselves but is possible as you show Anonymous to leave these addictive ways behind. That is the crucial fact and something we can all get behind.

39. A sharing for all, the destruction marijuana causes is very evident if you have known a person before taking up the drug and after. As after they seem to be a shadow of their former selves. Let’s begin to talk more about the destruction all illegal drugs cause to self, family, friends and subsequently, humanity. But more than that, let’s talk about why these behaviors are chosen.

    1. Beautiful Leigh – it is this understanding and judgment-free approach you offer here, that will allow us to open up and admit at last that we can’t cope and that there is a deeper conversation for us all to have.

40. It’s amazing to feel past patterns, or even addictions become just something in the past with no hold over ourselves. Usually when we quit something through will power it stays in our body so the pull to do it again is always there – it’s an inner struggle we have to deal with constantly. But through dealing with the underlying reasons for the patterns and addictions, we heal the hurts that we have been trying to bury by whatever these were, so there is absolutely nothing left of them and no need for them at all.

41. A brilliant sharing Anonymous and one so sorely needed in this world where drug use appears to be out of control. And isn’t that the key thing that you show – that whilst we might think momentarily escaping from a feeling or emotion we have is a great relief – the essential fact is this buries and traps the issue so deep. Contrast this with letting the sensation be, looking at why it is there, but knowing that’s it’s not the real you or me.

42. Reading your article made me ponder whether each generation look for something that is exclusively their’s
    As a parent of teenagers part of the struggle is to try and keep abreast and understand the things they are up against in our rapidly changing society.

43. When we look at life, we tend to look out for things that cause ‘violent’ changes. We see these extremities as the worst things. But whilst these events are undeniably powerful are they truly the most intense? Or is it possible that the visual scale we measure life through is not so complete? When I look at the side effects you outline here Anonymous, which are my experience too, it is clear to me that often times it is the ‘small’ indulgences and ‘not so bad’ habits that can cause the greatest harm. Everything is energy, so it only makes sense to me that we should begin to see the influence and impact of things from this point of view. To continue to ignore this will make us great dopes.

44. Firstly Anonymous I would like to acknowledge the tenderness, openness and fragility you express with, it is completely disarming and very beautiful. Your description of your first few days on a sober and nurturing diet stopped me in my tracks as I recently experienced something similar when I stopped eating fruit and sugar for a month. We all use a lot of different things to bury our emotions and deny what we feel but you remind me this stuff is always waiting to come up and out and it’s actually a very beautiful and healing process to honour what we feel.

45. Marijuana and ‘its insidious nature of hiding / burying and therefore hindering one’s ability to try and work through issues or deal with stuff.’ Sadly I have seen young people start smoking this and put their head further in the sand, refuse all support from relations and turn to peers who are also into smoking. Once they connected with those around them but gradually turned inward and to poor choices making their futures ones of struggle and reason to bury their heads further all the time thinking what they’re doing is fun and exciting until it so isn’t. My impressions is that society still views marijunana as more acceptable than other drugs (I’ve not heard calls to legalize heroin for example) fearing it more, not because of its effects, but that it is considered a ‘gateway’ drug not acknowledging the user has already entered the danger zone.

46. A fascinating insight into the world of marijuana addiction, It definitely is not a ‘natural’ way to live, it has devastating effects as outlined here.When I read this and recall that they want to legalise marijuana, a shiver runs down my spine. I hope that does not happen.

47. Thank you for illustrating so clearly the effects of Marijuana. As with so many things that we champion there is no good coming from Marijuana and I like how you say you are “not an AA­-like reformed drug addict” but that you have truly healed that what had made you use drugs to cope with life.

48. From the time of being a child and than to being addicted to marijuana, there must be so much numbing and hurt that this seems like an acceptable option.

49. There is not a lot that has been left unturned here and it depicts the user’s perspective incredibly evocatively, so thank you for the insight Anonymous, I’ll be returning to this blog again.

50. This is a truly inspiring personal account of the world of evil (all that is not love) that promises to fill us up if we choose to live empty and not in the fullness of our true self. Young children are good at dealing with their issues sober because they still have enough connection with the part of them that knows better in the sense that they know we are far more than what we at times play ourselves to be. It is only by reconnecting back to this part of us, our Soul, that we can lay to rest that recklessness of the human spirit that seeks to keep us living in separation to such love. By accepting and deeply appreciating that we are love in essence and by committing whole-heartedly to making our life about the expression of this love, we seal the cracks through which such evil otherwise enters.

51. Thanks Anonymous, a great account of how drugs can exclude oneself from life, contract us and change the way we live life. But your sharing shows that it isn’t ever too late to change behaviours and the way one interacts with life.

52. Its clear that marijuana is a drug – it causes an altered state. Anything that we take to alter who we are is going to have dire consequences.

53. Over the years I have seen much devastation caused by this so called harmless drug, particularly with the young, bong smoking in their teenage years. Research indicates that there is a strong relationship between cannabis use and experiencing mental health problems. Mental illnesses associated with cannabis include depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders. . . . hardly harmless at all!

54. Thankyou for the insiders view of what marijuana does to human beings and why they use it. It’s too easy to label people as “druggies”, “stoners”, “pot smokers” etc instead of seeing the human being and why they choose to use this drug. You given me enormous understanding. It’s interesting that we don’t talk openly and honestly about how foul drugs really do feel, or even how awful life itself can be (which can prompt drug use), maybe if we all talked more openly and honestly working together and supporting one another, drugs would not be needed.

55. After reading this blog, and to really feel what the use of marijuana does to us individually but also, on a grander scale in our societies I do now understand the impact drugs has on humanity as a whole. As being shared in this blog, it is not only the ruined lives of the individual users but also the families and communities they are a part of and not to forget all the crime and wars that are related to the drug industry. When do we wake up and start to see the reality of this, that drugs are ruining our lives, our families and the societies we live in and are in no way as innocent as we are being told to believe.

56. ‘To me, this makes marijuana the ultimate retarding drug of the 20th century,’ This is a very strong statement however I feel it may well be true yet not something a lot would like to admit. I guess, it is like anything else you don’t really realise the harm of it till you are free of it or would it be more true to say you are not really free of it till you realise the harm of it? Thank God for our 6th sense which lets us know, which keeps reminding us and nudging us till we take action and begin to truly care for ourselves.

57. What occurred to me as I read this blog is just how we have not advanced as a society at all. In the last 80’s we had parents smoking marijuana and ignoring their kids, now we have the same as well as parents spending their whole time on social media rather than connection with their kids. It does not matter what tool we use to disconnect from ourselves, the very fact that we continue to live a life of disconnection is a huge problem for all of society.

58. ‘Even though it has been used for thousands of years in Africa, Asia and India, its retarding nature to human evolution is at a widespread and epidemic level.’ – this is pretty huge. The fact that as a society we know exactly what drug to go to and how much to take to avoid evolution. And yes – weed seems to have become a trend and somehow more common than in the past – perhaps a reflection of where we are as a society, and with all the grief in the world, this seems like the perfect escape. But at what price.

59. it is extraordinary how almost a whole generation was conned into thinking that marijuana was okay… But hey how long have we been conned into thinking that alcohol is okay… Humanity certainly does have blind spots… when it chooses!

60. Reading this brought back memories of growing up in the holidays and then when I left home in a surfing community where pretty much all the guys were stoners and drank heaps after days out in the surf. And this didn’t change much as they grew up so still got stoned at night and just about woke for the days work. I had other addictions but I gave being stoned everyday for about 2 years then on and off for a while a good go. I surfed too and tried to have relationships with these guys but going out with guys who cared about numbing out more to cannabis, alcohol, other drugs, sex and surfing was impossible. What a perfect reflection for my choice to not have a relationship with myself, that I constantly sought relationships from men who were choosing anything but intimacy in the same way I wasn’t committing to being intimate with myself. A great wake up call for me to start my programme of self-love.

61. I know from experience Marijuana is not as ‘innocent’ as it is made out to be you are spot on here when you say ‘The so called ‘non-addictive’ drug wreaked havoc in our lives as well as those of everyone connected to us’ and I am not surprised that Serge Benhayon rated marijuana as being ‘the second worst of all drugs with the shamanic drug ayahuasca in first place according to their energetic effects’. We need to talk about this more, the truth and devastating affect these drugs have on our body, mind, emotional state, relationships and energetic state .. creating so many gaps and holes in our aura that we become puppets to an energy that is so not loving but instead evil. It is these discussions that will make users and non users more aware of just what happens when drugs are taken. Also it doesn’t matter if you are in a different room in the house taking drugs where the children cannot see you, the affects are still felt by them. Everything is energy and energy can be felt, so instead of turning to drugs which completely numb us and create havoc in our lives what about we hold steady and start feeling what we do not want to. Again from my experience when we start to do this, feel what we haven’t wanted to, you get to feel that actually its okay. Things only have a hold over us if we let them. So lets not let them.

62. It is extraordinary the harm that can be caused to ourselves and others when we choose to escape from life through substances that deny us any connection to our essence… an ugly consumption I too have chosen and am able to now look back on in disbelief and yet gratitude that through Universal Medicine I was able to address my reasons for choosing to be consumed by something that stopped me from truly living and enjoying life.

63. Thank you anonymous, you have informed and educated me to the road many choose and champion as a natural way to relax and escape reality. I feel the consequences of choosing to use anything to escape our feelings becomes a trade deal, It’s like you don’t have to feel but (whatever energy) will have the last say, we allow that energy to control us and it’s not always where we choose to go or end up, if we were really honest!

64. It is a story that I have heard many students who used to have addictions share that they no longer have any fight or desire for the drugs, whereas traditional methods for kicking addictions require will power and a life long struggle, always aware they can tip over into the addiction at any time. Rather when we are self loving and healing our hurts the reason you were using the drugs is removed and a deepening of your relationship with your self and others is restored.

65. What a transformation Anonymous, we are all responsible for what turns up in life. So to go from what and how you were living to where you are now, I understand takes dedication, honesty and reconnecting to a love within, that actually never goes away, but it is through daily choices that we make, to turn life around and you did that, very awesome.

66. We all have tough days as the blog writer has expressed and the way we deal with them may be different than choosing to smoke marijuana. Either way our choices in self – harming are no different as they all stop our full potential being lived. Thank you for your honesty and what a huge healing this is for us all!

67. It’s incredible how strong the way of thinking can be that makes marijuana attractive. I know how I watched so many young people write their lives off with chronic marijuana smoking. It is so insidious how it’s actually perceived as harmless, but in fact it’s undoing people deeply slowly from within, so that dropping out seems like a legitimate thing to do. Dropping out or becoming apathetic about one’s future is then ” normalised” and seen as ok in the context. This is all from a supposedly harmless drug. Most marijuana smokers will tell you that it’s not dangerous because it makes people ‘peaceful’ amd happy, yet that drug is actually causing far more harm than some of the other notorious drugs – very insidious.

68. Thank you for your super honest and crystal clear account of the effects of marijuana on the body – this ain’t no soft drug and those who are honest know it, deeply so.

69. Thank you so much for sharing, as the use of marijuana gets more prolific and we are hearing of more and more places legalising the latest being California. We need to wake up to what it truly does. The effects of this so called soft drug are horrendous. I would love your article to be front page in every city in every county until we get it, that this drug is not good for us, our family, our friends or our society.

70. Wow this really exposes the deeply damaging effects of marijuana and cuts through the ‘friendly image’ it is frequently tagged with. And I love how you show that no matter how familiar we may be with a certain pattern of behaviour it is always possible to change.

71. Anonymous, you smash the belief that marijuana is a relatively harmless drug, more benign than the class A varieties that cause the strife they do. There is nothing harmless about a substance that steeps you in deep illusion, illusion that you’re doing fine when in truth you’re numbed out to your eyeballs with the paranoia stealthily creeping in to your entire being. What you’ve shared on this blog and the conversations this has started is so necessary, for as you say marijuana is being more and more normalised, with devastating effects for humanity as a whole as a result.

72. Marijuana is indeed a very toxic drug and children can feel and see exactly what it does to someone who uses it. Adults can too but they are not as honest as children. We need to learn to listen to each other and care about the impact we have.

    1. I agree Elizabeth. I once met a man who was very attached to his marijuana addiction but even he was unable do deny the devastating affect that his drug use had on his young children. If a drug harms children that are not even the ones using it what harm is it doing to the user?

73. Thank you for so honestly sharing how the life of drug addiction is so called lived, this is a story that would really benefit teenagers to read before they embark on a devastating life of drug abuse. You have a powerful story to share because the lie that this drug is harmless needs to be exposed.

74. So many of us end up in this bind of seeking ways to check out from the demands of life and then get trapped in needing more and more props to function.

75. Thanks for this totally honest account, I too have personally experienced the devastation caused by this drug. Through what you’ve shared here there can be an uncovering of the truth and a shake up of the consciousness that socially accepts this drug to be something harmless or as a form of medicine.

76. What an honest sharing of what is around the addiction – whats behind it and how deep we can go into an addiction. Self medication is something we’re pretty good at. There are so many ways we can numb ourselves – to actually ask why takes a lot – perhaps because we know if we ask why then we have to start being honest with our choices.

77. “You don’t see children, especially primary-aged children, having to come home and smoke dope or get drunk to cope with a tough day at school, they deal with their stuff sober. It’s just in the adult world that we justify and champion this behaviour as ok, when it’s really far from that.” A great point Anon. As adults we try to bury our hurts through whatever vice or addiction we choose, be it hash, TV, overwork, alcohol etc. They all just dull and numb us. Attending Universal Medicine presentations was and is the best thing I have ever done in life – to support me to deal with ‘my stuff’ and lead a more healthy and true way of living.

78. This is a great account of the effects of marijuana. I have seen it ruin many people’s lives. What Serge Benhayon presents on the subject ought to be studied in more depth as it provides a true energetic understanding of what really happens to us when we use the drug. With this understanding, change occurs. For example, whilst I never used marijuana I did drink alcohol. However, the moment I understood the energetic effects of alcohol I stopped drinking alcohol that same day.

79. I read this and with all the ups and downs, decisions and choices leading to drama and addiction it reads like an amazing front page article highlighting one man’s life that the world would be staggered by.
    The trouble is that this is just one man’s story and there are 182.5 million users according to a UNODC 2014 report – information provided by http://simplelivingglobal.com/the-truth-about-marijuana/
    This is tragic then when we get a sense of how many people this is actually affecting – not just the 182.5 million but everyone they are in contact with, work with etc. Truly staggering that we make the choice to become like zombies when we can live more of who we are with ease as presented by Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine.

80. “we used it to escape and check out, to not truly see what was going on in our lives, and as a rebellion against a world that didn’t make sense.” When we use a drug of any sort to numb ourselves from feeling we are lost to the truth of who we are and the love that we innately are.

81. Marijuana has this stranglehold over so many people. Somehow because it is ‘natural’ it is ok. But thats like saying deadly nightshade is medicine because it is natural – yet we all know it is far from that! Some plants were never designed to be ingested or inhaled – we just need to face the reality and see things for what they are.

82. I love the courage of people who choose to let go of the props they hide with and choose to be seen in the world – “as I gradually let myself be seen by all – not always a comfortable experience, but so very worth it.”

83. Such a great expose on your life and what you had created for yourself, but most amazingly, turned around for yourself. Taking responsibility for yourself, making other choices and loving yourself along the way. Thank you, very inspiring.

84. Wow I am so grateful to you for sharing your experience. Many many world wide have fallen for the illusion that pot is good for you – I too once advocated that marijuana must be good for you as it was natural. I completely refused to see the truth right before me.

85. Thank you Anonymous, this is a great testimony to Universal Medicine and to the choice you were willing to make. If one is willing to take responsibility for one’s life everything can change as you have so clearly demonstrated here.

86. Thank you for writing your experience with this addiction of Marijuana. It has been very insightful and has allowed a deeper understanding in this area. To be owned by an addiction is imprisoning. Congratulations on breaking your habit and returning to a truthful and healthier way to live.

87. Thank you Anonymous, this is a front page news worthy article. You have said it all, hear, hear!

88. Great re read Anonymous. This is something everyone should read and take heed of ! I have seen many people lose their way through taking the stance that it is harmless!

89. This is a great blog, and I could not agree more. I’ve been sucked in for many years by the ‘safe’ feeling around Marijuana… like alcohol its seen to be OK, permissable, enjoyable. Yet like alcohol it has deep and distressing effects on people’s lives. I had two very close friends in particular who both had psychotic episodes and have had life long mental problems as a direct consequence.

90. I love your point at the end of this blog where you make the point that young children don’t deal with a tough day by driving or smoking. So very true. They do, however, watch like a hawk how the adults in their lives deal with their stress and learn by example. You illustrate this really well from your childhood. It is in all our interests to learn how to face our emotions full on rather than numb them, because the consequences of our coping mechanisms can have ongoing complications way beyond our life.

    1. It’s the power of modelling that sets up our young in how they see life and contribute to life. When we choose to make choices that are not loving or leave us in state of not being able to function in our daily life our young have already become attached to the cycle of behaviour that shows little in the true potential we can all live. It is interesting to observe that when we make life about change it does rattle us to the core but we know deep down inside that the way we were dealing with life before was far from the truth.

91. Some of the research that is coming out at the moment is showing how dope changes our DNA and can be passed from generation to generation. So this harmless drug has consequences way beyond our own life.

92. You are another amazing piece of the jigsaw.

93. I call it “white-knuckling” – when you go to give up something just through sheer will power. It never worked for me…or would just see me move the habit somewhere else. Through the teachings of Universal Medicine and the astonishingly loving support of the whole Benhayon family, I have changed so much in my life – from the roots, rather than white knuckling it at the surface.

94. It can be absolute torture when you know you want to stop any addiction and fail as it erodes your confidence and only exacerbates further the sensation of emptiness and powerlessness in yourself even more. But nothing will ever change if you just give up on yourself so I absolutely loved your sharing anonymous that ‘After a few days on the diet I cried for days as my body dumped all the unresolved / buried emotions and stuff back into my body to feel. I felt raw and sensitive but the great thing was I was able to feel again’. That is usually the point when we give up but you have exposed this is the actual turning point and opportunity to truly heal. Even if you go back to your addiction again you at least have seen the light and that there is another way.

95. This is both a brilliant and honest account of the true damage of marijuana addiction and the ripple effect on not only yourself and others, but society as a collective. Great blog anonymous.

96. Interesting how, as a rebellion against a world that doesn’t make sense, so many of us turn to self destruction. When it is the self destruction of our adults that makes us feel so lost and aching for love. Surely a genuine rebellion would be to nurture a self-loving way of life.

97. Marijuana has to be one of the biggest illusions of our time in that people are still under the misconception it can be healing and relaxing. I have taken enough to know it is not that and have unfortunately watched friends lose themselves into an dark abyss to a drug that is still seen by many as harmless.

98. An inspiring blog to read Anonymous, addictions to any substance or behaviour, are so debilitating and harmful to ourselves and obviously others. What you have expressed in this blog is very informative, authentic and coming from your lived experience which is so powerful.

99. Anonymous your sharing of addictions feel no different to many others when we allow it to consume our everyday and we can feel the downward spiral it is having in our lives.

100. Great stuff anonymous to come through the other side.It is a horrible existence living life in that sort of a haze, I smoked pot daily for a number of years and then when travelling I found myself in a state of America that had really tough laws about it and not having any contacts I couldn’t get hold of any. As the days past I started to think clearer, had more energy and just felt a lot better so I made a conscious decision at that moment never to go back to smoking it on a daily basis ever again. I still smoked occasionally from time to time but haven’t now for maybe ten years and man I don’t miss it in the slightest.

101. True healing as inspired and supported by Unimed and Esoteric Modalities “As I now am not an AA­-like reformed drug addict, but someone who has no connection or attachment to marijuana at all, it feels to me that it was another life away, ” I stopped smoking and drinking, but i didn’t just stop, I let go of the hold they had on me, I have no attachment to them in anyway. Nothing emotionally or physically draws me to consume, have either of them. Reconnecting with the inner heart and healing the hurts, has closed the openings within me that allowed the energetic hooks of drugs and numbing to prevail. The freedom is divine.

102. I have an understanding of the impact that this drug can have. It separates people, the connection that is just there is not honoured or developed, it brings in the mind, it a heady drug that allows the ‘imagination’ to take control. And so there is a disconnect with the expression of heart. Relationships can not develop, with ourselves or others through the use of this and others drugs. And the sadness and loss of not having this brings so much grief. This is a powerful article, thank you for sharing your experiences and commitment to healing.

103. What an extraordinarily powerful blog; your transformation and expose on addiction is very inspiring, thank you Anonymous for sharing your honest and informative experiences.

104. It’s testimonies such as these that show how no matter what our choices are or ways we avoid feeling the state of play. When we do choose to feel life expands, for us and those around us. And no matter if the behaviour that is abusive is accepted by society, it is still abuse. Thank you Anon for saying it as it is.

105. I can relate to your addiction with this drug and find it to be the worst out of all of them, the way it affects you psychologically is hugely disturbing.

106. Its really interesting to hear first hand the experience of how marijuana is. It feels like a real trap.
     I grew up with people around me who would have it every so often and I always sensed it. Perhaps that is why I couldn’t go near it. But to understand that there is more to smoking weed than the effects it has on your body, but rather gets us to look at why we allow such an addiction in the first place, a giving up on life and an escape from what we don’t want to face.

107. I think its awesome an ex user writes about the harm of Marijuana use, well done

108. Thanks for your hugely honest sharing, and not being afraid to speak up about the reality of marijuana – my observations of people taking it was that it was far from harmless, provoking terrible depression, dependency, psychotic attacks, violence and suicide.

109. The use of what is perceived by some to be a ‘natural’ drug, is very harming to the body, with the potential of damaging major organs, not to mention the damage it does to family and friends.

110. What a brilliantly honest and candid account of what long-term usage of a so-called harmless drug can really do to the body, the mind and hence the quality of life. What is remarkable is that you now hold no emotional connection or psychological attachment to the substance or to what it brought you in relief. As with all addictions, they’re there to mask our hurts and inadequacies, both of which have to be faced and healed for true recovery to be attained. Your blog should be provided with every first stash of gear as a true health warning on the expectations likely from pursuing a relationship with it.

     1. I agree Cathy, addictions need to be understood as the coping mechanism for a deeper underlying ill, If that ill is addressed and allowed to heal, then addictions don’t need to fought using willpower etc, but rather as the person heals, the addiction falls away.

111. Another living miracle when you choose you and choose life.

112. This blog would be great for all marijuana smokers to read if they honestly want to accept the insidious hold that marijuana has on them. Marijuana is such sneaky drug which we can so easily deceive ourselves into thinking is expanding our understanding when in truth it is doing the total opposite and it’s only when not involved with it any more that can be seen how truly deceptive it is. But even if we don’t want to see or feel, we actually do know deep within ourself the truth of the great harm that this drug and the many other forms of drugs that are used to self medicate are in fact doing. Thank-you Anonymous for your total honesty written from your own experience in exposing how harmful marijuana is.

113. Thanks Anonymous for your very honest blog about the effects of using marijuana. It has really deepened my understanding of how insidious this drug really is. How scary is it that in Australia this drug is currently well on the way to being legalised for medicinal use!

114. It is easy to feel in your words Anonymous the clarity and truth of your vision today and how marijuana no longer has any hold over you. Your testimony and experience should be widely read as it completely dispels the idea that dope is just a recreational drug. The numbing blanket it brings into our life has serious side effects on us and everybody else.

115. I have passed this on others as unfortunately there are many people I know addicted to marijuana, the depth of honesty and exposure in this blog offers the reader a great healing.

116. This blog counters any claims that marijuana is “ok and natural”. Sure we can write a list of the benefits it may have but when weighed up to the actual harms, it isn’t attractive.

     Its like saying I’ll have an entire cake with 1 strawberry on top wedged in the icing. The cake eater will claim the nutritional value of the strawberry and neglect to include the damaging affects of the excess sugar and other ingredients we know aren’t good for us.

117. This blog is extraordinary and has opened my eyes to the in-depth despair that comes with drug use.

118. Thank you for this awesome blog. You tell a story of a lifestyle that I know too well. I was part of it and addicted from when I was 14 until I was 30. My parents smoked and it was labeled safe and natural so I just followed my role models. I had stashes so I would never run out and I would put myself into dangerous situations to make sure I would have a smoke and I would spend my money on weed before taking care of my responsibilities, and all of this was normal.
     Pot was my coping mechanism, it kept me numb daily and I didn’t have to feel or deal with any of my stuff or my hurts but it kept me a prisoner. It was not until I met Serge Benhayon at Universal Medicine and had Chakra Puncture from a friend of mine that I was finally able to stop and not let it control me anymore. I used to never be able to imagine life without it and how I would cope or even get to sleep. Now I look back and I so appreciate that it is a thing of the past and it has no control over me anymore.

119. Its interesting what you said about championing the use of your drug of choice. It reminded me that when I was a drinker I used to say that I would never trust a person who didn’t drink, and would always try to get people to join in with me. Crazy considering I haven’t touched a drop for a while now. But we can also see this behaviour of promoting whatever we are using to get though life in so many areas e.g different therapies, diets, or spiritual groups. However, what i have learnt now is that you don’t need to try and sign people up for universal medicine, you just live your life being the love that you are, and lovingly allow people to be inspired or not, without any imposition.

120. I love your very open and honest account of your experiences with marijuana Anonymous. I too remember at school there were a lot of us kids who got into smoking it, even during school time. And there was the belief that because it’s natural and legal in some countries, it wasn’t dangerous or addictive. Luckily my pot smoking days didn’t last more than a few years because I started to get panic attacks. But I saw some loved-ones who were addicted to the so-called non addictive drug for many years and how withdrawn from society they became.

121. Thank you for sharing with such great honesty, this shows how when we start something that at the time seems harmless enough, can become so addictive and detrimental not only to those that take it, but destroy the families of those around them too.

122. Thank you anonymous, it is far from the care free party, social drug that it is made out to be. Its legacy is at best a life functionality check out and not feeling and at worst leading to psychotic episodes, breakdowns and potentially suicide.

123. Thank you Anonymous for this super powerful blog that demonstrates just how damaging this supposedly ‘soft’ drug is and how much the world is missing out on with so many living in an altered and self abusing state. I have seen the hugely damaging effects on many of the young people I work with and how detached they are from life and it is awesome to read that you now have to relationship with your former self and have turned your life around with true and deep self care and how the world is now graced with the reflection of you returning to you.

124. I enjoyed reading about your amazing transformation Anonymous, thank you for presenting the facts, knowledge and wisdom about addiction.
     “May we all aspire to be all we are for the sake of all, as it takes all of us working together to make our lives truly great”.
     You are a great inspiration for us all to work together to make our lives great; living in joy, harmony,stillness, love and truth.

125. The illusion that this drug is harmless is deeply worrying. I know myself from having taken it when I was younger that it seriously messes with your mental health. It is very disturbing that this drug is so widely available and to so many young people. Lets take a good look at society to see why this is going on.

126. Hi Amanda, interestingly enough our particles want to return to harmony no matter how much chaos they may be in. This is a known scientific fact. Chaos cannot prevail for long as all things return to harmony.

127. What a great blog this should be shared in the class rooms of all schools. Thankyou for your honest sharing of your experience of long term use of marijuana and the effects it had on your life.

128. I have no experience or knowledge of marijuana so this blog is an eye opener for me. Its insidious proliferation in the community reveals how disconnected we have become from ourselves. We need people like you Anonymous to spread the word about the long lasting effects of this drug as commented in the responses.

129. Over the last 3 years I have observed quite a number of my friends or people in my year at school become avid or ‘casual’ users of marijuana; as you have stated in your blog anonymous it is definitely an epidemic that affects not just those you’d stereotype as ‘druggies’ or hippies, but a super wide range of people. There is one boy in particular who started using when he was about 13 or 14 (an uncommon but not super rare age to start) and having first hand witnessed a HUGE change in his mental health – now showing symptoms of schizophrenia, and self harming on and off – I agree absolutely with you that marijuana is not taken seriously enough and is not as ‘natural’ and health-risk-free as many like to think.

130. This blog is incredible, it is depicting the true harm of substance abuse not only on oneself but on all others that we come into contact with. Anonymous your story is an inspiration for many and brings such honesty and truth that is often not shared in the public forum.

131. Thank you for shedding light on a subject many aren’t prepared to be honest about. Little do the users of this drug know or are willing to admit the hold marijuana has in them. As you so honestly say marijuana use is “a selfish indulgence into the abyss of a life of misery.” Interestingly it is now being marketed as “Medicinal Marijuana” – a natural pain killer.

132. This is a very clear and truthful sharing Anonymous, I would even go so far as to say should be required reading for all . These words are clearly important too concerning what Marijuana does to one, it gives “a protective layer or shield that only held me imprisoned in unresolved stuff and emotion”. and also “this makes Marijuana the ultimate retarding drug of the Century”! Scary thought when we think it is the drug of choice for more than half the population!

133. I appreciate your honest experience with being a long term marijuana user, the detailed description of how harmfull the drug is is very alarming. The main point being made that any form of drug use will only bury issues and on top of that the side effects of the drug. Its far more truthfull and evolutionary to deal with the unresolved issues as you have illustrated in your blog

134. With the note that marijuana is on the rise, we need to ask ourselves in what kind of society are we living? What are our daily lives and relationships like that we have to check out and numb ourselves? That marijuana is a natural plant and was used by many cultures in the past and therefore cannot be dangerous – is pure Illusion. And a very evil one, as it makes one think, that a joint here and there is a funny distraction. But it is not, it is a live damaging drug.

135. The alarming note here is, as you clearly pointed out ‘anonymous’, is that on world scale marijuana use is still on rise. It has become almost a normality to see a teenager smoking marijuana on the street, in the parks, waiting for the train. And it does not matter to them, that other people can watch them. Unfortunately it is so much on rise, that you can smell it every day in the public.

136. The comment that you made Anonymous that “marijuana is a retarding nature to human evolution” is so true. I work in the drug and alcohol detox service I have observed that with marijuana, the usage has a hold in the body for some time after the person has stopped using,I can feel it in their energy and in the way they talk or hold themselves. There is a stoner way of speaking. It is definitely a culture that people belong to and out of wanting to be a part of something keeps them there. With no evolution in sight. A great blog

     1. Very true Natalie, I have seen that also. There is, in many, an idealisation about the memory of taking it that makes it seem like a lesser drug with no real understanding of the harm it does to mental health. We have much to learn in order to see beyond want we want to be true.

     2. That is so true I have observed the same in the rehab I worked in too and so many people in the community minimise the effects marijuana has on the body.

     3. I found the same Natalie, a friend used to describe it as putting a smoke screen/cloud over your eyes for at least a few days if not longer over your eyes. And biochemically that makes perfect sense because the THC compound in marijuana can be traced in your urine for anywhere between 4-67 days (National Drug Court Institute/Ellis et al. 1985) depending on how much and how frequently you have used the drug. And so it is having a chemical effect on your body all of this time, altering its state and function.

137. What is remarkable is that your addiction is gone. Supposedly that is not possible, at least according to the 12 step programs and similar ventures.

138. This must be my third time i have read this blog and find it incredibly healing each time i do. “Dope was a double-edged sword: great for helping destroy relationships (3 wives later – de facto), then great for numbing and hiding what really happened. To me, this makes marijuana the ultimate retarding drug of the 20th century”. Having experience marijuana i can absolutely attest to it’s debilitating and retarding affects. There is nothing we need to ingest from the outside that will ever be equal to the love and glory we are from within.

139. Thank You Anonymous for talking about such an important subject.
     Recently two more states in the USA have legalised Marijuana and you are stating the effects it has, which clearly confirm it alters our natural state and has many side effects.
     I have worked with those who have addictions and I also met many who take “pot” smoking as part of their daily rituals. It is highly addictive and what I am finding is that more is needed to cope with everyday life. By this I mean that they started with 2 joints per evening and now its up to 12 and their partner is also smoking and they spend all their money to feed the habit. They hold down jobs but are struggling.
     How can this be normal and accepted by society?
     What Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine has done is given us the answers to get to the root and you are a living example of this. Well done Anonymous and rest assured there are others too who are finding their way back from addiction – Thanks to Serge Benhayon.

140. Very well said, Amanda, we do know that something is not ‘ok’, that what we are doing to ourselves with our various addictions is not love. We know because we are love ourselves and anything that is not that is not love. That’s what happens when you meet Serge Benhayon, you remember and recognize the love that he is and each of us is equally.

141. Dear Anonymous this is such a deeply inspiring blog you have written from personal experience. It is a testament to your choice to self-love your way back from the grips of such a tight hold that marijuana had over you for such a long time. Our bodies are amazing how they can offer us a way to love our way back to a true vitality.

142. Great article that tells it like it is….it is wonderful to read of you uncovering your true self, emerging from the fog. Your last sentence is a golden nugget of a quote “May we all aspire to be all we are for the sake of all, as it takes all of us working together to make our lives truly great.” Thank you for sharing.

143. Wow this is an awesome read. It completely debunks the myth that marijuana is non-addictive, natural and so-called harmless. I look around my life and see how many people (including myself)that got caught up in the dope smoking, drinking, party on lifestyle. I remember the anxiety I felt the last time I used marijuana, and I realised in that moment what I was doing to my body. Serge Benhayon only ever presented truth about drugs and alcohol, never did he say to stop. But with the truth available, I learned to read my body once again, and make a choice that was loving – not to pollute myself with numbing and debilitating drugs. Your story could help hundreds, if not thousands. Keep speaking up!

144. I love what you are saying here Andrewmooney. As a whole society we need to start challenging what is considered the norm and what is presently considered acceptable and tolerated. We also need to initiate teaching skills to our young that prepares them for the harsh reality and the ups and downs of modern day society. Prepare them so they can cope with the challenges that life invariably throws at us all – not by numbing or ignoring what we don’t want to feel or want to hide from, but by being responsible and actively building a sense of self worth to live and grow from that becomes slowly more and more impenetrable to the allure of poor and unloving lifestyle choices.

     1. Absolutely Suse because if we give children the tools to deal with life without numbing out as early as possible then they are more likely to chose to live responsibly and not go down the self destructive route of drug use in any form.

145. I love how you describe your marijuana addiction as ‘only a selfish indulgence into the abyss of a life of misery. After all that smoking and time spent in an altered state I had not gained any more wisdom or enlightenment, or created a better way to live. So why continue with the PhD???’ Great blog anonymous and an awesome sharing on how marijuana holds our society to ransom on so many levels.

146. Your blog Anonymous is very powerful and you are very inspiring.
     It took me quite some time to read and ponder what you had written; there was so much wisdom and information.
     The transformation you have made is amazing as is your ability and courage to take responsibility for your life. The loving choices you have made of course impact on you but also all of humanity.
     Thank you for your honesty and beautiful expression.

147. This is such an awesome, honest, frank, courageous blog that blows open the other side of the Marijuana debate.

     Thank you for the courage to share what you have learned.
     I now need to go back and read this again as there is so much there. There are so many in the world that can be inspired and heal from what you have shared

     1. I agree simpleSimon888, this blog blows marijuana use right open and there are countless people in the world who would be moved and inspired to connect back to their authentic selves by the honesty shared here.

148. Anonymous, this is truly so good. a ridiculous amount of great points as to the harm of Marijuana. especially about how marijuana numbs what your feeling and so you keep everything inside… “hindering one’s ability to try and work through issues or deal with stuff.” From this its clear to see the harm it would have as the world is made on relationships.. and without the ability to interact and express how you feel with another, not only you but everyone else around you would get affected too. not only that, but hearing voices etc.. thank you for sharing that and being so honest in what went on whilst in the middle of it.

149. So true Alexander and an important point. Drugs and alcohol are just one very obvious way to numb. The truth is most, if not all of us have many unresolved hurts from our earlier and current life, for some it’s a regular daily, if not weekly occurance to feel hurt by things said, actions taken, even just the way people are in general etc. So every one of us has our ways to numb the fact, as otherwise we’d be a blithering mess most of the time. This would be a whole lot more honest really as we’d also be more likely to deal with them. Someone very wise once told me my ‘heroin’ was relationships too… and he was so right.

150. Not only celebrities supporting it, but the fact it has been decriminalised by the law in many countries. I was reading recently how Snoop Dog had invested $10m into a delivery company in the USA whose mission was to make a delivery inside 30 mins of an order… turning the whole marijuana industry into nothing more than Pizza delivery. This is going to have dire consequences.

151. Well said Katie. And the travesty is that much like Alcohol it is gaining acceptance. Its becoming legal (or decriminalised whatever that means) in many countries which gives it a stamp of approval and therefore makes it easier to grow, distribute and so more people will experiment with it. They have no idea what the damage can be, or the potential for addiction. And if Alcohol is anything to go by, society will just set up more clinics and institutions, provide more therapy etc to deal with the effects on our population… not making the link back to why so many more people are struggling to deal with the world we live in.

152. Well said Anonymous… on every count. I’ve been there, supported the marijuana campaign, justified its use and abuse for many years. But there is no question in my mind of the toll it takes both from my personal experience and having watched two very close friends spend time in mental institutions. To see its increasing legitimacy around the world, the denial of any ‘side effects’ by those lobbying for it, watch the strength of it increase as they refine the product, and all the while its getting cheaper. Its hard to understand how this travesty is allowed until you understand the energetics of how big a crutch it is for humanity to avoid having to take responsibility for themselves and really feel what is going on.

153. Anonymous this is such a powerful and deeply honest piece of writing. One of the most striking things about what you share is the fact you extend the responsibility for your drug use beyond the damage it did to you and those around you, but to the fact it prevented you sharing your real self with those around you. Getting to a point where you could feel that it wasn’t just about dealing with what hurt you in your world, but what the world missed out on in not having you expressing yourself in full in it… is profound!

     1. Absolutely Jenny, this blog is self-responsibility to the highest level. Yes anonymous missed out on so much of himself by being checked out on marijuana, but also contributed to the world missing out on another awakened Brother. He is now amongst us, and his story is a very very important one to share with the world at large.

        1. This is such an important point Jenny and Jo while so many are living such self absorbed and damaging lives we all miss out on living and sharing with others living in brotherhood and contributing to society in a positive way.

154. Thank you, Anonymous. I am deeply touched by your amazing level of honesty and deep insight. You say “I didn’t have any friends who were not stoners on some level” – I could say the same for myself about my drinking habit; then you say “I chose to choose my friends that way, so I wouldn’t be exposed or asked to be more” – wow, I was just staying with ‘That’s what everyone did’ – which I now understand to be so not true.

155. This awesome blog shatters the so many myths about marijuana thank you for writing such an amazing article. The shocker of cannabis use is awful especially when you consider the millions of people who use cannabis and justify its use as its all natural. And that it is a ‘safe drug” There seems to be a common thread with Marijuana around buried issues, lies, endangering others lives and relationships, boundaries become blurred and the false impression of brotherhood as I have witnessed peoples lives slipped away into depression as they hide away under a smoke screen.

156. Your personal experience and willingness to be honest about ‘your stuff’, beautifully exposed the lies about marijuana and drugs. I have never used drugs but used food on a daily basis to bury my hurts. It is only by being willing to feel our hurts and being honest that can lead to true healing.

     1. Yes well said Carmin, there are many ways to bury hurts… drugs, alcohol and food are definitely common ones, excessive exercise l’ve also seen used to exactly the same effect , and one l’ve discovered more recently is the ability to rationalise. When I find myself rationalising something, it is a sure sign I have felt hurt, but haven’t wanted to acknowledge or deal with it.

157. Very well said Amanda, through all my years of drugs and alcohol addiction I knew there was another way and the drugs were simply what I choose to avoid that way because before you can feel love you must stop and feel what is not love and that stop scared the hell out of me. Its so ridiculous as the self abuse in addiction is so much worse than just to stop and feel that you have been running from yourself.

158. Who are you anonymous? Don’t answer that as I will happily answer my own question…you are a bloody legend. You writing style is right down my ally, no BS and so relatable because your not trying to convince anyone that you know it all or that you are better…just a great story and cold hard facts of what this drug really is. I had my first bong at 10 years of age, I didn’t truly give up pot until I met Serge when I was 23… just the back and forth struggle as you described so well, the I swear I am stopping today only to be caving in to addiction by 3.00 in the afternoon. I used pot as a medication so I could go to sleep but ironically it ended up being what made my sleep difficult. I had this spider psychosis, I would swear I could feel a massive spider crawling up my leg, I would grab the blanket and be sure it was in my hand only to find it was nothing time and time again. Thanks for sharing this amazing blog, I was so inspired by this article my original comment was so long that I think I have my own blog, which will be the first one I have written, can’t thank you enough, it feels great to write about all that old life and expose the lie I lived in.

     1. Its crazy to read this blog, so simple, straight up and powerful ad then consider that the University of Sydney has just received its largest ever grant of $33 Million to study medical marijuana.

        That is Insanity.

        1. Are you for real? I did not know that Simon, that is wild and so off the mark. Thanks for sharing.

159. This is such a great article Anon. Love the honesty with which you have described the viscous cycle of such an addictive drug affecting many and creating so much pain and corruption in the world today.. truly inspiring the way you chose to make different lifestyle choices and allowed yourself to connect more to the tenderness and gentleness of your body who you are and stop numbing it anymore with poison. Thank you.

160. Yes Kelly Zarb. And this article is the absolute proof that we can stop drug addiction for real, even if we are extremely addicted. I found this article very inspirational, as I have not been on drugs, but I can deeply sense the harm of drugs in your writing and how it takes such strong effort and strength to stop using it, and that it is more the reason why we take drugs, than the drug itself. That is powerful to understand! Once we look at the cause of why we are using drugs, I guess, to stop using drugs gets much easier, as this article by Anonymous is so clearly revealing.

161. This is a very honest and revealing blog, thank you. It seems that addiction to drugs and their real purpose and effects can often only be seen after one stops using them. Looking back over a life of numbing, holding back and body destruction is never easy, but to find yourself in truth and start to live in a Soulful way puts it all in perspective. Universal Medicine has already inspired thousands to get their lives on track, all by presenting the truth of who we are along with practical tools on how to live life authentically. It leaves self medicated numbing in the dust.

162. This comment “..the drug wreaked havoc in our lives as well as those of everyone connected to us as we under-performed, buried our issues, told lies to cover up, broke many laws, endangered other people’s lives, as well as our own, and failed to commit to our lives and relationships” how wonderful to be free from such a burden. I still have friends that smoke and it is tough to observe the burden they have yet to choose to be free from. Excellent blog about how insidious marijuana really is. Great to be celebrate and commit to life in fullness – feeling it.

163. You don’t see children, especially primary-aged children, having to come home and smoke dope or get drunk to cope with a tough day at school, they deal with their stuff sober- this is a powerful statement and shows how we have nornalised drugs and alcohol on many levels in society.

     1. Yes this is so Joel but I must add that I have seen children come home from school and numb out on TV/screens and all kinds of forms of sugar. We all seem to find our drug, our form of medication. I have also found that with sugared-out kids they can get into a such a state that I have at times likened it to being drunk. And in front of a screen it is very like that are completely taken as they are non responsive and you really have to stand in front and turn the device off to break the spell they are under.

        1. Love this kathleenbaldwin, it broadens the responsibility beyond those that are choosing more blatant forms of abuse to avoid what they feel, like Esther and Lance, to all of us that might be avoiding things in different ways

164. Thank you for this very powerful and truthful blog on Marijuana. I have had some contact with the drug, observing the effect on people that were addicted and I agree it is a very insidious, retarding and life wrecking drug.

165. Thank you for all you have exposed about marijuana addiction that is more rife than is often cared to be acknowledged, and well time that it is.

166. Well said Tony!

167. This is a great article. I was a regular drug user and I know very well of the strong hold it can have on you, the downward spiral, the disconnection to close loved ones as I could not look them in the eye.
     I used drugs daily and was working in the music industry and always had plenty of company to get stoned with. It was how I bonded and made friends even though we were far from truly knowing each other. In truth I could have been so much more productive if I had a clear head and could get stuff done without the fog of being stoned.
     Thanks to Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine I am drug free and enjoying feeling all that life presents. Sometimes what I feel isn’t pleasant but I am here to learn and study myself. To understand why I behave in certain ways and to learn from not so good choices. You can’t do that stoned.

     1. Thanks for your comment Daniel, I totally relate. I was a stoner from way back and spent the majority of my life under the influence of some drug. I also have Universal Medicine to thank for getting myself back, I honestly felt like most of my life was taken from me and now I am slowly rebuilding and truly understanding who I am, not always pleasant as you say but truly awesome and would not have it any other way.

     2. Thank you for sharing Daniel, too often it is considered that there are no negative affects – and yet do we look at and consider the effects that taking this drug can have on our relationships, our ability to work and our families?

168. Such honesty and rawness can be felt in this sharing and a beautiful confirmation that there is always a way back when there is such a deep disconnection from self.

169. I would say that the drug of today, or at least one of them, is the screen (TV, computer, phone etc) I had experienced very similar situations as you described Anon. The addiction, the wasting health, damaged relationships to name a few. It seems like no matter when or where we grow up there is a means and ways of avoiding our issues and hurts and the overall behaviours of avoidance are shown to us by the previous generation, only the flavour changes. But what Universal Medicine presents and is proven through evidence such as this blog, the comments and the masses of people saying how their lives have changed by dealing with their buried issues sober is that this generational tradition need not be carried onto the next.

170. Awesome article, bringing first hand experience of regular marijuana use and its actual effects. I knew people from all walks of life (academics, professionals, tradies, musicians) who were regular users, and it was considered as ‘normal’ as smoking a cigarette or drinking a glass of wine – and yet there was also a great deal of stress, depression, prescription drug use and mental illness including schizophrenia in those same circles. I knew of a person who was nearly killed by one of his friends having a psychotic attack after some heavy smoking, another time the same friend was put in jail for a short time one night while stoned and he committed suicide. It’s not fun to watch the gradual decline and feel helpless to do anything about it. But at least more are now speaking up and relating the truth of their experiences with this insidiously dangerous drug.

     1. To me the effects of the drug are plain to see through my own personal experiences and I could not agree more Annie. But it was interesting how you noted that it has joined its normal friends – smoking and drinking. If you were to look at the danger to society of these other drugs that have long been legal, we would find they kill hundreds of thousands more people than the so called ‘Class A’ drugs everyone is so fearful of. As a society we are somehow missing the really obvious messages that out bodies and the statistics are showing us.. and have now added Marijuana to that list.

     2. Yes it is such a false perception that marijuana is safe, that it just mellows people and calms them down. I too knew many dope smokers over many years and most of them lost any motivation to deal with their issues, nor did they commit to life’s challlenges. I know so many stories from others about teenagers/children who had first schizophrenic episodes soon after smoking dope. I have never seen anyone who smokes dope thrive, or have a sparkle in their eyes. To me that says it all.

        1. Very true Felicity, you can see a lifelessness in their eyes. As much as I knew so many who would not have considered a day without it, they didn’t thrive, sparkle or live their lives in an engaged way. It is a hard one to watch as a friend.

        2. Yes I agree with your perceptions. I never saw Marijuana do any good for anyone. It just seemed to leave them detached from life, but not in a strengthening or wise way, it bred apathy.

171. I like what you state here – “As I now am not an AA­-like reformed drug addict, but someone who has no connection or attachment to marijuana at all.” So true…
     The second statement I felt was important that you said – “I don’t preach to them, I respect their choices, but say clearly how I feel and how I would never use marijuana again.” No imposing…

172. I know what you mean Adam….I have tried to communicate with someone on drugs and all I can feel is this sadness… as they are not really there with you at all.

173. I so agree Joe….this needs to go out to the global community.

174. Wow what an awesome article, that shares what it is really like to live like this. How it can blind and numb us, to what is truly going on within. The damage it can cause, not only to our bodies, but the impact it also has on our lives, if we chose to take it. I have seen lives devastated by drugs and the impact it has on their families and friends. But what I love about your a blog, is you show their is another way. Thank you for sharing your story very much appreciated.

175. Looking back at my fifteen or so years addicted to marijuana I am saddened by the years I wasted away. Whilst I can remember events, places etc those years passed like a thick fog, unable to see what was going on in the real world because of the thick cloud of bong smoke that surrounded me and all the while there I was thinking I didn’t have a problem with life. Marijuana is as devastating a drug as they come but it still has a soft level and that fact that it is now legalised/decriminalised in so many places is of concern. Where are we headed as a society if we are allowing drugs to be legally available, the governments know they are sitting on a gold mine by allowing this, it clearly shows that their main concern is not of the people they represent but rather how much money can they fit into their revenue bag.

176. I have seen several lives deviated and devastated by marijuana. This so called ‘harmless’ drug is in no way harmless at all. It makes me wonder about the side effects of it being used for legal medicinal purposes and if we are heading down slippery slope with this?

177. This was a really really great blog. The true affects of the so called ‘harmless’ drug- which is clearly not so harmless at all.

178. Wow what a journey. I love what you have shared in this blog – as you share here – even at the deepest point of addiction, there is always still a choice to come out of it based on the level of awareness we allow. I can feel the strength it has taken to write this and be so honest with yourself about the true nature of a ‘harmless’ drug – and what a healing it is to express this.
     It’s true that there are others ways to deal with life, rather than bury it behind an addiction, which sadly can in the end be even more painful than what is being buried

179. Wow. Thank you, I have not read such an honest account of a life of marijuana use and addiction.
     Something that also really stood out was your appreciation for Serge Benhayon calling a ‘spade a spade’, and not holding back the energetic truth – even if people may not want to hear it. This truth supported you to make true choices, which is an absolute miracle.

180. This is an awesome blog anon, littered with profound insight into the destructive repercussions of using pot. It is a powerful must read for anyone who believes in the harmlessness of it being a natural substance or who wants to be inspired by someone courageous enough to choose to stop numbing themselves and feel it all. A truly incredible story.

181. Anonymous, thanks for sharing your amazing story. I now more fully realise the insidious way that marijuana works on humans. It makes me shudder to think of the damage that is going to be further perpetrated on people through its growing legalisation of use for medical purposes in various states in Australia.

182. I recently studied Addictions and I am quite amazed at how “marijauna” is not receiving the media attention that it needs as more and more are smoking this substance which has active ingredients that really do alter the brain chemistry and put the body into total dis-harmony. Those who give up tend to replace it with nicotine and other substances so nothing really changes as the root of why they smoke in the first place is not addressed.

     Your story is so inspiring and I am blown away that you can now confidently say that you have “no connection or attachment to marijuana at all, it feels to me that it was another life away”. Well done and thanks for sharing.

183. Great point Adam, thank you for sharing. Marijuana is such an insidious drug, it is portrayed as many to be docile, natural and free-spirited but all I found was it created a daze for me, a complete lack of reality and responsibility. Whilst at the time I thought I was having fun, when I would look back all I could see was what a waste of time it was and how much I had missed out on by not actually being present with what I was doing. It is crazy how it can be championed when it is ruining and wasting so many peoples lives.

184. An absolute gem of a blog and should be shown to any young person considering smoking for the first time or anyone who still smokes. Your blog shows there is a way out, to feel the pain and to deal with the root issues is the only way to go rather then spending years self medicating only pushing the problem down further. Thank you for throwing such light into the murky dark consciousness of smoking pot.

185. Wow Anonymous. So honest and powerful. Your willingness to expose the reality behind marijuana addiction is to be applauded. I too smoked pot every day for many years and was totally convinced it was harmless and ok. Your sharing offers a true and real insight into the incredible harm that is marijuana.

186. This is fantastic Anonymous, thank you for writing this so honestly. True healing starts within.

187. Thanks for sharing an incredible story of your experiences of marijuana. It has so clearly exposed the way this drug is so so so harmful and yet society still sees this as a recreational drug. Reading how you dealt with the deep despair of finally feeling all your buried hurts is a remarkable story that I am so glad you have shared.

188. I really like how you describe the choice of friends as a way just to make sure that you would not be exposed. By getting together only or mainly with like minded people we just keep going. This is a great example of how we control our life to the marijuana-dimension. This, however, does not mean that we are in control, given that addictions govern us. Responding to this energy governing you in the first place confirming it in every action.

189. This is a very powerful expose on marijuana. I too feel that you could do well to write more on this subject and share more to a wider public, maybe you are already. I know what harm it caused me and I feel that as a person who always wanted to get to the root of any problem and completely clear the decks as it were marijuana was a perfect foil as it countered this natural instinct in me and made me not want to bother and think everything was great when it wasn’t. It also blurred my boundaries so that I would find myself getting into sexual relationships that being sober I would never contemplate. I feel that it is hugely harmful and unfortunately often looked upon as completely harmless. The truth needs to be told so that people have a chance to say no to this deadly substance.

190. Thank you for writing what needs to be said about marijuana addiction. In my late teens I felt like I was the odd one out as I witnessed a group of beautiful, loving and intelligent men live and champion the use of marijuana in their lives. At the time the band Talking Heads had a song out …. “Where on the road to nowhere, come inside, taking that ride to nowhere, we’ll take they ride …” I remember feeling it was such an apt song to describe what was happening to these beautiful men I loved. As an outsider to this club there is not much you can say except continue to feel how much you love them and allow them their choice. Nothing has changed for me in this instance but I welcome a club member and brother coming out and sharing what those on the outside witness on a daily basis. How awesome you were able to pick up on what your children reflected back to you, our divine canaries in the mine of misery and self destruction.

191. What an absolute transformation. I have known people, that like you, had been very heavy users of the substance and the attachment to it was always so strong. No matter how much the person wanted to get off the substance it would always hook them back in. It is awesome to read how much you were attached to it and how you found the way to drop it completely out of your life. And how much your life has now changed because of those lifestyle choices.

192. There is so much misinformation, lies and beliefs about Marijuana, in many groups and circles of people its considered natural, acceptable and even a cool drug to take. Thank you for exposing the true harm and damage that it actually does, and sharing your brave account of choosing to love and care for yourself and face life head on, letting go of this insidious drug.

193. Wow what an awesome article, the level of honesty in what you expose is amazing, as you have not held back from expressing the truth of your experience- the ups and the downs. I appreciate what you have shared as it gives everyone the opportunity to feel the devastating effects that a substance like marijuana has on the human body and psyche, but also the power of coming back to yourself and living from love.

194. Marijuana, is very seductive in the way it hooks you into a cycle of addiction. It is definitely one the worst drugs and yet being heralded as soft, acceptable, legal, and now decriminalised in some countries and states. What a great way to pacify / numb the masses, whilst tricking them into feeling so called chilled or like rebels and expansive free thinkers.
     We definitely need more study and understanding of this topic so people can have an more informed choice. Thanks Anon.

195. Great blog and insight into the life of someone addicted to smoking pot. I fortunately swerved past marijuana as a drug I didn’t get on with how it made me feel, but I know it would have been something I got into if I had enjoyed it as so many of my friends did. One friend who was 10 years older than myself and a daily user really lost his ability to think clearly, it was quite shocking to see and a good reality check of what the possible damage could be. It certainly makes sense that it buries your feelings and issues. I love you last sentence about children not being able to check out using drugs – though tv, sugar and computer games are their drug for this – essentially they have to deal with their lives where as we seem to think we can do what we want to ‘take the edge off’ life. Great blog.

196. It was great to read your blog and get such an honest insight into the life of someone caught by marijuana use. Its amazing how when we are in an addiction we can’t see the downward spiral. I loved that you realised that your kids knew when you were stoned – no matter how old they are, they know when we are ourselves and when we are not.

197. Anon, having also been a pot smoker for years I now so clearly see that sucking on a joint was just like sucking on a sooky dummy, it numbed me out big time!

198. Thank you Anon, I found I was really drawn to slow down as I was reading to better understand the full breadth of what you were saying. One part that really stood out for me that I hadn’t considered before was ‘You don’t see children, especially primary-aged children, having to come home and smoke dope or get drunk to cope with a tough day at school, they deal with their stuff sober. It’s just in the adult world that we justify and champion this behaviour as ok, when it’s really far from that.’. You have given me a lot to ponder on because what you have written could also apply to any ‘addiction’ (legal or otherwise) we use to numb, distract, bury or defend etc our ill chosen ways of being.

199. Very true. When you have so-called role models saying that pot is harmless and that it should be legalised, it sends a very big message to the masses. Young men especially are very susceptible to this kind of propaganda. People use it to escape and that is the solution that we have opted for as a society. Shows how undermined mental health is. It is hardly surprising that suicide is the biggest killer of young men.

200. I agree Tony, the view society currently holds around ‘weed’ makes its addictive quality ten times worse because we see it as ‘okay’ and ‘normal’ when the simple fact that people can’t enjoy life without artificial stimulation is in itself enough of a red flag, let alone the fact it is a drug.

201. Thank you for this blog it has powerfully captured so much of what I grew up in and around. The piece that jumped out for me was “as we under-performed, buried our issues, told lies to cover up, broke many laws, endangered other people’s lives, as well as our own, and failed to commit to our lives and relationships.” I look back at some of the choices I made whilst smoking marijuana and shake my head. I know I would often go into shock at the time but rather than dealing with it would get stoned again and bury it further. Not so long ago I was having a conversation about what marijuana does to your brain capacity and it was very hard to accept the potential I chose to take away from myself by choosing to go on a two year smoking binge.

202. Probably one of the best blogs I’ve ever read. You could easily write a book based on what you know, which would be sorely needed with marijuana now being legalised in many places. I was quite shocked by what I read but you described everything so well, including the real reasons why people turn to this drug. I feel what you’ve written is an education that the world needs access to in a much broader sense. I hope you will take the messages you have on this topic out to the broader global community.

     1. Well said Melinda. I completely agree. It is an important and well needed message.

203. An awesome blog Anonymous, and an inspiring read. As one who works in the AOD sector (Alcohol and Other Drugs), I can deeply feel how inspiring this blog will be to read for those beginning to question their use (and indeed, anyone!), and will be sharing your blog, and your truth with others. Thank you.

204. I loved reading the truth of your blog anonymous. I have seen first hand the effects of this drug. Alcohol was my main addiction but I did indulge in marijuana to be sociable and I have witnessed the effects of it on my children and grandchildren. I have seen a peson react withpsychotic episodes, resulting from the addiction to this drug. It is so insidious and so commonly believed to be natural and therefore ok….but that it is ok, is such a lie. It is amazing to hear your story of how you turned your life around and allowed yourself to feel and make self-loving choices. Thank you for your honesty, it is so inspiring.

205. Great blog anonymous, thank you for your clear view about the truth of drugs, that they are not innocent and are used consciously and unconsciously to assist users to not deal with there issues in life, because of, as you state so clearly, the true nature of marijuana “by its insidious nature of hiding / burying and therefore hindering one’s ability to try and work through issues or deal with stuff”.

206. ‘The substance was utterly destructive and ruining my potential to have a balanced and great life.’ Such simple yet powerful words that could be said of any drug. Awesome blog thank you, and one to be shared with anyone looking to work through addiction.

207. Thank you for this article. In reading your words I can get a real sense of how these kind of drugs are really used as a tool to hide away from hurts that are unresolved, leaving us a mass of people who are not taking responsibility for their lives and instead becoming numb and disconnected to not only themselves but every one. I am pleased for you that you have been able to make changes in your life and that you are living the benefits of that now. It would be great to see this happen more and more across society and especially with young people who are just being introduced to the drug. Role models like yourself can pave the way for us all to be empowered to say no when the seductive offer of drug abuse comes our way.

208. Awesome blog, thank you. It offers a true experience of the depth of the harm caused by marijuana that can so often be overlooked. Hats off to you for being open to there being another way as presented by Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine, changing your life around by making self-loving choices and dealing with your stuff. Hooray!

209. An amazing article, thank you, I personally had no idea of the affects of marijuana, as I believed what I had been told that it was a natural drug that had health benefits. Having read your testimonial, and trusting my instinct that the story we are feed is not the whole truth, no where near, it is shocking to read the affects it can have on your life and body. Thank you for so honestly sharing what the truth is behind an addiction to marijuana, reading this has come at an amazing time as countries all over the world debate over making this substance legal.

210. It shows us that when we numb ourselves by taking substances we do so much damage to our bodies and also to those around us. I have used food in my past where I would worry endlessly everyday whether I had put weight on or not. By being more loving with myself, food doesn’t have that hold on me like it used to. Thank you for writing such an honest article.

211. Great blog anon. So many people will relate to your stories and be inspired by it. Many more of us just need to change the word marijuana to food, alcohol or self loathing and the impact on our lives have been very simular.

     1. Indeed Margaret. There is so many aspects in modern life that serve for numbing the things one is not prepared to feel. Only when looking at what damage they truly do to our bodies and health in general, one will discern them for what they really are.

212. The truth about marijuana without any glamourising of it – and no detail left out. It is a familiar story indeed. There is no doubt in my mind and through my experiences that dope is exactly as damaging and dangerous as written here.

213. I could feel your tenderness and deep self love come through in the blog. Relate-able in every way what you have said. Just dealing with the issues and hurts.

214. There is such a hidden cost to using marijuana and it is yet to be widely understood. Nevertheless I have seen what it does to peoples’ speech, memory and general sense of connection and it is anything but harmless.
     There’s not yet enough understanding on the much deeper effects of marijuana on the person but when that does eventuate, it will be clear to see just how destructive marijuana is – and how far reaching it’s detrimental effects can be, many of which are not immediately obvious but become much more apparent later in life.

215. Can so relate to this. Thank you for sharing. So amazing to actually feel, deal and heal and not numb out anymore.

216. Here in New Zealand there is a magazine that promotes the normalisation of marijuana. It is this concept of marijuana being normal that is such a social hook for so many marijuana users. When I was a smoker I always thought that we, the users, were the normal ones and that those out there, the non-smokers, were actually held in fear!

217. A great story from the author, who has obviously stood-up by choice, with the assistance of Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon – to reclaim their rightful and full place in the world. Well done with your sharing and for being so real in the delivery.

218. Thank you Anon for your detailed account of marijuana and its true destructive nature. It amazes me that when we begin to truly understand the truth of what we are doing then stopping the self-harming behaviour is no longer a struggle or fight but a natural progression in our personal growth.

219. Thank you for spelling out so clearly how marijuana really affects its adherents, a very sobering eye opener indeed; as is your observation of its “retarding nature to human evolution”.

220. What a huge turnaround this is very very inspiring as I know it can be very difficult to come out of the belief that ‘marijuana is good for you’, due to the it’s natural and a herb philosophy. Thank you for writing this blog and sharing your experience – many will benefit. It also offers a lot of insight into why we use drugs.

221. Amazing article! The clear and obvious harm that comes from long term daily use should not deter from the fact that less frequent use is also damaging and retards personal growth. At various times of my life I was a weekend binge smoker and would come up with some “interesting” reasons as to why it was OK and even good for me. Many smokers/ex-smokers would know what I mean. It’s like the drug plays with your mind and connects you to a false intelligence that gives you convincingly sophisticated but false insights as to why pot is OK. A couple of common examples of such is the misleading belief that it can inspire creativity or heighten spiritual awareness. Through the work of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine I got back in touch with my body’s innate true intelligence and came to clearly see and feel the real truth that smoking pot does the exact opposite. Even occasional recreational use actually severely dimmed the light of my being, diminished my ability to make loving choices and distanced me from experiencing the true joy of life.

222. Well said Jenny, whatever our addiction is, in truth it comes down to our emptiness and disconnection from ourself that is constantly needing to be fed – a bottomless pit unless there are choices made that support the return to re-connect within to that which is always there, patiently waiting for our return – Love.

223. Thank you for this honest account. We are all subject to addiction at sometime, though the substance varies: sugar, food, alcohol etc. As you say, we often have difficulty recognising our addictions, as we are, in a way, controlled by the substance and the energetic effects exerted on the body.

224. There is no “safe” drug, I have tried them all, repeatedly, this one is often considered a ‘gateway in’ and for that reason could be considered the most evil. Thank you for writing your account it will help mankind

225. That is a very accurate statement Amina, “sucking the life out of me.” It does and the fact that we some how experience this as a ‘high’ indicates to me just how sinister marijuana is. I know that all my friends who smoked were also of the belief that it was harmless. Having quit all drugs, alcohol, caffeine and sugar and feeling absolutely great as a consequence, well and vital, it is shocking to look back at my life then and I can fully realise now just how severely debilitating marijuana truly is.

226. Thank you for sharing how damaging addictions can be; the belief that nothing is wrong, that it has no affect on you or others – and yet time and time again we experience moments of something not feeling right or knowing that a habit is not good for us. And yet we don’t stop as we continue to feed ourselves a story or reasons as to why there is supposedly nothing wrong with it. As I too have experienced, Truth is an amazing healer, and one of which I can appreciate myself for having been willing to listen to.

227. Thank you for sharing your amazing story. It was such an inspiration to read how you turned your whole life around by stopping the long cycle of numbing with marijuana and then dealt with the hurts that came up. How great for humanity that you can now share all of you again!

228. Thank you Anon for your very candid account. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you have said and in particular this statement: ” To me, this makes marijuana the ultimate retarding drug of the 20th century”. I used marijuana for over 10 years to numb the pain of abuse from my childhood and my relationships with men as a young adult. I had stopped using it in my early 30s, and by the time I met Universal Medicine and listened to Serge’s views on the drug, I could only agree absolutely with him too. I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is a very evil drug. The fact that users are adamant marijuana is not addictive is a very insidious sign of just how evil it is. We don’t really know what the long term effects of marijuana addiction are, but we are about to find out. Having met Universal Medicine and undertaken to resolve my buried pain and learn to love me again, I know I will never use drugs or alcohol or any other stimulant or depressant to prevent me from dealing with my life and my issues, however painful they may be. As you say, if a primary school kid can deal with their lives sober, then surely as adults we must be able to do the same?

229. I agree Conor, I have felt how esoteric modalities allow us to clear the damage and harm that we have lived. There is no re-programming or suppressing of symptoms or desires which is often the approach to treating addiction.

     1. I agree with your agreement AnneMarie. When treating addiction there is an effort to reprogram or suppress the symptoms or desires, but Universal Medicine offers us the choice to go underneath all of that to clear the root cause of our ills the original hurt that caused the drive for drugs in the first place gets healed as does the drive to take drugs of any kind.

230. Pingback: Marijuana Addiction |

231. An Amazing blog, Anonymous. The raw honesty about your living through the addiction of this so-called-harmless drug is inspiring and informative. I knew Marijuana was not great for the body, but not the details of just how devastating it is on the organs too. School children worldwide could benefit from this blog – have you ever felt to go into schools and communities etc to share your story and where you have come to now, with no trace of this in your system any longer. So profound. Thank you.
     I love your final sentence –
     “May we all aspire to be all we are for the sake of all, as it takes all of us working together to make our lives truly great”.

232. Amazing that you (the author) have been able to clear marijuana completely from your body and from your life. As you say, feels like another life away. Serge Benhayon and the esoteric healing modalities which he presents allows us to actually clear at the most fundamental (or ‘energetic’) level the harm we have done to our bodies, so that we can release it, and move on – towards a life of more vitality and joy, and true self-care. It can be such a massive support, then, to all those who are looking to let go of their addictions, and build a better quality of life for themselves.

233. Amazing insight into the harm of marijuana, thank you anon. This would be great for teenagers to read (or anyone really) to help them see how devastating this drug is and that there is another way to live life.

234. Your experience around this drug has been so full on, Anonymous. It’s an amazing sharing you offer about the way it affected you, your life and those around you. In the media there are always related discussions linked to smoking and drinking, but the one around Marijuana isn’t so prevalent. This needs to be discussed and talked about for the harm that it brings. Thanks for sharing and bringing a heartfelt honesty to your writing.

235. It took me a while to understand why Serge considered marijuana worse than heroin (energetically), and I discovered I was still identified with Marijuana although I had given it up years before Universal Medicine. In spite of the very potent addictive nature of the drug, it is sold to us as harmless, natural; and worst of all, one can function and pretend to have a normal life with it, thus hiding the addiction and prolonging it for years and years. I have suffered the effects of my Marijuana use in my life and the life of my family and friends, and totally agree with you that it is not a harmless drug: for me also it was “only a selfish indulgence into the abyss of a life of misery” . I am still dealing with the issues and indulgences that were there before the drug. With the support of universal medicine practitioners I feel I can get to the root cause of the addiction and choose a life of fullness and joy.

236. Thank your Anonymous for a great blog shattering the myths on the so-called harmless natural drug that is marijuana. It really does rob people of themselves, I’ve observed it in friends and others that while they smoked they talked lots, but there was never any action, they just drifted and checked out, and had another spliff. And now we have a big push to legalise it, especially in the US and really where are we as a society that we need to bury our issues rather than address them?

     So true what you said about school kids, we do expect them to deal with their issues sober, but somehow an adult has a pass to get drunk or stoned to avoid them, and then we wonder later why kids follow our path later?! I love your dedication to Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine ‘for speaking the truth and not holding back in a world where truth is always used in a controlled form and not exclusively for the good of all. ‘ – it really captures what Universal Medicine is about, speaking the truth, the whole truth, even when it’s unpopular or against the grain.

237. For the writer of this article to be able to come to the realizations he has and make the changes in his life after such deep disregard and burying, it is a true testament to the work and teachings of Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon; not to mention how powerful we all are as the author has proven by simply making the choice to no longer live in that self-abusive way, everything changed in a positive way. It’s never too late to feel again.

     1. Well said Michael, it is indeed ‘never too late to feel again’ and to make the the choice(s) to live in a more harmonious loving way.

238. An incredible article, for that’s what this is. It’s informative, eye opening and very real. Your ability to describe the effects of this ‘harmless’ social drug is fantastic because it helps us understand what is really going on and wrong here. Like you say, you never need to preach, but to hear from someone who has experienced both sides is wisdom enough and very powerful to feel.

239. Thank you for such an honest reflection of smoking pot. You spell out the effects so clearly. Having smoked in the past I can relate to what you say. I also found hearing about the damaging effects hard to stomach but also knew that was true. The past seems a world away and my body cringes at the thought of smoking again – a big leap from what I once thought was the answer.

240. Thank you Anon, for this powerful and moving account. I certainly never realised that
     ‘pot’ had such an insidious quality. My only contact with it was back at the beginning of
     the Seventies, when it seemed to be a regular feature at parties, where it was treated
     with a sort of reverence and came with its own quaint vocabulary. At rock festivals
     it pervaded the whole atmosphere and seemed to blend in with the music.
     Thankfully for me and my friends, it passed into history like the Rubic cube
     and the hula hoop. Among my contemporaries, hardly anybody smoked
     (tobacco), having been totally put-off by our coughing and brown-fingernailed parents! and so it didn’t really catch-on.
     Reading your account, I am astonished at my ignorance of the subject, but I am hugely moved by your Herculean attempts at, and eventual success in, kicking the habit.
     If other dedicated users could read your account, I’m sure they would do the same.

241. Thank you ‘Anonymous’ for your honesty in this truly brilliant expose of marijuana and the harm it does. A major part of the harm is that once we thought it was a harmless drug. How wrong we all were. Marijuana takes hold of people’s lives and shuts them down, disconnecting them from their own vitality, their connection to life and the people around them.

242. This is an amazing story with such a turn-around of your life. I have had addictions to other things in my life, and know how I have wanted to check-out rather than face the pain of the hurts in my life. Thank you for this story, it is inspiring to read what you have managed to do.

243. This a truly powerful testament to the truly harmful and damaging consequences of this drug, Congratulations for managing to extricate yourself from its insidious stranglehold and to regain your life back. This a story that should be widely publicised as is an inspiration for others.

244. Wow anonymous, thank you for writing this, how amazing and inspiring that you made these huge changes in your life, from drugs and alcohol to self-care and nurturing.

245. Thank you for this blog. Beautifully honest and inspiring. So important that the illusion of marijuana being a harmless non-addictive drug be exposed. While I was never addicted to marijuana I had many friends who were and saw as you describe a wasting of amazing talent, vitality and love for life. It is truly crippling and retarding and I know many people who now struggle with mental health problems because of its use. Thank you for this inspiring blog. You clearly express the true harm and deep damage that marijuana smoking causes. So important that stories like this get out there in the world as we are at a time where the legalisation and acceptance of the drug is on the increase.

246. Amazing article exposing the real harm of Marijuana. Thank you for sharing your experience, I suspect there are many similar experiences out there, and the more these are shared, the more this side of the drug can be exposed.

247. I really loved reading this article and found it very sobering from any kind of addiction. I enjoyed your insight – “You don’t see children, especially primary-aged children, having to come home and smoke dope or get drunk to cope with a tough day at school, they deal with their stuff sober.” So simple but so true.

     Thank you Anon, I will come back again for another read to enjoy the pure raw honesty of what you have shared with us.

248. I feel your words so very strongly as I have also spent many years in the self-medicated numbness of Marijuana to bury the great poverty I felt within. As a drug, it’s seemingly benign nature is the most lethal disposition of any drug. It’s seductive nature was always there in the back of my mind. My escape from the world, if it ever got too close. I was slave to its cravings and lived in a similar oscillation of trying to function in the world and lurching for the day’s end when I could roll the next joint. It aided me to stay in my chosen given up state and even justified my choice to be that way. It’s the greatest come back to a world that has hurt you – or so I thought. I too was a young man with lots of potential but it was eaten up by my vegetative state. Time slipped past in a haze. Efforts that I made to change were half hearted and nothing lasted – jobs and relationships. It is so true about how kids can feel straight away if you’re stoned or not. I know that my younger brother was very affected by my pot-smoking addiction and years later he is doing the same thing. Like you, I don’t tell him not to do it. It is his choice.

     It’s crazy how people associate it with ‘peace’ and ‘love’. May be that’s the hangover from the 60’s, but it does have connotations of being about sharing and connecting with your fellow brethren. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Marijuana closes you off from yourself first and after that, there’s no true connection to others. Yes you can have stoned conversations where you think you’re solving the world’s problems or having hysterical laughing fits about nothing – BUT all that is total illusion and not based on any truth about finding lasting answers for the world’s problems or true humour.

     Since working through my hurts and learning what it is to love myself, I have let go of the things that I used to do to numb the pains. Marijuana was one of them and I can say outright that I will never touch the stuff again. I have come to deeply appreciate the true connections that I now have with the people that I love. Even people that I might meet at the supermarket queue. Our conversations are real and often truly funny. And there’s a richness of presence; a quality of love to the way we interact.

     Thank you for writing the article. Your honesty is very touching and the power in your words demonstrates the true amazing you that you have re-connected back to and are living from. It’s an inspiration to us all that lives can be turned around.

249. This is a truly great blog full of honesty and could help millions to feel where they are at, if they ever find it to read it.

250. What a journey! I am blown away by what you have shared and the raw Truth about Marijuana addiction.
     I hope you choose to publish this as an article with the headline as you quote “The ultimate retarding drug of the 21st century”.
     The world needs to read this and I for one will do my bit by printing this and sharing with others in my area of work which has an emphasis on dealing with addictions.

251. ……’it feels to me another life away’……Anon I was a daily user for fifteen years and couldn’t agree more with this, thank you for this great and honest expose on the so called harmless nature of marijuana, your insight gives me many aspects to ponder on

252. Thank you for sharing your story soo openly and presenting it the way it is/was for you. Marijuana takes over people’s lives – it controls you. A friend described it as a ‘smoke screen’, it is not until you renounce it for what it truly is and treat your body with love then it no longer has its hold over you. I know this from personal experience and how supportive Serge Benhayon and Universal medicine trained practitioners have been supporting me over the years to be more loving and tender with myself meaning I have gradually let go of many of the ill disregarding harming habits I had.

253. Whilst reading this it allowed me to feel the direct link between my years spent in and out of being depressed and my use of pot. At times I would question how did I become this person who smokes drugs? Yet then I would justify that it was supporting me to express myself, claiming that it was “my drug of choice”.

     The insidious nature of the drug and how it can alter our mind is indeed very corrupt. This link between depression and pot, over the same course of time had developed in me a hardness that was certainly not my true nature, and this has taken a long time to reverse the effects of.

     I am so glad that one day I just made the decision to stop. I just knew that if I continued with this then I was way off track; with my life and who I really am, and how my life could be being lived. I knew that if I continued, then the gorgeous little girl I had been as a child would not have a chance at being the gorgeous woman I knew I could be, and now am.

     Thank you for writing this great insight on the devastation that is Marijuana.

     1. Your comment Annette reminds me of when I finally chose to quit smoking dope because I had finally felt the deep sadness within me that I was trying to smother up. I knew I had to stop, that my addiction was tying me to a life of depression, sickness and criminality. Deep down under the sadness I knew I was worth more than that. It is a very corrupting drug and there is a huge arrogance around it being ‘soft’ and therefore okay to indulge in on both an occasional or daily basis. When I feel back to those days, it was as if I was inviting a huge and toxic fog into my body that helped me ignore my deeper feelings and cope with the choices I had made. Sobering up meant making big changes and facing some really unpleasant truths, but I knew it was the beginning of me re-claiming myself and have never once regretted my decision.

254. Thank you for such an honest account of a life where drugs are used to cope with life. I love this sentence – ‘You don’t see children, especially primary-aged children, having to come home and smoke dope or get drunk to cope with a tough day at school, they deal with their stuff sober.’ This needs to be encouraged to continue as children become teenagers and adults. The lives I have seen and read about when drugs become the way to deal with your stuff is not living and is definitely not loving.

255. Thank you very much for sharing this amazing insight into what the experience of being on this drug is truly like and how inspiring it is to see that you have proven that the way to truly heal the problem of its use is to heal the root issue that you are choosing not to deal with in the first place. I LOVED reading this. Thank you

256. Thank you for your comprehensive post on the realities of what is still considered a ‘soft’ drug. Around thirty years ago I championed the legalisation of marijuana, after all, what was wrong with an occasional joint? Yet ten years later I completely changed my viewpoint. Why? Because I saw the damage that marijuana was doing to people I knew who were regular users and their despair in attempting to give it up.

     About 15 years ago a psychologist I knew told me that she would prefer to treat a heroin addict rather than a marijuana addict. I asked her why and she explained that heroin was a condition of the body whereas marijuana was a condition of the mind, hence the strong correlation to schizophrenia with regular marijuana users. Yet what really surprised me was when she said she had five times the success rate treating a heroin addict over a marijuana addict.

257. This is an amazing post, you really cover all the basis and explain in depth exactly why marijuana is not a “safe” drug. It is a destroyer of lives, not just the person who chooses to smoke but all those around them. I can second what you say about children knowing you have been smoking even though they have no physical evidence to suggest this. What amazed me was watching how wild my children’s behaviour became when I was stoned. It was not because they had been ingesting second hand smoke, because they were never physically near me while I smoked, yet it affected their behaviour enormously.
     I now see the addictive nature of this drug yes lays in the physical cravings of the drug but mostly I know it comes from wanting to hide and bury oneself away from the reality of life, and the sadness they feel and not knowing how to cope with this.

     All I can say is thank God for Universal Medicine because it is the light that gave me the courage to start looking at what was really going on in my life so I could let go of a 15 year strong habit of pot smoking. Thank you for your in depth account of the true life a pot smoker, you told my story as I am sure you told the story of many a pot smoker, simply awesome, this must be your Doctorate, I give you full marks…

258. I love that you make the distinction that you are not now a ‘re-formed drug addict’ but someone with no relationship with the drug or with the self as addict at all. That is true freedom from drug abuse. Awesome.This posts shatters so many myths about marijuana– thank you for writing such an amazing article. I too have been in the trenches with this ‘harmless’ drug and have seen the long and short term affects on a massive scale; from a friend who nearly killed his own mother; to a sister that was lost in a zombie state (or aggressive depending on whether the daily smoke had been consumed) for over ten years. This is such an important piece of writing — thank you Anon. you know who you are 🙂

     1. I agree Rebecca that mr Anonymous is not a re-formed drug addict but someone with no relationship with the drug. That is a huge claim and confirms that it is possible to move away and begin living a life without drug abuse.
        Reading your comment wakes me up to more real raw facts of what this so called mild natural substance is doing. What is clear to me the lay person is this is highly dangerous and alters your natural state. This is a fact and cannot be negated, ignored or denied. My question is who is ‘pro’ trying to make marijuana legalised?

        1. I agree Rebecca and Bina – there is a clear and stark difference between a ‘re-formed drug addict’ and someone who now has no relationship with the drug. I too was caught up in the tendrils of marijuana under the guise of it being natural and so harmless, but the effects it has on the body are by no means harmless. As I found it was easy to get caught up in the ‘it’s natural’ side of things and then defend it with fervor as soo many people do; but when they actually stop and look at their lives, as I did, I could see the extreme detrimental effect it was having on my life and on the lives of those around me.

        2. Serious question Bina, who is pro legalising a drug that not only alters one’s natural state, but can lead to psychosis, depression, paranoia and that long term can affect one’s mental faculties as well as health? And it is very marked that Anonymous here has not only reformed his drug habit, but has stepped away from the consciousness of drug taking and is no longer tempted or struggling to abstain, but has healed his relationship with the self abuse that led to the original desire to take it in the first place. This is powerful, as Anonymous is living proof that true healing of the kind offered by Universal Medicine can truly resolve these issues and support people to return to a vital, healthy, vibrant life with no desires to use drugs ever again.

     2. Great comment Rebecca. I agree, Anonymous has claimed himself in that he has no connection or attachment with marijuana – Awesome.

259. This is just awesome. Thank you for such an open and honest account of your experience – it certainly rings true with me also having been a daily user for quite a few years when I was younger. I quit a few years ago now and have never felt clearer and more aware of both my own self and the world around me. It certainly can be very addictive, numbing and though it is often championed as being natural, it takes us so far from our natural fullness and beauty.

Comments are closed.