How to Stop Using Marijuana

Summary

Tommy Rosen, founder of Recovery 2.0, shares his personal journey with marijuana addiction, highlighting its initial benefits like calming his hyperactive mind and later revealing its detrimental effects on his life. He emphasizes the importance of evaluating whether substances promote or demote personal growth. Tommy discusses the challenges of overcoming addiction, the role of community in recovery, and the transformative power of sobriety. He advocates for a holistic approach, including yoga and meditation, over substance use for mental and emotional well-being.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The founder's initial use of marijuana was at 13 and it served as a calming agent for his hyperactive mind and a means to avoid difficult emotions.
• 🍃 Marijuana initially increased his desire for play, appetite for life, and provided relief from anxiety and anger.
• 🌾 Over time, marijuana use became a regular part of his life, used in various activities, and he became irritable without it.
• 👥 He noticed that his social circle also smoked marijuana, creating a community of shared drug use.
• 🚫 A 30-day attempt to quit marijuana was successful until a thought of complacency led to a relapse on day 22.
• 💡 The realization that marijuana was an avoidance mechanism for deeper emotional issues led to a decision to quit for good.
• 🌟 The founder advocates for paths of healing like yoga and meditation as alternatives to marijuana for achieving peace and expanding consciousness.
• 🏥 Treatment for marijuana addiction is necessary, and the founder suggests inpatient or outpatient options depending on one's situation.
• 🤝 Community support, such as 12-step programs or Marijuana Anonymous, is crucial for overcoming addiction.
• 🌱 The founder emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and honesty in deciding whether marijuana is beneficial or detrimental to one's life.

Q & A

What is the Recovery 2.0 Protocol?

The Recovery 2.0 Protocol is a set of guidelines developed by Tommy Rosen, the founder of Recovery 2.0, to help people stop using marijuana. It is based on his personal experiences and what he learned from his relationship with marijuana.

At what age did Tommy Rosen start using marijuana?

Tommy Rosen began using marijuana at the age of 13.

How did marijuana initially serve Tommy Rosen?

Initially, marijuana served Tommy Rosen by calming his hyperactive mind, helping him move aside difficult emotions such as anxiety and anger, increasing his desire to be playful, and enhancing his appetite for life.

What was the turning point for Tommy Rosen to stop using marijuana?

The turning point for Tommy Rosen was when he realized that marijuana was not healing him but masking a series of issues that needed to be addressed. He also recognized that his life had become entirely about avoiding his feelings and recreating past pleasures or avoiding past pains.

What was Tommy's experience during his 30-day attempt to quit marijuana?

During his 30-day attempt to quit marijuana, Tommy experienced irritability and withdrawal symptoms initially. However, as he progressed, he started feeling better, more present in his life, and more attentive to his responsibilities.

Why did Tommy ultimately fail his 30-day marijuana-free challenge?

Tommy failed his 30-day challenge because on the 22nd day, he had a thought that since he knew he could make it to 30 days, he didn't actually have to complete the 30 days, which led him back to using marijuana.

What role did treatment play in Tommy Rosen's recovery from marijuana addiction?

Treatment was crucial for Tommy Rosen's recovery as it helped him understand the underlying reasons for his marijuana use and how it was affecting his life. It provided him with the tools to detox mentally, emotionally, and physically from marijuana.

What are some alternative practices Tommy suggests to marijuana for personal growth and healing?

Tommy suggests practices like yoga and meditation as alternatives to marijuana for personal growth and healing. These practices can open up the heart and mind, calm the mind, and bring ease to the body without the downsides of drug use.

How does Tommy feel about the legalization of marijuana and its impact on society?

Tommy does not wish to engage in political discussions about the legalization of marijuana. Instead, he wants people to make informed decisions based on good information and their direct experience. He also points out the potential confusion for kids and parents due to the changing legal status and marketing of marijuana.

What advice does Tommy give to someone who is considering stopping marijuana use?

Tommy advises those considering stopping marijuana use to seek community support, such as through 12-step programs or Marijuana Anonymous meetings, and to consider therapy or treatment programs to help with the mental and emotional aspects of addiction.

How long has Tommy Rosen been in recovery, and what is his current relationship with marijuana?

Tommy Rosen has been in recovery for 26 years, and for the last 25 years, he has not had a single thought about wanting to smoke marijuana again. His relationship with marijuana is completely in the past.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Introduction to Recovery 2.0 and Marijuana Use

Tommy Rosen, founder of Recovery 2.0, introduces the Recovery 2.0 protocol aimed at helping individuals stop using marijuana. He shares his personal history with marijuana, starting at age 13. Tommy explains how marijuana served him by calming his hyperactive mind, helping him avoid difficult emotions, and increasing his desire for play and life experiences. He emphasizes the importance of evaluating whether substances promote or demote personal growth, reflecting on his initial positive experiences with marijuana.

05:03

🚭 The Downward Spiral of Marijuana Dependence

Tommy discusses the progression of his relationship with marijuana, noting how it became a regular part of his life and affected his daily activities. He describes the community he developed around marijuana use and the pervasive role it played in his experiences. He recounts his attempt to quit for 30 days, the initial success, and the relapse after 22 days due to addictive thinking. Tommy shares his realization that marijuana was a mask for deeper issues and that treatment helped him understand the avoidance of feelings and the importance of presence over past or future obsessions.

10:05

🌱 Beyond Marijuana: Healing and Personal Growth

Tommy expresses his belief that marijuana dimmed his spirit over time and that he found greater benefits in practices like yoga and meditation. He advises on making informed decisions about marijuana use and suggests exploring paths of healing and recovery. Tommy addresses the legalization of marijuana and its impact on society, urging parents to guide their children with good information and personal experience. He encourages individuals to reflect on their own experiences and consider alternatives to marijuana for expanding consciousness and achieving optimal health.

15:06

🤝 The Importance of Community in Overcoming Addiction

Tommy stresses the importance of community in overcoming addiction, sharing his experience with the 12-step program and Marijuana Anonymous. He discusses the benefits of inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as therapy, in addressing both the physical and mental aspects of addiction. Tommy emphasizes the value of learning about addiction and oneself through treatment and the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive, recovery-focused individuals.

20:07

💪 Final Thoughts on Recovery and Moving Forward

Tommy concludes by encouraging individuals to utilize all available resources in their journey to overcome addiction. He shares his personal recovery experience, being marijuana-free for 26 years, and the importance of continuous self-reflection to determine whether marijuana or any substance truly serves one's life goals. He offers hope and inspiration, inviting individuals to seek answers within themselves and to embrace a path of recovery without looking back.

Keywords

💡Recovery 2.0

Recovery 2.0 refers to a modern approach to overcoming addiction, as founded by Tommy Rosen. It is the central theme of the video, aiming to provide a structured protocol for individuals seeking to stop using marijuana. The concept is exemplified through Tommy's personal journey and the lessons he learned, which he shares to help others make informed decisions about their relationship with marijuana.

💡Addiction

Addiction, as discussed in the video, is a compulsive engagement with substance use despite negative consequences. It is central to the narrative as Tommy reflects on his own experiences with marijuana, highlighting how it began as a coping mechanism but eventually became an addictive substance that detracted from his quality of life.

💡Marijuana

Marijuana is the substance at the heart of the video's discussion. Tommy describes his early experiences with it, noting its initial benefits such as calming his hyperactive mind and helping with difficult emotions. However, he also discusses the downsides, including increased dependency and its role in avoiding deeper emotional issues.

💡Hyperactive Mind

A hyperactive mind is characterized by excessive mental activity, often associated with anxiety and difficulty focusing. In the video, Tommy explains that marijuana initially served him by calming his hyperactive mind, providing a temporary relief from his anxiety and restlessness.

💡Emotional Regulation

Emotional regulation refers to the ability to manage and respond to one's emotions effectively. Tommy discusses how marijuana helped him avoid dealing with difficult emotions like anxiety and anger, suggesting that it hindered his emotional growth rather than promoting healthy emotional regulation.

💡Playfulness

Playfulness is mentioned as one of the positive effects of marijuana for Tommy, enhancing his desire and ability to engage in playful activities. This keyword illustrates the complex nature of substance use, where a substance might enhance certain aspects of one's experience while detracting from others.

💡Community

Community is highlighted as a crucial element in overcoming addiction. Tommy emphasizes the importance of finding support among others who share the goal of sobriety, which he found through the 12-step program. This keyword underscores the social aspect of recovery and the power of collective support.

💡Treatment

Treatment in the context of the video refers to both inpatient and outpatient programs designed to help individuals overcome addiction. Tommy discusses the benefits of these programs, including gaining insight into one's addiction and learning healthier lifestyle practices.

💡Meditation

Meditation is presented as an alternative path to the temporary relief offered by marijuana. Tommy suggests that meditation can provide long-term benefits for emotional and mental well-being without the downsides of substance use, illustrating a shift towards holistic healing practices.

💡Legalization

The legalization of marijuana is touched upon as a societal trend that can create confusion, especially for young people. Tommy navigates this topic carefully, focusing on the need for individuals to make informed decisions about marijuana use rather than engaging in political debate.

💡Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is a key concept in the video, encouraging individuals to examine their own experiences and motivations for using marijuana. Tommy stresses the importance of honest self-assessment in determining whether marijuana serves one's long-term well-being or hinders personal growth.

Highlights

Tommy Rosen, founder of Recovery 2.0, shares his personal journey with marijuana addiction.

The Recovery 2.0 protocol aims to educate on the effects of marijuana to help individuals make informed decisions.

Marijuana initially served Tommy by calming his hyperactive mind and helping with difficult emotions.

It increased Tommy's desire to be playful and his overall appetite for life.

Tommy built a narrative around marijuana use that it was beneficial and soothing.

As the relationship with marijuana progressed, Tommy used it more frequently and it became a part of his daily life.

Tommy recognized the need to stop using marijuana and attempted a 30-day abstinence challenge.

At 22 days, Tommy experienced a thought pattern that led him to relapse, highlighting the addictive nature of marijuana.

Tommy's realization that marijuana was not a cure but a mask for deeper issues led him to seek treatment.

Treatment helped Tommy understand that marijuana was an avoidance mechanism for his emotions and past pains.

Sobriety revealed to Tommy the core issues he had been avoiding, which marijuana use had masked.

Tommy advocates for alternative paths to healing such as yoga and meditation, which offer benefits without the downsides of marijuana.

The legalization of marijuana and its changing social perception are causing confusion, especially for young people.

Tommy emphasizes the importance of good information and personal experience in making decisions about marijuana use.

He suggests that those who use marijuana should also explore practices like yoga and meditation to experience their benefits.

Tommy shares his experience of recovery, stating he has not thought about using marijuana for the past 25 years.

The Recovery 2.0 protocol offers support for those looking to stop using marijuana and live a life of recovery.

Tommy encourages individuals to reflect on whether marijuana serves them and consider a path to healing and recovery.

For those ready to stop using marijuana, Tommy suggests seeking community support and considering treatment options.

Tommy discusses the importance of therapy and addressing the underlying issues that may contribute to marijuana addiction.

He shares his personal journey of recovery, emphasizing the value of community and support in overcoming addiction.

Transcripts

hey everybody this is Tommy Rosen I'm

the founder of recovery 2.0 and this is

the recovery 2.0 protocol to stop using

marijuana

I had a long protracted love affair with

marijuana in my life which began when I

was 13 years old and went up until I was

22 the purpose of this protocol is to

bring to light what I learned in my

relationship with marijuana so that you

can take this information and apply it

to your own life in your own

relationship with marijuana and decide

what will be best for you we should

always ask ourselves when we struggle

with any kind of decision to take a

substance into our body or not is this

substance going to promote me or demote

me is it going to build me up or bring

me down I can tell you that when we look

at addiction the question we should be

asking is how does this addictive

substance serve me how has it been

serving me well as I look back at my

first experiences with marijuana when I

was 13 I can tell you that marijuana

served me in a couple of very important

ways number one it calmed my hyperactive

mind that's a medical fact by the way

marijuana marijuana is calming to the

hyperactive mind it also helped me to

move aside difficult emotions I found

that I had anxiety and a lot of anger

and was caught up in some ways as a

young kid and marijuana could take that

and sort of put that off to the side for

me and it would allow me to have more of

a free day more of an enjoyable day

certainly it increased my

desire to be playful and my ability to

be playful there were a lot of antics

that went on it certainly increased my

appetite and not just for food but for

life in general because I had been so

caught up in my head and so anxious as a

kid that I was unable to just enjoy and

just be so when I smoke marijuana and

felt the feeling of being high for the

first time I felt like it was the first

deep breath I had ever taken in my life

the first deep breath that's a powerful

statement so I had found some relief it

had done something for me and I begin to

at that moment I began to build a story

around my marijuana use around my

relationship with marijuana I need this

this will help me this is good for me

this is soothing to me and so there's a

real sort of feeling of why would I

possibly give this up it's bringing so

much into my life so that's the first

part of the relationship and like many

relationships it's very intoxicating at

the beginning of the relationship and

more will be revealed later on in the

relationship and that certainly was the

case here so as I move on in my

relationship with marijuana

I recognize that number one I'm doing

more and more of it I'm using it more

I'm smoking more and more regular

interview intervals it's a part of my

life it's really becoming threaded into

my experience of being alive if I if I

want to go to the gym even like I'll get

high because I just it's giggly and fun

and it'll it'll go to the gym and have

that experience also if I want to not go

to the gym and I want to just sit back

and sit on the couch and watch five

hours of sports or or some kind of

movies or whatever it is it'll help me

do that too

marijuana's basically becomes the thing

that i need in my life to do almost

anything it's not need like a heroin

addict needs heroin it's different if

you encountered me when I ran out of

marijuana or didn't have it for a day or

two what you would have encountered was

an irritable person kind of annoying and

annoyed and irritable and kind of

and not really able to enjoy himself as

this goes on what she recognizes all the

people that you hang out with by this

point also smoke pot so you've got this

community of people that are are engaged

in this way of life

you recognize that most of the

experiences that you're having have

something to do with marijuana in some

way shape or form it's really become

threaded through your whole existence

that I can remember very clearly the day

when I made a decision to stop smoking

pot for 30 days I've got a stop I need

to clean out it's gonna be difficult but

I need to do it and so I went through

that first couple days of irritability

and I was working out and starting to

feel better and I got up to 10 days and

I was like wow this is incredible you

know and I was like wow I'm gonna make

it to 30 I'm gonna make it to 30 you

know and then I kept going and cooked

going and I was paying a little bit more

attention to school and a little bit

more attention a little bit more present

in my life and I made it to 20 days and

I kept I was like wow I'm really gonna

make it to 30 days this is incredible

well I made it to 22 days and on that

day I woke up and the strangest thought

entered my head I know I'm gonna make it

to 30 days so I don't really have to

make it to 30 days that's the thought I

had at 22 days since I know I'm going to

make it it's as if I've already made it

so I don't have to make

and that thought entered my head and by

eleven o'clock in the morning I was

smoking bong hits and I was off to the

races again and I remembered later that

day feeling oh oh this is why I wanted

to make it to 30 days this feeling is

why I really felt a great sense of

letdown that thinking that I just

described to you that's just straight-up

addictive thinking that's all that is

that's an addictive thought which

translated into an action to imbibe in

an addictive behavior which I had

decided I would not imbibe in at least

for another eight days but the minute

that thinking came in that was it

ultimately I stopped smoking pot when I

went off to treatment the last thing I

said to my friend was I'm going to give

up cocaine I'm going to give up heroin

but no treatment facility in the world

could make me stop smoking pot that is

how deeply ingrained in my world that

was and when I got the treatment slowly

over the next few weeks month a little

over a month I started to understand

that my whole life had been about about

avoiding the way that I was feeling all

my actions were about trying to recreate

some kind of pleasure I had at some

point in the past or trying to avoid

pain that I had felt at some point in

the past and meanwhile as since I'm

obsessed with the future and obsessed

with the past but I have no sense of

presence I was just smoking pot all

those years avoiding all those feelings

never learning how to go through a

difficult feeling but just putting it

aside just like brushing something under

a rug and expecting it to be gone when I

got sober

and I started to live life as a sober

person free of drugs and alcohol

completely guess what was waiting for me

me all my core issues all those emotions

I had stuffed and pushed aside all those

years I had not actually benefited from

the pain and the challenge of going

through life because I had always pushed

the pain and challenge aside well that

was a big eye-opener for me marijuana

had not healed me it had not cured me it

had simply been a mask over a series of

issues that eventually we're going to

have to be worked out but that as long

as I was smoking marijuana

could never be worked out would never be

worked out and so you see the minute I

let go of that I entered a world where a

new kind of freedom and a new kind of

healing was possible for me but I never

could have known that in the early days

when marijuana was still serving me and

then later on when marijuana became a

burden to my life I certainly could have

known that by letting go of it there was

gonna be a way to heal from the original

wounds and the original hurts that I had

used marijuana to cover up in the first

place

marijuana dimness the human spirit over

time that was my direct experience I can

tell you that I'm glad that I found it

when I found it because I needed it at

that time but the best thing that could

have happened to me was that much

earlier than I did I would have moved on

to a path of healing a path of recovery

a path of yoga path of meditation which

have given me that all the benefits and

beyond what marijuana could ever give me

without any downside these days

marijuana is being legalized in a lot of

different states

it's got to be confusing to kids parents

come at them with a lot of fear-based

information marketers come at them

you know marketing marijuana products to

them in the states where it's legal and

parents don't really know what to do

some of the parents smoke pot especially

those pot smoking parents really it's

difficult not sure how to guide their

child most in most cases I can't really

tell my kid not to do this

that would be hypocritical I can try to

tell them to wait and plus all the

strains of marijuana that they're

they're creating now they're hybridizing

or are extremely potent extremely strong

very different than what was around back

then so we were continually

manufacturing a more potent way of

distracting ourselves really tough time

I don't want to get into any kind of

political discussion about the

legalization of marijuana what I wish

for people what I wish for you is I

would like you to be able to make a

decision based upon good information and

based upon your direct experience I

think if people are going to decide to

smoke marijuana that they should also be

turned on to a path of yoga and

meditation where they're not smoking

marijuana while they're meditating

they're not smoking marijuana while

they're practicing yoga so that they can

have an experience of how those things

open up the heart open up the mind calm

the mind you know bring ease to the body

I want you to be able to reflect on your

own experience in life and with good

information be able to make up your own

mind about this stuff I had a positive

experience this is something that works

for me at this point but I'm also aware

of the dangers and where this might lead

and I think I'd like to look into some

of these other things you know I'm

interested in optimal health I'm

interested in expanding consciousness

not limiting consciousness to me

whenever we reach outside of ourselves

for any drug or alcohol we're limiting

what's possible for us so if you can

self reflect if you can self correct

when you need to you can think for

yourself and you have the ability to

tell the truth and

deep-level and I don't mean tell the

truth to another person I mean tell the

truth to yourself then you may find

yourself moving beyond the confines of a

relationship with marijuana for me it

couldn't take me where I needed to go I

had to learn that the hard way and I had

to mentally emotionally and physically

detox in my own way from marijuana so

let's say you've come to the point where

you're ready to stop you realize that

you have a problem with marijuana that

you want to see what life would be like

without it what do you do

as with all addictions and all points of

pivot in life it's going to require a

couple of key elements first element

always the first element is community

it's coming out of the aloneness and

into community with other people who are

trying to walk the same path that you

would like to walk for me of course it

was the 12 steps I found a home and

support and love and connection and

understanding in that community so

really really helped me to move beyond

the the mental addiction the mental

peace of the addiction there are

marijuana Anonymous meetings many people

still don't realize that but marijuana

Anonymous is just another fellowship

that uses the 12 steps particularly for

people who want to stop using marijuana

very powerful community obviously people

understand each other and what they've

been through and and they all have had

this deep experience with marijuana and

they all want to move beyond it and live

in a place where they're free from it so

that's a that's an incredible resource

for anybody who wants to stop smoking or

using marijuana in some cases in many

cases marijuana so deeply takes over a

person's life

that they're going to need a little time

away a little space between them and

using a little space between them and

their community of friends who have been

using with them getting into a new

environment is so helpful and what's

what's often the response I get from

people who want to stop smoking pot is

it's just marijuana I'm gonna go into

treatment with heroin addicts and

cocaine addicts and all this it doesn't

make any sense to me and what I say to

them all is is simply this the most

dangerous and insidious thing about

marijuana is it doesn't kill you right

away you could spend the rest of your

life and never get beyond this problem

never realize your dreams never unlock

your gifts never get to live the life

that you were born to live because your

life didn't implode like the life of a

heroin addict or the life of a cocaine

addict who had to get sober so I say to

marijuana addicts people who use

marijuana and want to stop please get

past the idea that this is some kind of

less dangerous situation it's dangerous

it just won't kill you right away you'll

get to live a kind of half life and who

wants to live that certainly nobody like

you and certainly nobody like me so when

you get beyond that idea you might say

to yourself Wow to be able to go to a

place where I could get support be

distanced from my normal routines that

might actually be helpful to me and

guess what you'll get to learn so much

about addiction and about your life and

you'll even learn some of the reasons

why you might be using marijuana and

what that might be covering up in your

life the most incredible

learning's can come to you so if you can

get to treatment inpatient treatment

that's often a wonderful wonderful thing

there's also outpatient treatment which

is useful for people who for some reason

can't go to inpatient treatment maybe

they have responsibilities that they

simply cannot leave for 30 days I tell

people no matter what it is if you can

get beyond addiction take the 30 days

but if for some reason you can't do that

there's outpatient treatment you'll go

to a treatment facility five six seven

hours a day for five or six days a week

but you'll sleep at home at night beyond

that there's therapy and you can be in a

one-on-one therapeutic relationship with

a counselor who can help guide you into

healthy lifestyle practices but also

unraveling some of the mental twists

around marijuana addiction and some of

the trauma or the unprocessed emotional

residue from your past all of the this

work is going to be wonderful work to

help you to heal and move beyond

marijuana use for me when I tell people

all the time use everything at your

disposal for me it was the 12 steps

therapy also treatment and today I

surround myself with people who are on a

path of recovery or on a path of

spiritual learning on a path of healing

on a path that leads to health wellness

expansion of consciousness and awareness

and living a life second to none I'm 26

years in recovery continuously without

any marijuana in my system and I can

tell you that for at least the last 25

of those years I have not had a single

thought of wow I wish I could smoke pot

again it's completely removed from my

mind and my body and my spirit whatever

that relationship was about for me it

was completed a long time

go and I hope that you find this

inspiring and you will seek inside

yourself for the answer to this question

does this ultimately serve me is this

thing really gonna bring me where I need

to go in my life I trust you to make

that answer and I hope this has been

helpful information for you we have lots

of protocols here at recovery 2.0 much

like this one videos that will help

people to get off of different kinds of

drugs and out of other addictive

behaviors if there's some other way that

we can serve you I trust and hope that

you'll let us know until then take good

care of yourself

walk this path of recovery never look

back and don't ever despair there's a

way through every block see you soon