Giving up drinking, replacing with weed at night

I started vaping years ago I don't drink hardly at all anymore. I'll have a beer but that's it. Maybe two. But for me drinking was a social thing. I would usually drink to loosen up around people because I would be so anxious I would run away from any social gathering unless I was at least a little drunk. And then I would get too drunk and be an ass. I got really tired of that. I don't really feel the need to drink anymore but I'm a daily vaper. I'm not sure I'd recommend it for everyone but for my set of issues it works pretty well to kinda make me a more normal person who can just chill instead of freaking out about everything, getting mad about stupid things, etc.

The thing about weed is that it will change your personality a bit. For me I feel it was for the better and even people in my life that don't like weed would probably agree. But you might find that in the short term your life gets shaken up before you settle into something new. It might be subtle or it could be a big shake up that involves loss of friends or job. For some people this is enough to be a no go. They have so much responsibility and people counting on them to be a certain way that they cannot afford to change much. For people like that, getting into weed can mess up their lives. So that's why I don't go around recommend weed to everyone like some people do.

Be careful with weed in any form. A minority, but still a LOT of people have severe panic attacks triggered by marijuana. I can't give you any first-hand knowledge as I'm just high on life, but I know from talking to others that if you've never done weed, that you need to start with a very small amount, whether it is inhaled or ingested.

If the choice is either do it or not, I would choose not.

This is my understanding as well from AA

Most alcoholics who continue to smoke weed after quitting drinking learn that the weed brings them back to their first choice drug alcohol

No one can predict with 100% accuracy how this will go for you. If you think the binge drinking is harming your body I suppose you have several choices including cutting that down/out and replacing it with nothing, or eating a few gummies.

I don't get on with CBD, not sure why.

Yes. I quit drinking 18 months ago. I rarely smoked weed prior to that. Now I take a vape hit 3-4 nights per week about an hour before I go to bed. Never during the day, and never if I plan to have any real responsibilities that evening. It helps me relax after a stressful day of work and does wonders for my sleep.

I have no adverse side effects that I can tell. My health and running have improved significantly since I quit drinking. Dropped 15 pounds.

I will probably cut it back to one weekend night only, because even one vape is probably not great for the lungs. I don’t like edibles, and I don’t really even enjoy “the high” from THC at least not compared to an alcohol buzz. But I’m done with alcohol.

I tried to quick drinking for 10 years, and honestly, the thing that finally worked was taking a nightly edible. Haven’t touched booze in over 5 years. Have no desire to. I lost 5 pounds, am less stressed overall, and yes, it does improve intimacy so my wife is happier, too. I hesitate to call it a miracle drug as there are definitely those who have a negative reaction to it, but for me it was a complete game changer and I’m so thankful it’s legal where I live.

I was addicted to nicotine pouches to "take the edge off" as the OP says. It gave me a quick escape when I was stressed or faced the prospect of solving hard problems in my life. Before long I needed more and more. It actually made me more anxious. I wanted to replace with weed and actually began drinking more.

It dawned on me that the only way to get out of the viscous substance abuse cycle was to stop completely. OP, try chewing gum and drinking tea at night, several mugs of tea. It may suck at first but then you'll look forward to the ginger tea

Wrote out a whole long verbose thing about my own experiences here & then deleted it, but suffice it to say I've had a lot of existential crises/frightening thought spirals/paranoid episodes from weed, and I'll take that stuff over a hangover ANY DAY.

Anyway...

Watch out for smoking or vaping too much, your cardiopulmonary system is pretty gd crucial for running performance & longevity. Try figuring out an edibles dose that works consistently for your needs, and mix in smoking sporadically or avoid it entirely. A drink once in a while ain't so bad but the less I drink the better I feel... which tracks with how my 50-60mpw running is going SO well at 30yo, and I'm training a little less than I did in college, when I drank too much and slept too little compared to now (just a handful of drinks per week, 7+ hours of sleep every night, less stress most days).

Half the key when replacing booze with THC (not necessarily smoked, ideally consumed via edible most of the time) is fending off the super unhealthy snacks when you get the munchies. Having fresh fruits, veggies, etc and some fresh cold water is pretty satisfying even when your stoned lizard brain wants some gd doritos and Pepsi and ice cream, or whatever you crave while high. Just gotta tee up that stuff in advance.

+ Not sure how much runners have discussed this on here, but y'all ever pop half an edible and head out the door for a sunset run right when the high is just starting to kick in? Nothing better.

Isn't running relaxing enough? If I drive after a training session, I've got to monitor the car drivers stacking up behind me wanting to overtake me as running makes me pretty chill.

Not something I would personally do but to each their own.

Brother, I'm stoned for every single one of my tempo runs. Them $hits are boring and I hate it. A few puffs or a small edible right before and I'm ready chill out at threshold for a bit.

Are you guys serious? Idk how you're able to run like that.

100% serious.

Nice throwback to the first time I got sober. I lasted another month after this before slowly picking up drinking again while out with friends. Then was off and on with both drinking and marijuana until three and a half weeks ago. I feel much more done this time though. I got some blood work done and I've actually done a number on my liver in just 30 short years. I recommend anyone reading this who has issues with alcohol to do the same. My uncle, who drank 5-8 Milwaukee's best a day for 30 years and never visited a doctor, is now struggling with cancer and may pass away sometime in the next few years. He's in his mid 60s. It's not worth it. Marijuana is a little healthier on the liver but maybe worse for the soul. Spending an entire Saturday and Sunday high anxious to go to grocery store is no way to live. It's incredibly tough for the first two weeks. Borderline panic attacks every day, but it does get a lot better after that. Hang in there.

Hang in there man, the liver bounces back quickly...until it doesn't. That's the dangerous game of chicken with your health especially with alcohol. You don't really know you're Thelma and Louise going off the cliff until you're halfway to the ground.

Thanks! I think I'm mostly good now. Ready to move on to the next phase of my life where I'm a boring adult and eventually a parent. I think I'll be challenged a little bit several months and years down the line, but I'm more prepared for it now and I think I can handle it this time. (by handle it I mean handle wanting to drink/smoke and saying no)

I never work out with any THC in me, but a nice easy hour run? Nothing better.

That being said, I do know at least 3 guys (none slower than a 68 half) who will workout off edibles.