I started smoking pot when I was 14 or 15 years old, usually on the weekends and the odd evening. ?By the time I was 16 I was using everyday. ?Somehow I managed to get a job when I was 18 and I smoked every single day even before work. ?Depression was taking hold of me but the only way to lessen it was to smoke more. ?I did not care about paying my bills or anything else so I used from first thing in the morning until last thing at night. ?Most days I would guess were over 20 joints. ?I had to get another job to support my habit and obviously could still function. ?I did not go anywhere where I knew I couldn't smoke. ?This included vacations, family gatherings, etc. ?After 36 years of chronic daily using I knew I had to do something. ?The pot was no longer working. ?I was getting only the bad effects and was unable to sleep. ?My depression and anxiety reached unbelievable levels ?I tried to go to 12 step meetings but I was always stoned and couldn't even stop for a day. ?My only friends and family are users so this made the decision to stop even harder. ?On April 13, 2012 I decided I would try to go one day without. ?I am happy to say that it is almost 10 months ago and the withdrawal was something I hope to never have to go through again. ?I have lost those few friends I did have as they did not want me to stop and I still cannot be around people using. ?What I guess I am trying to say is if I can do it, anybody can. ?I was always told that I smoked more pot than anybody. ?Please do not give up hope. ?While I can't say I won't go back, I will say that it can be done no matter how deep you are in. ?From 15 to 51, my life went by without me in it.