Daily cannabis use has quietly become a defining part of modern life for many weed smokers, especially since legalization and commercialization made high-potency products widely accessible. For some, the routine resembles a classic wake-and-bake — lighting up first thing in the morning, long before the day begins. For 75-year-old Miguel Laboy, that pattern has become all too familiar.
“You know what bothers me? To have cannabis on my mind the first thing in the morning,” he said, lighting a blunt beside his morning coffee. “I’d like to get up one day and not smoke. But you see how that’s going.”
Researchers note that daily cannabis use now surpasses daily alcohol consumption in the U.S., a dramatic shift from just a few years ago. High-THC vapes and concentrates reaching as high as 80% to 95% THC dominate the market. Many states set no potency caps, creating conditions where relief can quietly shift into dependence.
Doctors warn that these potent products can disturb sleep, impair memory, worsen anxiety or depression, and trigger addiction in ways previous generations of cannabis users never encountered. The changes can feel subtle at first — irritability, fogginess, compulsive use — until they become part of daily life.
Laboy, a retired chef, sought help after depression and isolation began creeping in. Naltrexone helped him quit alcohol, but no such medication exists for cannabis addiction. He described his long relationship with marijuana and the comfort it once provided while noting the control it now holds over him.
“These days, I carry two things in my hands: my vape and my cellular — that’s it,” he said. “I’m not proud of it, but it’s the reality.”
“Now I can only do it when I’m high, which is scary,” he said, describing brain fog that becomes “your new normal.”
For others, high-potency concentrates accelerate the slide. Anne Hassel once celebrated legalization and worked in a dispensary, but her use spiraled after discovering 90% THC dabs.
“My dream job turned into a nightmare,” she said, recalling how quickly her motivation eroded. “I hated myself.”
Online communities like r/leaves now provide support for those trying to quit, revealing thousands with similar stories. As founder Dave Bushnell explained: “We’ve built an industry optimized to sell as much as possible.”
Doctors urge education and balance. Dr. Jordan Tishler emphasizes that cannabis “can be useful, but it can also be dangerous — and access without guidance is dangerous.”
And as Dr. Kevin Hill notes, “For most people, the risks outweigh the benefits.”