Quit – Smoke Master

Rush’s Alex Lifeson Quit Weed at 72—Says He Never Expected to Feel This Good

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 16:34:53 +0000

Alex Lifeson quit cannabis at 72 while preparing for Rush’s return to the road, saying he wanted better focus, discipline, memory, and mental sharpness. After decades of openly enjoying weed, he says the change has been unexpectedly positive—even if he initially hoped it wouldn’t be.

At 72, after decades of having a pretty open relationship with weed, Alex Lifeson decided to quit. It wasn’t a sudden moral awakening or a newfound problem with cannabis. The Rush guitarist simply wanted his brain—and his playing—as sharp as possible, according to Rolling Stone.

The decision came while Lifeson was preparing for Fifty Something, Rush’s first tour since 2015 and the band’s long-awaited return to the road following the death of legendary drummer Neil Peart in 2020. Lifeson is touring alongside longtime bandmate Geddy Lee and German drummer Anika Nilles, who took on one of rock music’s most daunting roles.

And, as he put it, getting ready meant taking a hard look at some long-standing habits.

“I thought, this is interfering with the way my brain should be working, and the kind of focus and discipline that all of a sudden I really wanted to have in my life,” Lifeson told Rolling Stone in a recent interview.

So he cleared out his stash.

Lifeson Says Quitting Weed Improved His Memory

This wasn’t exactly a casual tolerance break.

In the interview, Lifeson said he went through his home collecting jars of weed, pipes and other smoking gear and tossing everything into a garbage bag. When he came across a container of pre-rolls in his studio, he briefly considered keeping them before deciding that it would defeat the purpose. By the end, he said, the bag was full of pipes, bongs and weed.

That’s notable considering Lifeson has never exactly been shy about his affection for cannabis. In previous interviews, he has described weed as part of his creative process, particularly in the studio, while acknowledging that being high didn’t always make him the most technically precise player.

But this time, the equation was different. Returning to Rush after more than a decade away from touring meant rebuilding stamina, relearning material, sharpening muscle memory, and mentally preparing to play some notoriously demanding music night after night.

And Lifeson says he noticed a difference.

“I’m so much clearer. I don’t procrastinate like I used to. My memory is so much better,” he said. “It’s all the stuff that they tell you about cannabis. I never believed it.”

The funniest part might be that he apparently wasn’t hoping sobriety would stick.

“It’s really been a positive experience,” Lifeson said. “I didn’t expect it, and I was hoping it wouldn’t be.”

Fair enough.

About That ‘30 Days’ THC Claim

Lifeson also said that “THC stays in your system for typically 30 days,” explaining that once he reached the end of that first month, he started thinking bigger.

“Oh my God, maybe I’ll just try it for two years then, for the whole tour,” he recalled.

That 30-day figure, however, is better understood as a rough reference rather than a biological countdown clock.

How long THC or its metabolites remain detectable depends on a long list of factors, including frequency of use, dose, metabolism, body composition, the type of test used, and the test’s detection threshold. Research shows substantial variation, particularly between occasional and frequent users.

So Lifeson’s timeline shouldn’t be treated as medical guidance. What matters here is what he noticed after several weeks without weed: better focus, less procrastination and, in his view, a sharper memory.

Rush Is Back, but Nobody Is Pretending It’s 1981

The timing makes the whole lifestyle change more interesting. Rush kicked off Fifty Something in June 2026 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the same venue where Lee, Lifeson and Peart played their final concert together in 2015.

The new version of the band has an understandably delicate task. Lee and Lifeson are returning to music that shaped most of their lives without pretending that one of the three people at its heart isn’t gone. The tour is already stretching well beyond North America, with South American and European dates scheduled into 2027.

For Lifeson, getting ready for that chapter apparently meant more than plugging his guitar back in. It meant figuring out which parts of his old routine still worked for him at 72—and which ones didn’t.

There’s no anti-weed manifesto in his comments, and he doesn’t seem particularly interested in turning his own experience into advice for anyone else. If anything, his comments are more personal than prescriptive.

After spending much of his life enjoying cannabis, Alex Lifeson tried life without it and was mildly annoyed to discover he kind of loves it too.

Cover photo: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Why Some People May Never Quit

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:03:58 +0000

Introduction: Nicotine, a stimulant found in various tobacco and vaping products, has long been a subject of controversy and debate. While many individuals strive to quit nicotine use due to health concerns and societal pressure, the reality is that some may find it challenging, if not impossible, to break free from its grasp. In this blog, we’ll delve into the complex reasons why some people may never quit nicotine and explore the implications of this enduring dependence.

The Nature of Nicotine Addiction: Nicotine addiction is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. At its core, nicotine exerts powerful effects on the brain, triggering the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and reward. Over time, repeated exposure to nicotine can lead to neuroadaptations in the brain’s reward circuitry, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to resist cravings and maintain abstinence.

Moreover, the ritualistic and social aspects of nicotine use play a significant role in reinforcing addiction. For many, smoking or vaping becomes intertwined with daily routines, social interactions, and coping mechanisms, further solidifying its hold on their lives. Breaking free from these ingrained habits can be a daunting challenge, requiring not only sheer willpower but also comprehensive support and resources.

The Role of Harm Reduction: While the ideal scenario may involve complete nicotine cessation, the reality is that for some individuals, quitting nicotine altogether may not be a feasible or desirable goal. Recognizing this, harm reduction strategies have emerged as a pragmatic approach to addressing nicotine dependence while minimizing associated risks. From nicotine replacement therapies to vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking, harm reduction acknowledges that reducing harm is a more achievable and realistic objective for some individuals.

In fact, public health authorities such as Public Health England have recognized vaping as a valuable tool in harm reduction, citing evidence that vaping is 95% safer than smoking traditional cigarettes. By providing nicotine without the harmful byproducts of combustion, vaping offers smokers a potentially less harmful way to satisfy their nicotine cravings while reducing their exposure to toxic chemicals.

Understanding Individual Choice: Ultimately, the decision to quit nicotine is deeply personal and influenced by a myriad of factors unique to each individual. While some may successfully quit cold turkey or with the help of cessation aids, others may find themselves navigating a more circuitous path, characterized by periods of abstinence, relapse, and experimentation with harm reduction strategies.

It’s crucial to approach nicotine dependence with empathy and understanding, recognizing that each person’s journey towards health and well-being is inherently complex and nonlinear. By offering a range of support options tailored to individual needs and preferences, we can empower individuals to make informed choices about their nicotine use and strive towards healthier outcomes.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the prospect of quitting nicotine can be daunting for many individuals, shaped by a multitude of biological, psychological, and social factors. While some may succeed in breaking free from nicotine dependence, others may find themselves grappling with its allure indefinitely. By embracing harm reduction principles and fostering a compassionate understanding of individual experiences, we can support individuals in their quest for healthier lives, regardless of where they may be on their journey with nicotine.

Disclosure: The views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of any organization, institution, or entity with which the author may be affiliated. These views are based on the author’s personal knowledge, research, and understanding of the topic at hand. Readers are encouraged to form their own opinions and conduct further research to make informed decisions.

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For Smokers Who Struggle to Quit, Reiterate Experts, Vapes Are a Viable Smoking Cessation Option

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:20:56 +0000

A growing body of scientific evidence is prompting healthcare professionals to reconsider how they discuss smoking cessation with adult patients. A new Special Communication published in JAMA by an expert panel convened by the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) argues that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes should be included in conversations about quitting smoking alongside established cessation therapies, particularly for smokers who have struggled to quit using conventional methods.

The guidance reflects a broader shift towards tobacco harm reduction, recognising that while nicotine products may not be entirely risk-free, the overwhelming burden of disease comes from inhaling the toxic chemicals created by burning tobacco rather than from nicotine itself. In the United States alone, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths each year, while globally tobacco use claims more than eight million lives annually, according to World Health Organization data.

Although smoking prevalence has declined substantially over the past few decades, progress has slowed among some population groups. Middle-aged and older smokers, many of whom have smoked for decades, often experience greater difficulty quitting because of long-term nicotine dependence and deeply ingrained behavioural habits. For these smokers, finding an effective cessation strategy can be the difference between continuing to inhale thousands of combustion-related toxicants every day or moving to a substantially lower-risk alternative.

Clinicians need practical guidance

Rather than promoting a single approach, the expert panel recommends patient-centred discussions that take into account individual preferences, previous quit attempts and treatment goals.

The new recommendations were developed after clinicians increasingly sought clear, evidence-based advice about how to respond when patients ask whether vaping could help them stop smoking. Rather than promoting a single approach, the expert panel recommends patient-centred discussions that take into account individual preferences, previous quit attempts and treatment goals.

Healthcare providers are rightly encouraged to discuss the full range of evidence-based options, including nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, gum, lozenges and inhalers, prescription medications including varenicline and bupropion, behavioural counselling and, where appropriate, nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. Importantly, the guidance stresses that these recommendations apply specifically to adults who currently smoke cigarettes and are not intended to encourage nicotine use among people who have never smoked or among young people.

One of the strongest arguments supporting the recommendations comes from the expanding evidence base evaluating vaping as a smoking cessation aid. The latest Cochrane living systematic review—widely regarded as one of the highest standards in evidence-based medicine—concluded that nicotine vapes help more adults quit smoking than traditional nicotine replacement therapy while outperforming their nicotine-free counterparts. The review included dozens of randomised controlled trials involving tens of thousands of participants.

A separate Cochrane network meta-analysis comparing multiple cessation interventions also found nicotine e-cigarettes, varenicline and cytisine among the most effective treatments currently available for helping smokers achieve long-term abstinence. These findings reinforce growing international evidence that vaping can provide an effective alternative for smokers who have repeatedly failed with other cessation methods.

Why do smokers find vaping effective?

Traditional cessation medications primarily address nicotine withdrawal, while vapes also replicate many of the behavioural aspects of smoking. For long-term smokers, the familiar hand-to-mouth movement, inhalation, visible aerosol and rapid nicotine delivery help satisfy both the physical dependence and the behavioural rituals associated with cigarette use. This combination may explain why many smokers who have been unable to quit using patches or gum successfully transition away from combustible cigarettes after switching to vaping.

A central theme of the recommendations is correcting widespread misconceptions about nicotine. While nicotine is addictive, decades of research indicate that it is not the primary cause of smoking-related cancers, cardiovascular disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Those diseases arise largely from exposure to thousands of toxic chemicals produced when tobacco burns.

Understanding this distinction is essential when discussing harm reduction. Public Health England’s landmark evidence reviews, subsequently supported by the UK’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, have consistently concluded that regulated nicotine vaping products expose users to substantially fewer harmful chemicals than combustible cigarettes. Although researchers continue studying their long-term effects, toxicant exposure is significantly lower than with smoking.

Yet not all medical organisations share the same position. Some US health organisations continue recommending only FDA-approved cessation medications, citing concerns about the long-term effects of vaping and the presence of residual toxic compounds in aerosol.

However, the countries which have incorporated harm reduction into tobacco control policy, such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Sweden, have all found that lower-risk nicotine alternatives are playing an essential role in reducing smoking-related disease when used by adults who smoke.

Helping smokers make informed choices

Ultimately, the new recommendations do not position vaping as a universal solution or a replacement for established cessation therapies. Rather, they acknowledge that smokers differ, and that successful quitting often requires multiple approaches.

For clinicians, the message is straightforward: provide patients with accurate, balanced information about the benefits and risks of every evidence-based option.

For smokers, the message is even clearer. Continuing to smoke remains by far the most dangerous choice. While nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are not without risk, the evidence increasingly suggests they can help many adult smokers move away from combustible tobacco, offering an important opportunity to reduce the enormous health burden caused by cigarette smoking.

The Cost of Bad Science: How Flawed Studies And Anti-Nicotine Bias Are Shaping European Tobacco Policy

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