Ways to Say No to Marijuana (Weed)

Many people find themselves in a situation where they are offered marijuana. Saying no can feel awkward—you don't want others to see you as uptight, judgmental, or fearful, but you have reasons for not wanting to use marijuana.

While marijuana has been legalized in some states, it remains illegal at the federal level.

The best ways to say no to marijuana are casual, polite responses to an offer, which provide an excuse that can't be argued with. Here are five top phrases to help you say no to weed.

I'm Driving

This is the ultimate excuse. There are many myths about marijuana around including that it doesn't affect your ability to drive and that you can't get in trouble with the law for driving under the influence of marijuana, but these are simply not true.

Driving under the influence of any psychoactive drug puts lives at risk, including your own.

This response is also great role modeling for others, who also may want a good reason to say no to cannabis. Anyone who pressures you to use cannabis after you give this response isn't worth listening to.

No Thanks, I've Tried It and I Didn't Like It

This response is particularly valuable if you are around others and you are under peer pressure to be one of the crowd. It will deflect all the annoying persuasive tactics other smokers use pressure others into trying it.

This excuse might feel most convincing if it is true. If you haven't used marijuana before, you might feel more comfortable using a different response.

Don't get caught up in explaining what it was you didn't like. If you are asked, say, "I just didn't like it." No one can argue with that.

I've Quit Smoking

This is a good response if you don't want to come across as anti-drugs. Many marijuana smokers are highly critical of cigarette smoking, arguing that nicotine is a more harmful drug than cannabis, and the risks of relapsing to cigarette smoking after smoking marijuana should be obvious.

Anyone who pressures an ex-smoker to smoke is obviously lacking in respect and understanding of the harms of smoking and doesn't deserve your company.

I Want to Keep a Clear Head

Variations on this response are, "No thanks, I've got work tomorrow," "No thanks, I've got an early start in the morning," "No thanks, I have to finish some homework later," or "No thanks, I don't want to feel groggy."

This is an excellent way of letting people know that drugs do not rule your life, nor will you let them interfere with your day-to-day functioning. It communicates that you have a life beyond what is happening in the room at the time.

No Thanks, I'm Not Into Drugs

This is a tricky response to get right, but if you do, it can help you to avoid a multitude of other annoying offers of drugs in the future. Because you are talking about yourself, and not anyone else, you can deliver the message without value judgments about drug use. If anyone retorts with asking why you are not into drugs, the best response is, "It's a personal choice."

Pro-legalization people base their argument on personal choice, so they should respect your point of view.

This also implies you have good reasons for declining marijuana, but that they are personal, and not open for discussion. If you receive more questioning or pressure to take a toke, simply repeat what you said before, and walk away.

Health Risks of Marijuana

Everyone has their reasons for saying no to marijuana, which may include the serious health risks it poses. Marijuana can have a range of negative health consequences, including:

Breathing problems
Increased heart rate
Nausea and vomiting
Psychosis
Impaired memory
Problems with cognition and learning

Dependence and Addiction

It is also possible to develop a dependence and addiction to marijuana.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), approximately 30% of people who use marijuana will develop an addiction. This risk is much higher for those who begin smoking marijuana as teens.

Symptoms of addiction include:

Needing increasingly larger amounts of a substance to achieve the same effects
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped
Continued use despite negative consequences

Treatments are available that can help people with marijuana use disorder. There is no FDA-approved medication for the condition, so treatments primarily focus on psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications.

Types of therapy that can be effective in the treatment of marijuana addiction include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and contingency management (CM).

People who have a marijuana addiction also benefit from making changes to their social environment. Spending less time around people who are using marijuana can help people combat cravings and reduce peer pressure.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Martin JL, Gadegbeku B, Wu D, Viallon V, Laumon B. Cannabis, alcohol and fatal road accidents. PLoS One. 2017;12(11):e0187320. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187320
Weinberger AH, Delnevo CD, Wyka K, et al. Cannabis Use Is Associated With Increased Risk of Cigarette Smoking Initiation, Persistence, and Relapse Among Adults in the United States. Nicotine Tob Res. 2020;22(8):1404-1408. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntz085
National Institute on Drug Abuse. What is marijuana?
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Is marijuana addictive?
Sherman BJ, McRae-Clark AL. Treatment of cannabis use disorder: Current science and future outlook. Pharmacotherapy. 2016;36(5):511-535. doi:10.1002/phar.1747
Hodgins DC, Stea JN. Insights from individuals successfully recovered from cannabis use disorder: Natural versus treatment-assisted recoveries and abstinent versus moderation outcomes. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. 2018;13(16). doi:10.1186/s13722-018-0118-0

By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD
Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada.

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