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7 Famous Stoners Who Got Sober

Throughout the years, tons of famous names have been connected with marijuana use. And while a number of celebs continue abusing weed, plenty of them have chosen to leave the drug behind. For some, having children and growing older served as catalysts to get sober; for others, run-ins with the police or job requirements served as a life-changing push. Despite the circumstances, more and more celebrities are choosing to leave weed in the rearview mirror.

Here’s a look at 7 famous people who successfully made the transition to sobriety.

1. Brad Pitt

In 2012, Brad Pitt opened up about his marijuana use while speaking to The Hollywood Reporter. “I got really sick of myself at the end of the 1990s: I was hiding out from the celebrity thing; I was smoking way too much dope; I was sitting on the couch and just turning into a doughnut; and I really got irritated with myself,” he said. Thanks to some serious emotional growth, Pitt claims “one night I just said, ‘This is a waste.’” The actor gave up smoking cannabis after becoming a father in 2007.

2. Paul McCartney

Musical icon Sir Paul McCartney had been a huge pot smoker since the 1960s. In 1980, he was arrested in Japan for possession of the drug. In 2012, however, the Beatle declared he was giving up the drug for the sake of his then eight-year-old daughter. “I smoked my share. When you’re bringing up a youngster, your sense of responsibility does kick in,” McCartney said in an interview. “If you’re lucky, at some point… enough’s enough. You just don’t seem to think it’s necessary.”

3. Lady Gaga

In 2013, Lady Gaga revealed that she had become addicted to weed, smoking up to “15 joints a day” at the height of her addiction. The singer claimed weed helped to ease the pain of a serious hip injury. “I was just numbing, numbing, numbing myself then sleeping it off, then getting on stage, killing it in pain, then getting off and smoking, smoking, smoking, not knowing what the pain was,” she said. After undergoing a successful hip surgery, Gaga turned to performance artist Marina Abramovic for help. She attended an extended outdoor rehab retreat and now says she’s never felt better.

4. Mark Wahlberg

Despite being one of the most sought-after actors in the world, Mark Wahlberg was once a troublemaking youth who used marijuana on a daily basis. However, in 2011, he finally made the decision to stop smoking pot… thanks to a revealing observation voiced by his young daughter. “I stopped smoking weed for my kids,” he said. “One day, we were driving and you could smell it from somewhere. My daughter asked what the smell was so I told her it was a skunk. Then she said, ‘Sometimes Daddy smells like that!’ to me and my wife. So I knew I had [to] quit.”

5. Travis Barker

Travis Barker is an extremely talented and highly-recognized drummer. However, a serious marijuana addiction almost cost him everything. Back in 2012, Barker was diagnosed with six ulcers and Barrett’s esophagus brought on by habitual pot smoking and a poor diet. After undergoing an emergency tonsillectomy, he vowed never to smoke again, stating that when “your health is on the line, you don’t [mess] around. I love being a dad and I love playing music. I’m not trying to give up any of that.”

6. Cee Lo Green

Cee Lo Green, a six-time Grammy award winner, only needed one bad weed encounter to make him swear off the drug for life. In November 2010, Green revealed that he had suffered a weed-induced anxiety attack back in the late ‘90s while playing with his former band Goodie Mob. After that negative experience, Green says he “never got comfortable with [marijuana] again.”

7. Larry Sanders

Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders is one of the most recent athletes to swear off marijuana. Sanders has been outspoken about his use of pot in the past, but recently changed his tune. In early January 2015, Sanders was on the receiving end of a 10-game unpaid suspension—courtesy of the NBA. He violated the league’s anti-drug policy for a second time and, once faced with the very real possibility of losing his job, opted to enter rehab so he could learn how to live without marijuana.

How to Find Help for Marijuana Misuse

If you or a loved one is struggling with marijuana use that has become problematic, help is available and recovery is possible. Professional addiction treatment can start anyone battling marijuana addiction on the path to a happier and healthier life. To learn more, contact a caring admissions navigator with American Addiction Centers (AAC) for free at . You can also check your insurance coverage online now.

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