I've been smoking for about 5 years, starting out with the occasional joint which evolved into daily use. However, I've never felt that I was dependant on it. I've managed to quit for a couple of weeks multiple times, mostly when I had to prepare for my exams or when going on holidays. Somehow I don't have to take steps, I just go into solace when studying, or I can't get my hands on them when on holidays. In neither instances have I experienced the sudden breaks as "hard".
Also, I've recently quit for a couple of months because I was honestly through with being stoned for the mostpart of the day, for which I had abandonned my IRL 'friends' as I knew it'd be impossible when they'd be smoking.