Is Marijuana Addictive?

in #drugs7 years ago (edited)

      Weed culture in 2017 is really a force to be reckoned with. We've come from largely seeing the drug as an inherently negative thing, to it being just as socially acceptable as alcohol (maybe even more so depending on where you are). The narrative which comes with this is the fact that unlike other drugs, cannabis is non addictive. However is this factual?

      While it's true that you cannot develop a physical dependence to marijuana, don't listen to anyone who tells you it's impossible to get addicted, because this is absolutely not true. Weed is a drug, and like all drugs you can foster an addiction to it. The only caveat is that your body won't become physiologically dependent. Your mind however is another story entirely. Some people can use large amounts of drugs and experience no cravings or dependency whatsoever, I'm generally one of those people. Other people however can easily fall prey to drug usage, allowing it to spiral out of control. I'm one of those people when it comes to weed.

      I've never felt as if I were not in control of my usage of any drug other than cannabis. This may sound ridiculous, especially as I've used traditionally addictive drugs such as opiates, stimulants, and benzos in the past. But none of these have ever held any true power over me, only weed. I've done regrettable things, continuously engaged in activities I knew to be self harmful, and neglected important responsibilities in order to procure and consume marijuana in the past. This is the main reason why I never allow myself to use the drug on more than a weekly basis, because I simply have no self control with it. There have been countless times where I've purchased a new piece or vape, determined that this time would be different, but always found myself at the same place. Hopelessly dependent and withdrawn from everyone around me. Unable to eat, sleep, or laugh sober. The most illogical part about this is that given the choice I would much rather take a psychedelic, some kratom, or hell even an Oxy rather than smoke weed. It's just that when I have it I'll get no rest until it's all gone.

      I know that if I were to say right now that I would never smoke, vape, eat, or otherwise consume the drug ever again for the rest of my life that it would have a massively positive impact, however I'm unable to do that. Which is a characteristic of addiction. I'm aware that it's bad for me personally, but am unable to stop. Now I don't use it terribly often, normally only three to five times a month. I'm just unable to go without it for longer than around 30 days at a time.

      Now I'd be willing to wager that I'm in the minority here, as most people consume THC with none of these issues whatsoever. However with this post I just wanted to bring attention to the fact that it is entirely possible to become addicted to weed, despite what the masses may tell you. So it's important to always be mindful and keep your usage in check. In other words, "do the drugs, don't let the drugs do you." Now if you have an addictive personality and are dead set on using drugs, marijuana is without a doubt one of the better choices. Just don't naively believe that you're somehow immune to dependency because you're only smoking weed.

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The "Mental" Addiction is a Sign of Untreated Issues

it is not an 'addiction' like you believe it to be. The good news? Once your issues are resolved, you'll be able to enjoy cannabis without worrying about over-indulging. ;)

Cannabis Use is Self-Regulating

The more unresolved issues you have, the stronger your desire is to use it. Those with little to no issues have little to no desire for regular use.

I Use Cannabis 24/7

for pain, nausea, autism, mood-control, seizures, strokes and a whole lot more. :)

Sounds to me like you're assuming a lot of things about my life without knowing me personally. Do go into detail as to what these "Untreated Issues" you believe me to have are...

I'm Discussing the Properties of Cannabis

itself. In this respect it's a very good diagnostic tool. You can use it to your advantage or not. :)

'happily' addicted!!!(?)

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Anything can become addicting. When the dopamine receptors in the brain are activated, it feels good. You can get addicted to exercise, television, anger, fear, lust, food, drugs ... the list goes on.

What people refer to when they say marijuana is "non-addictive" is that it has no physiological addiction characteristics, and the psychological addiction of it can be replaced easily by any behavior that creates serotonin and trips the dopamine receptors in the brain.

The main quality of cannabis is that it reduces emotional inhibitors and helps the mind to relax. This euphoria can be easily addicting, but proper meditation can replace this benefit just as well.

Cannabis Relief Goes Way Beyond Escapism

and the dopamine response. Animals are subconsciously drawn to things which bring relief to their issues. Cannabinoids affect every single cell in the body and are responsible for regulating a massive number of physiological functions. When your cannabinoid levels are sufficient, a person with issues will experience significant relief. Even if the person is unaware of the source of the relief, subconsciously they will be drawn to the cannabis.

The more you use CBD rich cannabis, with the proper terpene profile for you, the less you care about the euphoria you can find with some strains. That's an escapist routine and it just becomes unnecessary. Life is good, enjoy it. :D

Our Society is Chock Full

of people who are unaware of the issues they're dealing with daily. It's amazing to see the relief in people's faces when they get both the cannabis & the information they need about why it's helping. ;)

Cannabis... It's a Good Thing(tm)

;)

Yes, the physical vs psychological dependency thing is exactly what I wanted to talk about. Maybe it's easily replaced for some people, but I have not found that to be the case in all honesty. By that I mean that I can have a lot of things going on at a specific time which all bring me far more joy than cannabis ever has or can, yet if I suddenly found myself in possession of an eighth of flower or a few grams of wax all of that would immediately go on hold until I finished all of it. If I tried moderating my consumption or enjoying whatever it was that I was previously having a blast with I'd fail dramatically. When I have more product than I'd finish in a single session, everything else melts away. Which I'll never completely understand because I don't enjoy weed nearly as much as other people do, it just has some inexplicable hold over me when I have it. Yet when I don't, it's not even a thought in my head.

Were You Able to Easily Check CBD Content

you would have found a strong correlation to your activities with it. There are mental issues (most commonly ones we're unaware of) which are greatly alleviated by CBD. The effects of CBD, once it's built up in the system, also take a few days to fade once usage stops.

When you run across cannabis which you seem to spend all day consuming, you're going to find it's very low on CBD. You know that sack you take a toke of and forget about for hours on end? This stuff will most likely test higher in CBD content.

This is all becoming clearer, especially as more data rolls in from recreational states where people are inclined to tell the truth about cannabis.

Go Be Awesome! :D

I've smoked weed and concentrate throughout the entire spectrum of THC:CBD content. When I do smoke I buy it medicinally, and this information is readily available to the consumer. I've even smoked CBD by itself alongside high thc strains. The result is always the same. The truth of the matter is that weed isn't the healthiest activity for everyone, regardless of how you think people need to "use it to their advantage." I know myself to be one of these people. Maybe you're not, I don't know you. However all the power to you if you aren't. I'm just saying that it's not a universally benign thing to do, which a lot of people seem to have trouble accepting.

What You're Missing Is Exposure to Truly Clean Cannabis

because it's a singular experience you will not forget. Yes, cannabis is healthy and benign, save a few extreme examples of nature (who always shows her devious side, at one point or another), while what you truly are avoiding are contaminates.

You Can Smoke Bongloads 24/7/365

and never come down with even the most occasional and tiny cough from impurities. When it's grown properly. Commercial cannabis is contaminated. You buy your cannabis so, unless it's from someone like me growing it, you're consuming contaminated cannabis. Period. Zero room for argument.

When You Work With Clean Cannabis You're

working in a completely different realm than with regularly available cannabis. While I do my best to teach others, existing growers are difficult to help "see the light" when it comes to extreme quality. ;)

Go be Awesome! :D

Orrrrrrrrr. Cannabinoids effect everyone differently and for some can be problematic. Ever thought about that? I don't mean to come off rude, but I see people who think of weed the way you do to have a problematic mindset. If we can't acknowledge the potential drawbacks of cannabis, then how do we expect the rest of the world to take us seriously and end prohibition?

Cannabinoids affect everyone differently, yes. Over the last 8+ years, as I've studied cannabis from the medicinal point, I've yet to come across someone who's "issue" with cannabis wasn't from some issue they'd yet to identify.

Again, it's a fantastic diagnostic tool. Feel like you need it? Look deeper into yourself, there's something you're missing.

Go Be Awesome! :D

it's addictive no doubt. Even physically to some extent. A friend of mine always roll a massive joint before he goes to bed. He smokes half the joint and then go to sleep. In the middle of the night he wakes up again HAS to smoke the rest of it. Sleeping withoug weed is impossible for him. This is disastrous...

When your friend delves into their issues, they'll find the cause of why they're unable to sleep without it. :) They need awareness of their issues which are driving their desire. :)

ok bruh whatever you say. Also BTW: This post was written in the past tense. So no, I'm not dependent on weed to sleep. Not that that makes a difference

If You're Also Relationtrip

you should say so. If they're your friend, they should post as such.

Get out and experience more of life, you'll find your viewpoint on things expands as well. ;)

Relationtrip is neither me nor my friend. Just a random user. You come off as rather arrogant when you say things like that. Guess everyone who has experienced things differently than yourself is just too close minded and naive to see the light. I'm done arguing with some stranger claiming to understand my own personal experience with a drug more than I do, so goodbye.

You Obviously Aren't Following

the comments clearly. Your reply strongly indicates a relationship between you and Relationtrip. No worries, I'm not the king of communication either. ;)

What you seem to keep glossing over is how I'm talking about cannabis and you're focused on yourself. I know nothing about you and your situation, I do know about cannabis. How many medical states have you lived in? How many decades have you been using cannabis? How many medical patients and regular users have you had detailed medical conversations with? How many cannabis patients have you tracked issues and usage with?

Yep. I'm talking about cannabis. Your job is to listen to your physical and physiological reaction to it. Whatever that answer is, it's yours to find and deal with appropriately. ;)

I only just saw this... but you're obviously not following the comments clearly. I have no idea who Relationtrip is. And yes I'm talking about myself. The entire point of this post was to detail how Cannabis can be addictive to some people, and we should stop treating it as a universally harmless and non habit forming thing. Which you apparently can't wrap your head around. I'll stop challenging your cognitive biases though, have a nice day