The legalization of marijuana here in California and so many other states has created a vast market for marijuana and related products. However, the legalization has been somewhat controversial because there are not a lot of warnings about the short and long-term health risks of marijuana use, including both dependency and addiction. This means that we should be asking more questions, including “Can marijuana be addictive?”
What Is Marijuana Dependency?
Dependency is when we use marijuana enough that we feel withdrawal symptoms when we are not using the drug. Our bodies and brains become accustomed to having the drug in our system often enough that our brain will actually change the production of certain transmitters in expectation of having the drug in our brain at all times. Being without the drug then creates an actual physiological response. This is known as dependency.
The symptoms we might experience when we have a marijuana dependency and then stop using marijuana include decreased appetite, cravings, restlessness, mood changes, sleep difficulties, irritability, and more. These symptoms can last for up to two weeks, and will peak after about a week of no marijuana in our bodies.
Dependency typically occurs in about 30 percent of adults who use marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA.) Dependence is characterized with having withdrawal symptoms, but ultimately being able to stop using marijuana without further intervention.
Is Marijuana Addiction Real?
For approximately one in ten adults who use marijuana, addiction is real. Addiction to marijuana versus dependency includes the same symptoms of withdrawal, only in the case of addiction, we are not able to stop using marijuana on our own. Even when the drug interferes with many, if not all, aspects of our lives and prevents us from being able to function at our normal tasks, quitting on our own is not possible.
Addiction is characterized by giving up our typical life activities in order to use marijuana. These activities may include time with family and friends, missing work, and other important events. When marijuana comes first ahead of these types of activities, we may have an addiction. If we become addicted, we also become more likely to develop other side effects of the drug, including problems with memory, attention, and learning. However, most importantly, addiction to marijuana is characterized by the inability to quit using on our own.
Why Does Potency Matter?
Much of the controversy surrounding legalized marijuana is that, because it is a plant-based drug, it is not regulated by government or health officials. This means that there is no control over what we are ingesting, specifically the potency of the drug. Avid marijuana users always talk about the quality of the drug, or the potency, that matters the most.
The NIDA did a study of their own that demonstrated a very alarming outcome. They looked at samples of confiscated marijuana from the 1990s and samples from 2014 and found that the potency of the THC in the marijuana increased three times in just 15 years. There is no regulation on potency and this increase is very disturbing.
Theoretically, the higher the levels of THC, the more side effects there will be. This includes more dependency and more addiction. Other consequences of rising THC levels are not known yet, which is another criticism of the lack of regulation. This means that we as consumers need to pay close attention to what we are putting into our bodies for both the short- and long-term effects that can impact us, especially addiction.
Is It Possible to Overdose on Marijuana?
According to current research, actually overdosing on THC or marijuana is not possible. This is probably one of the reasons that people consider it safer than many other drugs. However, safety is relative and since the legalization of marijuana, emergency rooms have seen a significant increase in visits from those who ingested marijuana.
Marijana can cause anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, increased blood pressure and heart rates, as well as severe nausea and vomiting. There is increased danger of serious health problems or even fatality when marijuana is mixed with other drugs, including prescription drugs. So while the potential for overdose using marijuana alone is not there, it is far from the safe drug that many people claim it is. And yes, it can be addictive.
How Can I Treat Marijuana Addiction?
Because addiction is so powerful, we need help to overcome the powerful physiological effects that substances can have on us. This is also true of marijuana addiction. The legalization of marijuana does not mean that we are not immune to addiction. After all, alcohol is legal and is highly addictive.
If we realize that our marijuana use has impacted our normal life activities and we are unable to stop using it on our own, we can seek treatment for addiction. Our bodies and minds can heal, and we can learn to manage the intense cravings that come because of the chemical changes that happen in our brains when we become addicted to a substance. We can free ourselves from addiction and thrive again.
Can marijuana be addictive? Yes, it can. If your marijuana use is impacting your daily life and you are not able to stop, please call Rancho Milagro Recovery at (951) 526-4582. We are here to help you overcome marijuana addiction and find your physical and emotional well-being.