Calling B.S. on the Idea of 'Marijuana Addiction'

[squirrel_master]

There are cannabinoid receptor sites in your body just like opiod receptors. Cannabis use also stimulates the opiate receptors directly. When your body is used to a certain level of cannabinoids in the body, it will react when that level falls too low. Yes the addictive potential of cannabis is very low compared to almost all other drugs, but heavy use over time can lead to dependency. Certain individuals may also be more susceptible to cannabis addiction due to the nature of the withdrawal symptoms. Insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, anxiety, depression, and irritability are all symptoms of cannabis withdrawal. From users I've personally met, those naturally prone to anxiety and insomnia especially seem to have difficulty ceasing their cannabis use.

withdrawal and addiction are two different things. i'm not gonna say i won't go through some type of withdrawal if i stopped smoking but if my supply ran out...life will go on. i'll just wait til some more pops up. it doesn't rule my life and i know i don't need it to go on.

 

[burn out]

cannabis is not addictive. it's the people who have addictive personalities. there is a difference. there is only a "handful" of smokers who can't quit and it's because they have addictive personalities.

do you realize this post is meaningless? what makes something addictive? i could say cocaine is not addictive, its just some people can't stop using it because they have addictive personalities. it's all semantics at this point.

 

[snakjaw]

Still, getting addicted to something that:

causes intense pleasure when used and intense pain when withdrawn

makes quite a bit more sense than getting addicted to something that:

makes you sorta retarded and less bored

 

[burn out]

Still, getting addicted to something that:

causes intense pleasure when used and intense pain when withdrawn

makes quite a bit more sense than getting addicted to something that:

makes you sorta retarded and less bored

marijuana + music = intense pleasure for me. more pleasureable than being on opiates, which make me feel dull, dopey, constipated and nauseas.

 

[Pshaaw]

Marijuana is addictive. Caesar salad is addictive. Ramen noodles are addictive. Cheese Nips are addicitve.

You forgot strawberry whoppers... they are sooooo addictive.. am thinking of admitting myself for treatment of whopper addiction..

 

[FrostyMcFailure]

Certain individuals may also be more susceptible to cannabis addiction due to the nature of the withdrawal symptoms. Insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, anxiety, depression, and irritability are all symptoms of cannabis withdrawal.

agreed. This seems to be true from what iv seen & felt.

Most people off the bat get pissy for a few days after going a year + smoking then suddenly stopping. The Brain needs to "readjust" to say the least and since the half life is so damn beast this could take a few hot minutes.(up to 2 months in some cases!)

 

[squirrel_master]

Still, getting addicted to something that:

causes intense pleasure when used and intense pain when withdrawn

no that's just drugs in general. it's when you can't say no that it's an addiction.

 

[squirrel_master]

do you realize this post is meaningless? what makes something addictive? i could say cocaine is not addictive, its just some people can't stop using it because they have addictive personalities. it's all semantics at this point.

and some people can do coke every once in a while, some drugs can latch onto a persons addictiveness and make it harder for some to resist. just like some people are alcoholics and some drink socially. most smokers will burn a lot if given the opportunity but no one is realistically pawning the stuff in their house to get a "fix". at the most i would say it's a "habit" for some but a rare few a "real addiction".

 

[burn out]

and some people can do coke every once in a while, some drugs can latch onto a persons addictiveness and make it harder for some to resist. just like some people are alcoholics and some drink socially. most smokers will burn a lot if given the opportunity but no one is realistically pawning the stuff in their house to get a "fix". at the most i would say it's a "habit" for some but a rare few a "real addiction".

its not that common for people to pawn the stuff in their house for cigarettes either but almost no one denies they are an addiction.

i agree that most people who use marijuana don't become dependent on it and an even smaller amount become seriously addicted but i would not go so far as to say it's not an addictive drug. to me, drugs like salvia are virtually non addictive. marijuana is like crack compared to salvia.

 

[phr]

Can we agree that it takes both the drug's effects and the person's addictive potential to become an addict?

That could easily be seen through stats. By far, most people who try drugs don't become addicted; even when they're trying heroin and coke/crack. The drug's effects are just one variable of the complicated equation.

 

[MyDoorsAreOpen]

I'm pretty much hooked on it psychologically. The problem is I just prefer the feeling of being alive on it than not on it.

Psychological addiction, often in the form of 'compulsive behaviors', can be to anything that tickles your pleasure centers the right way. Only physical addictiveness is an absolute property of a substance.

 

[FrostyMcFailure]

& in truth anyone can be psychologically addicted to anything, (Up to and/or including but not limited too) a spooN!

 

[burn out]

Can we agree that it takes both the drug's effects and the person's addictive potential to become an addict?

That could easily be seen through stats. By far, most people who try drugs don't become addicted; even when they're trying heroin and coke/crack. The drug's effects are just one variable of the complicated equation.

yes that's what i've always believed. drug addiction is an interaction.

 

[frizzantik]

Psychological addiction, often in the form of 'compulsive behaviors', can be to anything that tickles your pleasure centers the right way. Only physical addictiveness is an absolute property of a substance.

I don't really like the terms "pyschological addiction" and "physical addiction".. really it's more like just "addiction" and "chemical dependence"

sure, people can become addicted to anything. gambling, porn, shopping, etc. but only drugs can cause chemical dependence. Cannabis is one of those drugs.

 

[MyDoorsAreOpen]

Frizz, what's the key difference in effect / prognosis between all non-chemical addictions vs. chemical dependences? In your view, do all addictions directly linked to an ingested chemical constitute chemical dependences, necessarily?

 

[squirrel_master]

sure, people can become addicted to anything. gambling, porn, shopping, etc. but only drugs can cause chemical dependence. Cannabis is one of those drugs.

you were right up until the point you said "cannabis is one of those drugs". gambling, porn and shopping are physical dependances which are habit forming. cannabis can become habit forming for a lot of people. chemical dependant...rarely.

 

[reyytard]

it is addictive. it happens when u spend more of your waking hours high then u are sober so you mind gets used to it.
i have a friend that cant function normally if he's sober.
lol..

 

[toastedpanda]

you were right up until the point you said "cannabis is one of those drugs". gambling, porn and shopping are physical dependance which are habit forming. cannabis can become habit forming for a lot of people. chemical dependent...rarely.

Shopping can cause physical dependence, but cannabis can't8)
THC and other cannabinoids directly change brain chemistry by introducing new chems and regulating others. I would assume after a significant period of time the human body becomes accustomed to this, and in the absences of these chemicals the body reacts abnormally and needs to readjust (or cannibionods need to be introduced) to return to normal functioning.

Not quite kicking Heroin, but sounds like the body withdrawing regardless.

Cannabis produces pleasurable effects in many/most users, along with the associated rituals associated with it, can become an important aspect of ones life, if significant enough would be an addiction.

 

[Curious Quetzal]

Marijuana addiction is real, but not as ugly as crack or heroin addiction.
I've known alot of people who spent months blowing money on weed just so they can get through several hours of video games and bullshit tv all night.
When the act of smoking is no longer for pleasure it is an addiction.

 

[manic_panic]

truth be told

Marijuana is addictive. Caesar salad is addictive. Ramen noodles are addictive. Cheese Nips are addicitve.

You hit the nail on the head. YES. Pot is addictive and whether you choose to believe it or not, I don't really give a frog's fat ass. I've been in and out of treatment centers and have mets kids, all they done is toke and can't imagine living life without it. Me, personally, I can't stand smoking the stuff...