Even though marijuana is one of the most regularly used substances in the United States, many people wonder whether it is addictive. Yes, that certainly is possible. That isn’t to say that everyone who consumes the chemical will develop an addiction.
Marijuana users, for the most part, do not grow hooked to it. They retain control over its usage; they typically utilize the quantity and when they want it. They obtain the precise effects they want and anticipate when they use marijuana. However, some marijuana users acquire the signs and symptoms of a real addiction after a long usage period.
Is Marijuana a Compulsive Drug?
While the majority of marijuana users do not develop an addiction, it is not impossible. Many of the characteristics often associated with addiction may be seen in marijuana users. Cannabis use disorder, often known as marijuana use disorder, is a medical condition induced by chronic cannabis use. In the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it is classed as a result of marijuana dependence or abuse (DSM-5).
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 30 percent of marijuana users will have marijuana use disorder.
Three Warning Signs of Marijuana Addiction
Someone who gets addicted to or reliant on marijuana is likely to exhibit some of the traditional signs of addiction, such as:
- They will need progressively greater quantities of marijuana
- They will spend more time thinking about using
- Substance use will begin to occupy center stage in their lives
- It will spend more time and money collecting more marijuana
- It will feel impatient or angry if they run short.
- They will continue to use it as the bad repercussions rise; they will refute statements from people close to them that they have changed.
Physical dependence and withdrawal are two of the most typical symptoms of cannabis use disorder.
Marijuana Addiction
Most experts believe that addiction to a drug is followed by a build-up of tolerance to that substance, needing ever greater doses to get the same benefits and resulting in withdrawal symptoms when the person stops using it. Most marijuana users do not develop tolerance or withdrawal symptoms.
Early marijuana addiction studies found that marijuana usage seldom resulted in intolerance or withdrawal. However, today’s marijuana is more potent than marijuana from the 1960s, including larger quantities of the active chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in cannabis.
Furthermore, marijuana addiction has reduced the capacity to react to the neurotransmitter dopamine, enabling us to experience pleasure. In one research, those addicted to marijuana experienced less good feelings, more tension, and were more irritable.
Withdrawal from Marijuana
According to current studies, tolerance to THC may develop, and withdrawal symptoms can occur in certain persons. The following withdrawal symptoms have been seen in people who have used marijuana for a long time and subsequently quit:
- Irritability
- Increased mood swings
- Increased aggressive behavior
- Anxiety and sleeplessness
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive salivation
- Decreased pulse.
Certain studies feel that since today’s marijuana is considerably more powerful, some individuals are more susceptible to developing physiologic dependency. Some individuals acquire a psychological reliance on marijuana products, like delta 8 vape, even if they are not physically or physiologically dependent. It typically endures despite a person’s awareness of their addiction or desire to break free.
What Makes Pot So Addictive?
Experts are currently looking into why some individuals develop addictions while others do not. A person may become dependent on marijuana for a variety of reasons. Of course, just because you have one or more of these risk factors does not indicate you will develop a marijuana addiction.
The factor of higher potency
Cannabinoids are a group of compounds found in marijuana. The effects of these components, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are well-known among marijuana users. THC is recognized for producing a “high,” but CBD is frequently associated with feelings of calm.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the increased potency of marijuana accessible today—particularly THC levels—could play a role in the growing number of individuals who develop a problem.
Is THC a Compulsive Drug?
THC has the potential to be addictive. THC, according to studies, is the component that, because of its psychoactive qualities, causes the risk of cannabis addiction.
THC levels in cannabis nowadays are generally higher than in the past. For example, today’s marijuana collected by law enforcement has an average THC content of 15%, compared to less than 4% in cannabis captured in the 1990s. Researchers are looking at whether increasing potency is to blame for the rise in emergency room visits by persons who test positive for marijuana.
Marijuana eaten in products derived from marijuana extract, such as solvent-based oil, has between 54 and 69 percent THC, with some strains topping 80 percent.
11-Year-Olds Start Smoking
Experts are discovering a correlation between the age at which you start smoking cannabis and the chance of developing a dependency. According to one research, those who started using cannabis at the age of 14 to 15 had a greater chance of becoming addicted. On the other hand, people who began smoking cannabis after 15 had a much lower probability of becoming addicted.
Usage Patterns
Marijuana usage daily or weekly has been shown to enhance the likelihood of a person becoming dependent on the substance in the future. It has been discovered that using cannabis seldom or abstaining totally for lengthy periods between uses reduces the likelihood of developing a dependence later on.
However, how a person interacts with marijuana is also crucial. For example, one study discovered that “solitary usage,” or taking the drug by oneself, was a major indicator of eventual reliance. In certain instances of cannabis addiction, family ties have been shown to have a role. According to one research, if your biological parents misuse alcohol or other drugs, you’re more likely to abuse alcohol or other drugs as well, including marijuana.
Conclusion
While most individuals who use marijuana regularly do not develop an addiction, getting hooked on the drug is possible. If you or a close one thinks you or someone you know is addicted to marijuana, speaking with your physician about your concerns is a good first step toward seeking assistance. There are various addiction treatment options available, and your doctor can help you choose the right one for you.