If you have quit marijuana or are trying to quit smoking marijuana, one thought at the forefront of your mind likely relates to what’s known as marijuana withdrawal. The term “withdrawal” here in this context refers to the body’s response to suddenly not getting a drug its grown accustomed to continually getting; in this case, we’re talking about marijuana (or weed, pot, etc.)
Is marijuana withdrawl real?

Marijuana usage is so entirely common, and many find it to be non habit forming and have the attitude that it is not harmful, especially compared to other drugs. While this latter aspect may be true in the sense that it’s less harmful than other drugs, withdrawal from marijuana when you’ve become addicted to smoking weed is a very real experience.

I think to prove this point it’s a bit more interesting to quote from others who have openly written online about their experiences trying to quit smoking and what the forthcoming marijuana withdrawal experience was like.

Here’s a snippet from a person in Vancouver Canada, who is in his early 30’s, who wrote to say that he was able to quit cold turkey using discipline and the force of his will, but “I was not expecting to get my ass kicked by the withdrawal pains of not getting high. I was going through flu like symptoms, shaking and getting cold as hell suddenly, then hot, and back and forth! According to my wife, I was also a real pain to be around for 2 or 3 days, just whining and being quick to snap at her or the kids. When I started smoking weed at 15 I never thought 15 or so years later I would ever experience what I felt in those 3 days from marijuana withdrawals. Until this, I didn’t even think marijuana withdrawal existed.

These symptoms mentioned here are fairly common it seems. Another person writes that after smoking every day for more than 2 decades that he “went through terrible marijuana withdrawal that lasted for about a weed. My life was just headaches, mood swings, and generally a mess for that first week without any marijuana. I never truly realized how addicted to cannabis I was until I quit. It was like some kind of crazy post marijuana psychosis in those first 48 hours.”

Like many other drugs, marijuana can be for good (think medical marijuana) or bad (think weed addiction), and the truth is that it takes common sense and a good drug policy approach to find a solid middle ground between the two. Being that drug users who’ve tried to quit – and drug counselors who have seen it all – truly understand that going through cannibus withdrawal is a reality for people who have become addicted to marijuana, what makes sense as far as society’s response to such a drug and its – some say – forthcoming legalization for medical and possibly recreational use in the United States?

The question of whether or not marijuana is even theoretically addictive is controversial.

Some users who regularly smoke marijuana – such as those working successful jobs and careers, or raising a family, who feel that smoking weed adds depth and joy to their daily life – find it rather insulting to ask about marijuana being addictive, likening the concept of addiction only to images of junkies clutching needles or crazed business men snorting cocaine.

This type of reaction misses the point though:

Marijuana addiction can still be a real problem for some even if others – even if most – people are able to function in a healthy or responsible manner while smoking marijuana.

The easiest analogy here is that of alcohol: the majority of alcohol users are not alcoholics, yet there is still a percentage of individuals who will become addicted to alcohol, and act out the signs of addiction.

But this is where the analogy gets fuzzy:

The casual marijuana smoker is usually put into an unfair box as compared to the casual drinker: when someone is talking about marijuana addiction, they often make the assumption that nearly everyone who smokes marijuana has a problem, whereas the same assumptions are not made for alcohol use.

This unfair bias is a big reason that many smokers feel threatened by the topic of marijuana addiction: when the smoke clears (no pun intended), they understand that the cultural attitude they are up against implies they are an addict by virtue of the fact that they use marijuana. Little to no consideration is given as to whether or not marijuana use could function as something other than a negative habit.

Unfortunately, this black and white outlook penalizes those who enjoy marijuana responsibly while obscuring the problem for those who are suffering because of a real addiction to marijuana.

I would say that despite all the hype and confusion, a good working definition of what it means to be addicted to marijuana is simply this:

“Marijuana addiction could be defined as chronically making the firm decision not to use marijuana followed shortly by a relapse due to experiencing overwhelming compulsive urges to use marijuana despite the firm decision not to. “

Note that this is definition sidesteps the question of whether or not MOST people become addicted, or how marijuana stacks up against other drugs in their addiction potential, etc. None of those things matter if that sentence above describes your experience. (Also note how well this definition works in regards to being addicted to anything.)

Addiction Signs

Understanding addictive behavior means looking at patterns and underlying motivations for a behavior and actions. While it’s not as easy as going down a list and checking yes or no and adding it all up, such a list is a useful tool is making an overall analysis of what is going on. Below is a set of symptoms that are associated with the behavior of a user who is suffering from marijuana addiction.

• User feels they are unable to control behavior.

Have you tried to stop smoking marijuana? Did you fail? Does this keep happening, despite how hard you try?

• Marijuana habit interferes with or causes a reduction in social activities.

Do you avoid people who disapprove of you smoking? Does marijuana gives you increase your social anxiety? Does it prevent you from going out and trying new experiences? If you didn’t smoke, do you think you’d have a more active social life?

• Marijuana use interferes with family life, negatively impacting relationships with children, parents, and loves ones

Ask yourself, “Would I be a better Father/Mother/Son/Daughter/etc if I weren’t doing this?”

• User spends money on marijuana when basic needs, or the needs of their family, etc. are not met

Are you still able to find money for marijuana even when money is not there for food, clothes, etc or to pay late bills?

• User experiences unpleasant side effects if he or she does not smoke marijuana.

Can you feel headaches or dizziness coming on that is only relieved by smoking again? Can you fall asleep without being high? Do you start to get nervous, anxious, or freak out if you know you are running out of or don’t have any more weed to smoke?

Treatment for those addicted to marijuana is available for those who simply seek the help they need.

There are a different options, and they range from simple drug abuse counseling, group meetings similar to Alcoholics Anonymous but for marijuana addicts, online drug counseling, and in-house rehabilitation.

This last option is the one I want to focus on.

Going to Specialized Rehab as a Treatment for Your Marijuana Addiction

The idea of going to rehab as part of your treatment can be fairly scary. The thing is though, if you are truly exhibiting the signs of marijuana addiction, especially if its effecting your family life, your job, or you ability to complete college, then…. sit back, take a deep breath, and consider what it would mean to go to rehab: you would go through a detoxification of marijuana in your system for one thing. You would supplement this would ongoing counseling one on one with someone who specializes in drug abuse and addictive behavior. You could very likely find yourself, if you wanted to, participating in a group session and reap the effects of positive peer pressure and all that comes along with opening up yourself to a group.

Most health insurance companies are going to drug abuse counseling and even in-house rehabilitation. It would likely require prior approval, which might include getting some sort of documented analysis from a doctor on the topic of being addicted to marijuana.

It really comes down to making the decision to deal with your marijuana addiction and then doing it.

Many of these rehab facilities offer luxurious perks and treatment plans for those going through detox, counseling, and other treatment for marijuana addiction. It’s not uncommon for them to offer high-scale hotel-like suites, pools, hot tubs, expansive outdoor (and private) nature get-aways, trails, and so on.

Drug Rehab centers such as Bayside Marina or Passages Malibu are like this. At this type of rehab facility, you can expect, honestly, an extremely high quality of comfort and care in your treatment for marijuana addiction.