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?