Marijuana addiction research is a subject that has always fascinated me. In this article we will take a look at some research studies implicating a link between marijuana and addiction. Drug addiction research in general is liable for multiple interpretations, with groups putting their own spin on the findings. I suppose our spin here being that this site is aimed as a resource for marijuana addicts is to find evidence of addiction. With that boldly open disclaimer, let’s take a look at some research studies!

An interesting study on marijuana withdrawal at McLean Hospital in Boston shows some interesting results. Harvard trained psychiatrist Harrison Pope, who was one of the researchers involved in this study, says its results show “there is a clear (marijuana) withdrawal syndrome”. The study involved taking marijuana smokers who had smoked about 5,000 times in their lives and have them stop smoking (they were monitored via urine samples) and then observe the results. The withdrawal from not partaking in daily marijuana use primarily involved subjects becoming irritable, sleepless, and having little appetite. This lasted about 7 days and then subsided, the study said. Pope note that they did not “see craving even remotely to the degree you would with heroin or alcohol or cocaine,” but that some people in the study, having not been able to smoke marijuana, were “quite miserable.”

According to studies funded by NIH (National Institute of Health), long term marijuana usage can lead to marijuana addiction, which they rightly define as seeking marijuana compulsively in spite of understanding and experiencing its negative and harmful effects related to the users family, career, schooling, or recreational life. NIH also reports what seems to be the consensus in regards to the possibility of marijuana withdrawal, which is that it is a real problem for long term users when quitting pot, resulting in the user being irritable, experiencing insomnia, anxiety, a psychological craving for marijuana, and also losing their appetite. These marijuana withdrawal symptoms start about a day after stopping smoking, are worst on days two and three, and go away within a week or even two weeks after quitting.

A study on marijuana addiction by the Department of Psychiatry at John Hopkins found similar results in regards to people who have quit smoking marijuana. Researchers stated that the withdrawal experience of that from quitting marijuana is similar to that of cigarette withdrawal, an interesting parallel that many can relate to with cigarette addiction being entirely widespread in most countries of the world.

What are we to make of such researcher? I think a good logical case can be made that habitual usage of marijuana makes the body dependant on its continued usage, and cessation of marijuana usage results in withdrawal symptoms commonly associated with drug addiction and detoxification, with negative effects on the users mood, sleeping habits, appetite, while simultaneously experiencing a strong drug craving during this withdrawl period.

Does that mean marijuana is addictive? What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

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.

What is it?
Marijuana is a mix of dried leaves and stems from the Cannibas Sativa plant. It is by far the most commonly used illegal drug in the USA. (More usage stats below.)

How is it sold?
Midrange to high quality marijuana is usually sold in increments as 8th of an ounce or a quarter of an ounce. It is also sold by the gram. It is common for lower grade marijuana is also sold in $5 and $10 amounts, known as nickel and dime bags.

How do people use marijuana?
By far the most common method of ingestion is smoking in a glass pipe or bong. In some cultures, Europe for example, marijuana is often mixed with tobacco and rolled into a joint. Marijuana can also be vaporized, cooked into brownies or other foods, made into a tea, and even into items such as chocolate. Other extraction methods are involved in creating marijuana-derivatives such as hash or resin, both of which are also smoked.

What are the effects?
Effects are wide-ranging, often contradicting one another. The intention, previous history with the drug, expectation, and setting, as well as quality or type of marijuana being smoked, greatly influence the effects. That being said, common effects include euphoria, light headedness, anxiety, paranoia, laughter, lethargy, apathy, and increased appetite (affectionately known as “the munchies”.)

How common is marijuana usage?
Marijuana use is widespread in the USA. Here’s a look at this a bit more in depth.

• NORML, a pro-marijuana group, states that 80 million Americans, at the time of the study, reported having used marijuana at least once. Of these, 20 million have used it in the last year. The latest government census states that the population of the USA is roughly 300 million people. Considering 80 million of them have tried marijuana and apparently it sounds like about 20 million use it currently – these numbers are significant!

One study found that…

• Percentage of 8th Graders who have tried marijuana at least once: 20% with 9% calling themselves ‘current users.’ (Unclear if that’s 9% of total number of 9% of the 20% who have tried it.)

• Percentage of 10th graders who have tried marijuana at least once: 40% with 20% reporting they were current users.

• Percentage of 12th graders who have tried marijuana at least once: 50% with 22% reporting they were current users.

Other Stats:

• Number of those seeking treatment for marijuana addiction: 150,000 per year, according to one, possibly suspect, website. (Other statistics have not been found to confirm this figure.)
• Interesting to note though, that not a single death has been attributed to using marijuana. This is significant to consider, as sometimes the hype around marijuana problems does get out of control.

Is it marijuana safe? Is it addictive?
These are complicated questions. It’s fair to say it’s safer than harder drugs yet not safe in the sense of causing delayed reaction time (while driving, for instance), not to mention the suffering it can inflict on the lungs via repeated smoking. This leads us to the next post and the next question on marijuana addiction i.e.  is marijuana addictive?