| Many marijuana users say they can "take it or leave | | | | Dependence is another clear sign of marijuana |
| it" when it comes to getting high, and sometimes | | | | addiction. Many people, especially those who have |
| they use this rationale to assert that their marijuana | | | | used marijuana regularly for long periods of time, |
| habit is not an addiction. | | | | begin to find that it's difficult to function without it. |
| So what exactly is this addiction of marijuana, and is | | | | When they're not high or under the influence, they |
| it real or not? | | | | can spend much of their energy planning how they |
| While it may indeed be true that some people will | | | | will attain the drug. Their entire world begins to |
| never form a dependence on weed, the same can | | | | revolve around the addiction, leaving very little room |
| be said for those who use alcohol occasionally, and | | | | for anything else. |
| we all know that alcohol can cause addiction in those | | | | Consequently, as marijuana takes priority, these |
| especially prone to its effects. | | | | people often begin to experience problems in their |
| Before we make a determination on the addictive | | | | lives, including difficulties at work and in their |
| properties of marijuana, let's take a second to define | | | | relationships. |
| the word 'addiction'. | | | | The Ultimate Test |
| Addiction is defined as being abnormally tolerant to | | | | If you're unsure whether or not your marijuana use |
| and dependent on something that is psychologically or | | | | has spiraled into an addiction there is a very simple |
| physically habit forming. Moreover, when addiction is | | | | way to find out for sure: Quit. |
| present, the absence of the substance will usually | | | | Stopping your marijuana use abruptly will give you a |
| cause intense cravings. | | | | clear picture of how marijuana is affecting you. If |
| When marijuana is NOT an Addiction | | | | you begin to experience the effects of withdrawal, |
| According to our definition, there are a certain | | | | including cravings, depression, irritability, anxiety, |
| number of people who can use marijuana occasionally | | | | trouble sleeping and a whole host of physical |
| and sporadically and never become tolerant to or | | | | symptoms, chances are your marijuana use has |
| dependent on its effects. | | | | become a dependency and you actually are addicted |
| However, these people represent a small percentage | | | | to marijuana. |
| of the total number of people that use marijuana. | | | | Summary |
| Most marijuana users will develop a regular habit, and | | | | There is a small percentage of marijuana users who |
| over a period of time will begin to show some of the | | | | will avoid addiction, most, however, will not. Marijuana |
| classic signs of addiction. | | | | is a powerful, psychoactive drug which alters the |
| The Addiction of Marijuana | | | | mood and brain activity in those who use it. Over |
| Most people who smoke marijuana do so for the | | | | time, tolerance to the drug increases, requiring larger |
| intoxicating effect it produces-a relaxed and almost | | | | amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect. |
| euphoric state-and once these effects are | | | | This increased tolerance eventually leads to |
| experienced, the desire to replicate the feeling | | | | dependence and begins to create a number of |
| becomes very strong. Over time though, the small | | | | problems for those addicted. |
| amount of marijuana that once produced these | | | | If you believe your marijuana habit has become an |
| feelings cannot do so any longer, and users tend to | | | | addiction make the effort today and seek out help in |
| smoke more and more attempting to achieve the | | | | quitting. The sooner you quit, the sooner you'll be |
| same effect. This is the classic sign of tolerance-an | | | | able to reclaim your life, and the easier it will be. |
| early and reliable sign of addiction. | | | | |