“Weed is not addictive, its just a plant”, “weed is a drug like any other drug”, “it should be legalized”, “it shouldn’t be”. This is a debate I have heard since High School and even more so in college. Although I do not smoke marijuana, weed, bud, pot, jeesh (new term I learned this year), or whatever you want to call it, I came to the conclusion that it was not addictive since so many people I know use it without a problem. However, in the back of my mind I knew I shouldn’t conform to this idea completely because something about it just seemed wrong. Over the past year I’ve heard several stories about people admitting that they have an addiction to weed. That is when I realized that everything we learned about weed in health class weren’t just scare tactics but it obviously was not accurate either; I did not know what to think at that point. I decided that instead of letting my opinion and knowledge of marijuana be based on what other people said and did I would find out for myself.
Before I investigated whether or not a marijuana addiction is possible I wanted to be sure I fully understood what an addiction is. Collins English Dictionary defines an addiction as “an abnormal dependency on a habit”. There are two types of addiction: physical and psychological. A physical addiction is caused by substances, such as, cocaine and heroine. A person with this type of addiction will experience physical symptoms or withdrawal, which, include pain, fatigue, sickness, and lack of sleep. A ” psychological addiction occurs when a person does not have a physical need for a drug but rather a mental addiction”. It is caused by neurochemical reactions in the brain. Symptoms of a psychological addiction are anxiety, depression, difficulty learning, and other behavioral problems.
Now that we know exactly what an addiction is, it’s time to answer the main question, “is marijuana really not addictive”? According to Buddy T, the majority of marijuana users smoke it recreationally without coming close to being an addict. They use the amount they want when they want to use it and have the same intentions and expectations every time, however, this is just the “majority”. The minority can be categorized in two groups: abusers and addicts. Marijuana abusers are people who use the drug despite negative consequences, such as, losing a job, bad school grades, or legal trouble. Abusers “use it to forget about their problems, and eventually, it becomes a crutch to deal with life”. They are not dependent on it, so they can stop using it at their own free will, but continue to do so in spite of repeatedly getting into trouble. In other words, they are just irresponsible. Smokers who are addicts are abusers as well, but will also display some of typical signs of addiction, such as, needing increased amounts, thinking about it more often, and spending more time and money acquiring it; it becomes a central part of their lives. If the addiction is not physically developed it will be a psychological dependency. Withdrawal from marijuana causes addicts to be anxious, loss appetite, become irritable, and others.
The reason why some abusers stay abusers, while others become addicts is not fully known. Some people believe it is because of a tolerance build up but early researchers revealed that this rarely happens. However, according to researchers from University of Washington, the amount of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in cannabis has increased by 2 to 7 times since the 1970’s. Suzanna Williams reported that THC binds with the middle part of the brain and “triggers the secretion of the feel-good hormone dopamine”, which is a major component of what makes drugs addictive. This is what makes people feel mellow and carefree (high). Other people think its because of the belief that it is impossible to be a marijuana addict, so more young people are smoking weed than ever and to a higher extent, in fact, the number of people seeking treatment for marijuana dependence or abuse has increased 142% since 1992. Another factor is that smokers in the 1970’s would most likely smoke the leaves and would start in their 20’s, whereas, most current smokers start in their mid-teens and prefer to smoke the more potent tops of the plant (the bud). Other factors to include are where it is grown, how it is grown, and what type it is.
Now I know some readers are probably rolling their eyes, saying “this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about”, or have just stop reading because they were afraid the possible truth, but these are not my words. They are not even personal opinions; it is scientific evidence that although marijuana addictions are rare, IT IS POSSIBLE TO BECOME A WEED ADDICT!
I have learned that the general ideas about marijuana are extremely bias. Some people say that it is all bad when it evidently isn’t. Other people say it’s a harmless herb when nothing that creates so much controversy can be that innocuous. I conclude that weed, just as any other pleasurable thing, should be done in moderation. Eating a cheeseburger and French fries every once in awhile will not make you fat but eating them everyday will certainly give you an expensive medical bill in the future. Similarly, smoking weed for some weekend fun or lighting a blunt to relax at the end of the day should not cause an issue (just don’t get caught), however doing it 2-3 times a day everyday isn’t good for you either.