GLP-1 receptor agonists seem particularly promising since a recent randomized controlled trial showed that semaglutide reduced alcohol craving, number of drinks consumed per day, and laboratory self-administration. Those who received 7.2% THC consumed 27% less alcohol. Subjects could consume their preferred alcoholic beverage or receive small cash payments for abstaining. Participants completed three sessions in which they smoked cannabis with either 7.2% THC, 3.1% THC, or a placebo (0.03% THC).
If pot interferes with your daily life, health or relationships, those are red flags. But “cannabis is definitely something that someone can develop an addiction to,” said Das, an addiction psychiatrist at Stanford University. A recent JAMA review of the evidence from randomized clinical trials does not support cannabis or cannabinoids for most conditions for which it is promoted. After decades of promised treatments, cannabis has disappointed. Cannabis and other sedating or psychoactive drugs may worsen falls and confusion, impair driving, increase workplace accidents, and cause respiratory suppression (with opioids) and prolonged sedation. THC beverages (for now) exhibit astonishing dose variability—from products with 2–5 mg THC to those containing 50–100 mg per serving.
What Are the Risks of Marijuana Addiction?
Answering “yes” to even a few of these might mean it’s time to talk to a professional. It’s when marijuana stops being a choice and starts feeling like a need. You might use marijuana occasionally and still meet your responsibilities. These symptoms usually start within 24 to 72 hours of quitting and can last up to 2 weeks or longer in some cases.
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Between 1995 and 2022 the delta-9 THC potency (strength) in illegal cannabis products seized by law enforcement quadrupled from 3.96% to 16.14%. However, along with the cannabis plant flower, there are many products made from the cannabis plant and new ones are constantly being developed and sold. Unless mentioned otherwise, the information on this webpage is only about cannabis products containing intoxicating amounts of delta-9 THC.
What Is Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD)?
Addiction happens when a person uses a substance such as alcohol, marijuana, or another drug in excess. Learn more about marijuana addiction, risk factors, effects on the brain, and more. Research is mixed as to whether mental health issues are more often the cause of cannabis abuse, or whether dependence on cannabis can, in turn, lead to mental health issues. The increased potency of modern marijuana strains means that there is a greater risk for tolerance, dependence, addiction, and withdrawal. Still, most people who use or have used cannabis do not go on to use other substances later in life.71
- Substance dependence, also called chemical dependence, is when a person experiences physical dependence on a substance but is not addicted to it.
- People develop cannabis dependence for different reasons, so it’s important to address any underlying issues.
- Many marijuana users first come to Das for help coping with something else, like alcohol use disorder.
And the misconception has become more widespread as a growing number of states legalize marijuana.
Signs of Marijuana Addiction
Bushnell, 60, said peer support is essential to recovery and some people feel more comfortable chatting online than in person. Many marijuana users first come to Das for help coping with something else, like alcohol use disorder. The same amount can have “major impacts” on one person’s daily life but have no impact on another person’s, Das said. If you’ve met just two of the criteria for cannabis use disorder in the last year, doctors say you have a mild form of the condition.
Mental Health Effects
In contrast, cannabis is perceived as safer, without causing liver damage, cancers, or the cognitive decline linked to alcohol. While the focus has been on Gen Z and millennials, more recently, some baby boomers are also switching to cannabis from alcohol, because of recent studies challenging decades of alcohol benefits and raising alarm over drinking. Major cannabis companies launched THC drink lines, promoting them as modern alternatives to alcohol and targeting consumers cutting back on drinking or who no longer drink at all. Some commentators describe this cultural shift as the adoption of the “California sober” mindset—consuming cannabis or THC-infused beverages rather than alcohol. As I have noted earlier, Gen Z and millennials are using less alcohol and more cannabis, often edibles. The cannabis products are marketed as “better for you,” without hangovers, with fewer calories or less intoxication (depending on dosage).
- Addiction is more common in drugs like alcohol or cocaine.
- Wondering if someone you love is dealing with marijuana addiction—or if you are yourself?
- Some evidence has linked cannabis use to earlier onset of psychosis in people with genetic risk factors for psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, as well as worse symptoms in people who already have these conditions.
Medicinal Use of Marijuana
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) classifies the diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorder. Despite the risks, studies of medicinal marijuana use have shown effectiveness. This can lead to more use and an increased risk of marijuana use disorder.
Today, marijuana typically contains more THC than in the past. Experts are still investigating why some people become addicted while others don’t. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Marijuana isn’t harmless, and some people may become addicted
Treatment for Marijuana Addiction
Medicinal marijuana is used to treat and manage a variety of medical concerns, including physical and mental health challenges. Cannabis use disorder, or marijuana use disorder, is when a person continues to use the substance even though they experience negative health or life effects from use. Marijuana use disorder, also known as cannabis use disorder, is when the use of marijuana negatively impacts a person’s health or life but they continue to use it anyway.
Frequent or heavy cannabis use has been linked to problems in cognitive functions like learning and memory, attention, processing speed, perceptual motor function, and language.42,43,44,45 It can also it can also make people feel more irritable or restless.18 Delta-8 THC is another intoxicating cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Dried cannabis can also be vaped using electronic vaporizing devices such as dry herb vaporizers and vape pens. People commonly use cannabis by smoking dried plant material (“buds” or “herb”) in joints like a cigarette, in blunts—cigars or cigar wrappers that have been partly or completely refilled with cannabis—or in pipes or bongs (water pipes).
However, research is limited and the details of the negative effects on the brain are not fully understood. This is an increased concern for younger people exposed to THC, including babies during pregnancy. THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the part of the cannabis plant that causes the mental effect. After regular use over time, they build a tolerance, where the effects of the substance are not noticed as much or at all. It is usually marked by a change in behavior, where the person becomes consistently focused on using that substance regardless of potential negative outcomes.
You’re more likely to get CUD if you misuse other drugs, like alcohol. If you use it every day, you might get withdrawal symptoms a day or two after stopping. People who use marijuana a lot are more likely to be jobless and not happy with life. Addiction is more common in drugs like alcohol or cocaine. As with alcohol, “just because something’s legal doesn’t mean that it’s safe,” Das said. Doctors urged people who need help to get it, whether it’s with a professional or in a peer group.
Later, she said, they’ll often come back and mention a struggle with cannabis. Dependence is physical, while addiction involves behavior changes. People can be dependent on and addicted to substances. “When we break it down into these criteria that have to do with the impacts of their types of drug addictions use, it’s a lot more relatable,” Das said.
