Marijuana Addiction?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Is it possible to actually be addicted to marijuana?

I don't mean like being addicted to cigarettes, which will drive you crazy if you don't have your Marlboro - or being a crackhead or herion junkie. But being someone who smokes pot every day, even if it's just a little bit. Like a few puffs after a long day of work or something like that.

Is it possible to suffer withdrawl symptoms from not having pot?

I've been without since before the New Year and I've found it very difficult to get to sleep at night. One of the reasons I tend to smoke is because it puts me right out afterwards. And if you've ever suffered with a sleeping disorder (which runs in my family but I've never been diagnosed with) I'd imagine you know at what lengths you'd go to in order to get a good night's sleep.

So what's the verdict? Am I a pot addict or is this just an effect of me depriving myself of the one thing that helps me get to sleep at night.

All you DU tokers out there, do you ever suffer symptoms of withdrawl when your supply runs out?

[LincolnMcGrath]

1. Mary Jane is illegal

Try to never run out! ;-)

[sujan]

2. no

Not in my experience. I used to smoke joint prolifically and the last one I had was during april of 2002. I haven't smoked since. No symptoms of withdrawal here...

[RobinA]

11. I Never Bought

the pot addiction thing. Time was I smoked three times a day. I was spending too much time walking around stoned so I cut back to once in the evening with no trouble at all. Then I left the environment where pot was easy to obtain, so I just stopped. No addiction. Of course, I never could sleep on pot anyway.

My experience is that you can get used to anything that helps you sleep. It's like your body forgets how to go to sleep by itself. It usually learns how again in about a week.

When I need a sleep aid I take Benadryl. Puts me out, no hangover the next morning, and I find that I don't become habituated to it.

[HuckleB]

3. In a way, I suppose.

One could be so used to the feeling one gets from it, that one would feel "off" without it. Clearly, it's not physically addictive along the lines of our understanding of addictions such as alcohol and cocaine. However, it does affect the brain's chemistry, so it is possible that regular use could alter the amount of some neurotransmitters produced by the brain. If so, when it is withdrawn, it will take the brain time to readjust to pre-use production levels. This, of course, is theory. However, with what we know about neurotransmitter actions, its not exactly out of line with what we know, and is under investigation by researchers.

Over the years, I do have to say that I've noted diminished verbal skills with friends who used on a daily basis. I've also noticed a return of verbal skills when they stopped using, so I would say that it has effects that we don't know about just yet.

[Lungs]

4. No. (nt)

[SOteric]

5. I have an ex-boyfriend who swears

he's psychologically/emotionally dependent on weed.

It may not be a chemical addiction, but I think people can grow dependent on the effects of just about anything they use as stress avoidance/reduction aid.

[jonnyblitz]

6. yes.

But I am aware it is in my head and it usually only lasts the first day I am out, which happens to be today....

[populistmom]

7. My opinion

In being close to someone who was a daily smoker for a number of years (had stopped, then started again, just recently stopped), though he currently isn't (because I made an ultimatum due to emotional exhaustion and cost factors). No, it's not physically addicting, not even close to the level of nicotine. I actually don't have a problem with it if it's an occasional thing (I was a few times a year person in the past), but for people predisposed to addiction, that can be easier said than done. I think it's a better alternative than alcohol. However, when it is daily, unless it's for nausea for cancer or similar medical reasons, it is not so good IMHO. I notice that for many who are used to it daily, if they don't have it, or they want it and have to wait, they become very snappy and hostile to those around them, although in his case other prescriptives were involved as well.

[burythehatchet]

8. Is it possible, yes

the withdrawal symptoms are typically the following:

1. Ability to wake up pretty easily in the morning
   
2. a renewed sense of accomplishing little extra things along the way
   
3. progression along your chosen career path
   
4. remembering stuff
   ...
   

:smoke:
:hi:

[DrWeird]

9. No withdrawal symptoms- except for:

general grumpiness
decreased appetite
Inability to see problems from multiple perspectives
a lack of imagination
temper tantrums
Crohn's disease
and profound laziness.

And least that's what happens to me.

[burythehatchet]

13. Therein lies the duality of the weed!!

For example...you say "a lack of imagination". How true it is that when I haven't toked for a few weeks, the first time I do, regardless of where or when, I generate truly mind boggling good ideas (if I do say so myself). But if I smoke for a few days in a row, then I can't generate enough creativity to make a grilled cheese sandwich.

[THUNDER HANDS]

14. lol

Yeah that's true. But you can generate good ideas if you think really hard right after smoking. Your window for inspired thoughts grows shorter after each consecutive day though.

[mmm]

10. nope

[DemoTex]

12. As an airline pilot (even on long-term-disability) , pot is a no-no.

Of course, I have never even whiffed the dirty weed. No! I did smell it at a party once, in Alabama in 1965. Or maybe that was manure. Who knows?

But! But! On 3/30/2008, when I become age-disqualified to fly for the airline, I am lighting up a see-gar!

Hey! Don't Bogart that joint my friend!

Mac

[nuxvomica]

37. In high school we were taught that

I remember being horrified when told that marijuana withdrawal was worse than that of other drugs becuase addicts actually vomited up their intestines while undergoing it.
As a result, I now am very suspicious of any claims that pot is addictive. Like any medicinal substance, it will have profound effects on the mind and body so there are noticeable systemic changes after the cessation of longterm use. But I don't think you build up the tolerance/dependency that addictive substances like coffee and tobacco create.

edit: meant to reply to original message. No, I'm not stoned right now.

[HuckleB]

15. Research on the matter: It appears so.

Researchers Identify Symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawal ...
http://www.mcleanhospital.org/PublicAffairs/20001126_marijuana_withdrawal.htm

and

http://www.researchmatters.harvard.edu/story.php?article_id=260

Does Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome Exist? ...
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p020261.html

Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome a Real Entity ... (you'll have to cut and paste the complete URL, sorry)...
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/459885?WebLogicSession=P1ok1FO4zzAmvOPnFE2svptBhfCKVjSuK3kAs3PveuuCzts25yEr|5556142915857907078/184161392/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1

[populistmom]

18. Good links

I'm bookmarking this thread

[DS1]

16. No way

You'll break that addiction as soon as you're out of cash.

[Cooley Hurd]

17. I sometimes run out...

...and while I miss it (especially after a difficult day), I don't have trouble sleeping, nor do I obsess about it. But it's understandable that, if you used it exclusively as a sleep aid, you might have trouble getting to sleep without it. Think about it this way - if you didn't have your favorite pillow, the one you've slept with for a long time, you might have trouble sleeping without it, right?

[Virgil]

19. Cannabis is not physically addictive

The Canadain Senate Select Committee Report on Illegal Drugs came out in August of 2002. It is an authoritative and comprehensive study of anything to do with cannabis- http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/ille-e/rep-e/summary-e.pdf

The report was largely ignored by the media because they called for the legalization of cannabis for anyone over 16. In that report they dispelled the gateway theory and said that cannabis is not physically addictive. It is psycologically addictive in about 5% of users. Withdrawal symtoms have a lot to do with defining addiction and there are no dangers associated with quiting cannabis. It is a common occurence to have dry spells and people deal with it all the time.

I regard cannabis use primarily as an activity. When you quit it creates a kind of hole just as if you gave up any activity like going to the gym or watching news entertainment on television because it is really programming. At least they are honest and call it programming. Must be the stopped watch syndrome at work.

[DrWeird]

20. US studies said the same thing.

Nixon ignored his promise to uphold whatever the panel found. When it wasn't what he wanted he dismissed the findings because "the scientists were probably smoking marijuana."

[regnaD kciN]

27. Actually, if I recall correctly...

...he had V.P. Agnew :puke: denounce the report as "more pablum for permissiveness." (And, when Spiro spoke, you could see Pat Buchanan's lips move.)

[HuckleB]

21. More recent information begs to differ, at least a bit.

Researchers Identify Symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawal ...
http://www.mcleanhospital.org/PublicAffairs/20001126_marijuana_withdrawal.htm

and

http://www.researchmatters.harvard.edu/story.php?article_id=260

Does Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome Exist? ...
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p020261.html

Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome a Real Entity ... (you'll have to cut and paste the complete URL, sorry)...
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/459885?WebLogicSession=P1ok1FO4zzAmvOPnFE2svptBhfCKVjSuK3kAs3PveuuCzts25yEr|5556142915857907078/184161392/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1

[Virgil]

22. That stuff is crap

Your second link starts out- "Irritability, anxiety and physical tension, plus decreases in appetite and mood."

Now since laughing grass reduces irratibility and is great for ending rage, and as laughing grass reduces anxiety, and reduces physical tension and increases appetite enough to make munchies a recognizable term and enhances mood, when you quit you go back to normal.

That stuff is the biggest bunch of crap there is. When they throw people in jail do they treat them for withdrawals symtoms. Of course not. How about alcoholics. Yes, they take them to detox becaus they can die from withdrawal. What do they do with people on anti-deptressents. They make sure they get medicine.

I call bullshi* on all of that. You quit and you go back to normal and the incarcerationists invert it to say what laughing grass enhances is a withdrawal symtom when without. What crap.

[HuckleB]

23. Yeah, OK. I guess "crap" is evidence you don't want to see.

Unfortunately for what you want to see, those are some very serious and sound studies you're dissing without actually dealing with the substance of the studies. You can ignore it, if you want, but it doesn't make it "crap."

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. Looks like paid studies to discredit medical benefits of MJ

McClean has whored similar studies in order to ensure a drug company dependent society.

I think one can develop a psychological dependency on marijuana the same as one can develop a psychological dependency on anything.

[HuckleB]

25. Sorry, you can't pin it all on McLean. It's not a one off bit.

Nevermind that I don't buy your statement about "whoring," anyway. I've read my share of studies. McLean does good work.

[mike_c]

26. Sorry, no....

eom

[VermontDem2004]

28. Yes

I haven't smoked in two days and I am going crazy. :)

[regnaD kciN]

29. But don't you realize...

...that people who smoke pot wind up hooked on heroin???

:eyes:

[LincolnMcGrath]

38. LOL ITS A GATEWAY DRUG DAGNABIT

How do rational thinking humans NOT see through the gateway drug spin? :eyes:

[Loonman]

30. Psychologically, somewhat. Physically, no.

Anyone who tells you differently doesn't know what they are talking about.

[rbnyc]

32. I agree.

I've been pretty much a daily smoker since I was a teenager. I've had or decided to quit several times for various reasons. I never had much trouble going cold turkey, but I have always come back to it.

:smoke:

[bobthedrummer]

34. That's been the common experience

and a personal one.

[truthspeaker]

31. yep, it's possible

And not being able to get to sleep is my most common "withdrawal" symptom. Usually passes after a few days. Then I find that my (non-stoned) sleep is actually more restful and I don't have as much trouble waking up and becoming alert in the morning.

I also get cravings if I got from heavy chronic use to abstinence. They pass after a time, but can get reactivated if I smoke again.

[noonwitch]

33. Take some Benadryl for a few nights, and you'll get over it

Just some advice.

[Kolesar]

35. Pump some iron, go for a spin, and/or stretch before you go to bed

I fell asleep last night watching a tape of the candidates' debate. ;)
Good luck!

[maxanne]

36. yes

marijuana is addictive for some - just like booze and other drugs. It's not true for everyone, but it is true for some.

The withdrawal is not going to be terribly noticeable - because marijuana is fat soluble in the body - not water soluble. THC is stored in the fat cells, and leaves gradually. Marijuana withdrawal may manifest as mild flu-like symptoms - restlessness, irritability, trouble sleeping - but certainly not the same as other drugs. Alcohol withdrawal can cause hallucinations, seizures, and convulsions. Most people going through marijuana withdrawal won't even know it.

[Nikia]

39. Slightly psychologically

Withdrawal really isn't that bad. I think that it is comparable to PMS. It goes away after a while. If you have a sleep disorder and pot has been treating it effectively, you suffering from what not having access to medicine needed to treat your chronic condition.