Is Marijuana Addictive?

The question has been raised often. Is Marijuana addictive?

These are my personal experiences about Marijuana Addiction. I have been using Marijuana now since around 8 years. I am 28 years old at the time of writing this.

My believe is that yes, Marijuana can be addictive. It is less a bodily addiction, it is more a psychological addiction.

Differences between psychological (mind) addiction and physical (bodily) addiction

What is a psychological addiction? - Somebody is physiological addicted to something when he gets symptoms in his body that make him go back to the substance.

For example: A tobacco smoker is likely to get symptoms in his body when he stops smoking. These bodily symptoms can be shivering, pain in the stomach, sweating, diarrhea and a general feeling of unease.

A heroin user will experience extreme bodily symptoms when going off the substance. Shivering, muscle pain, sweating. It is extremely hard for him/her to get off the substance.

Psychological addictions are not that difficult to handle for the user. They are more like a feeling that something is missing. Like the craving for chocolate. If the 'user' had chocolate on hand, she would very likely eat it. But it is ok also to have none.

Marijuana is more psychological addictive

The cravings for Marijuana are like the feelings that something is missing.

I personally have most of the time lots of Marijuana available. I have often fallen into the habit of smoking it every day. Just like when I have candy in the house, I usually eat it all.

I started smoking Marijuana earlier and earlier in the day. I took pot to work and smoked it in my break. Quickly, I became used to it and I had to take higher doses to feel it. At this point, the positive effects of Marijuana were long gone. All I felt than was a dumb, relaxing feeling of emptiness. Than I had to go on a break from it. This is difficult during the first 2 days, but than relatively easy.

This is the main danger of marijuana. People can fall into the habit of using it every day during their daily activities such as work or school.

It is just so easy to smoke some pot and get through the day somewhat asleep. Just like eating chocolate whenever it is available. Or like watching a movie to switch off the mind.

At that point, it is time to stop. Because smoking every day all day long is marijuana abuse. Now the user should ask himself:"Why do I need Marijuana? What other areas in my life are not working out? What are the benefits of quitting Marijuana?"

Addicted to the Marijuana or the Tobacco?

There is one important distinction to consider: Has the Marijuana user smoked pot together with tobacco? If that is the case, he will probably feel strong tobacco withdrawal symptoms when stopping pot.

The user than is likely to think he is addicted to cannabis, while it is more an addiction to tobacco. It is wise to stop one substance at a time.

I have seen people saying proudly:"Hey, I stopped to smoke tobacco! All I do now is smoke joints." However these people than smoked tobacco joints all day long. They are still taking in nicotine with their marijuana joints.

Summary

Is Marijuana addictive? Yes, it is easy to fall into the habit of smoking Pot whenever some uneasy task has to be done. Like going to work.

But this usually does not happen that much to emotionally stable people. If somebody tends to take narcotics like Marijuana to fade out something, the person should take an honest look at his life. Maybe ask himself what his purpose is. Read some inspirational books and define what he really wants to experience in life.

Luckily the symptoms of withdrawal from Marijuana are rather light and refer more to the mind than the body.

If tobacco was smoked with the pot the user is likely to be addicted to the tobacco and not so much the pot.

It is relatively easy to stop using Marijuana.

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