A very real thing is that weed is a crutch for depression here in the states.
[deleted]
Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
21–30 of 177 posts
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#22Throwaway because obviously the stigma. But yes, it's very real. I am addicted to marijuana. I smoke nearly 3 grams a day; what has become a $1000+/month habit. I've always loved weed but the high salary has allowed me to lose control. I can't sleep or eat without it. Within 24 hours without weed I become an intolerable asshole who cannot eat or sleep. When I do sleep without it, it's full of nightmares and I wake up…
Were there any distinct early warning signs that could have flagged others to what was going on? I have friends who, post-legalization, are naturally enthusiastic. Want to know the warning signs unique to cannabis addiction I can keep an eye out for.
I heard a rule of thumb along the line of "don't do it three days in a row; if you have trouble stopping on the thirds day, start worrying".
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#23A very real thing is that weed is a crutch for depression here in the states.
that was my first thought as well, but it is interesting that the addiction rate seems to double for those who started as a teenager. I guess it makes sense that changing chemical balances in the brain when it is growing that rapidly could easily cause dependencies.
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#24Throwaway because obviously the stigma. But yes, it's very real. I am addicted to marijuana. I smoke nearly 3 grams a day; what has become a $1000+/month habit. I've always loved weed but the high salary has allowed me to lose control. I can't sleep or eat without it. Within 24 hours without weed I become an intolerable asshole who cannot eat or sleep. When I do sleep without it, it's full of nightmares and I wake up…
That you experience significant physical withdrawal symptoms from marijuana certainty calls into question the street wisdom that pot isn’t (physically) addicting.
There is one important difference: withdrawal from something like alcohol can actually kill you. Withdrawal from marijuana makes you an irritable asshole for a week or two.
The hardest part is understanding and coping with the issue that drives the user to use marijuana so heavily in the first place. If it can be understood what need the marijuana use is providing for, changing use patterns becomes possible.
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#25Throwaway because obviously the stigma. But yes, it's very real. I am addicted to marijuana. I smoke nearly 3 grams a day; what has become a $1000+/month habit. I've always loved weed but the high salary has allowed me to lose control. I can't sleep or eat without it. Within 24 hours without weed I become an intolerable asshole who cannot eat or sleep. When I do sleep without it, it's full of nightmares and I wake up…
That you experience significant physical withdrawal symptoms from marijuana certainty calls into question the street wisdom that pot isn’t (physically) addicting.
Sure, but nearly anything that causes a chemical change can be physically addicting right? Once your brain starts equalizing for whatever imbalances are being created.
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#26Throwaway because obviously the stigma. But yes, it's very real. I am addicted to marijuana. I smoke nearly 3 grams a day; what has become a $1000+/month habit. I've always loved weed but the high salary has allowed me to lose control. I can't sleep or eat without it. Within 24 hours without weed I become an intolerable asshole who cannot eat or sleep. When I do sleep without it, it's full of nightmares and I wake up…
That you experience significant physical withdrawal symptoms from marijuana certainty calls into question the street wisdom that pot isn’t (physically) addicting.
> certainty calls into question the street wisdom that pot isn’t (physically) addicting.
This isn't "street wisdom"; there's a massive body of clinical research that's gone into marijuana and investigating its effects on the body and brain.
Marijuana is one of the most-studied drugs in existence, far more so than most prescription medication on the market.
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#27Throwaway because obviously the stigma. But yes, it's very real. I am addicted to marijuana. I smoke nearly 3 grams a day; what has become a $1000+/month habit. I've always loved weed but the high salary has allowed me to lose control. I can't sleep or eat without it. Within 24 hours without weed I become an intolerable asshole who cannot eat or sleep. When I do sleep without it, it's full of nightmares and I wake up…
weed before bed inhibits rem/dream sleep. when you stop, the brain gives you the saved up rem sleep and vivid dreams.
the rest are classic anxiety symptoms. i wouldn't focus as much on the weed as on what is troubling you underneath.
Seriously, working with a therapist to address the stress, abuse, trauma or whatever else will help quite a bit and the weed use will take care of itself. good luck and trust that your issues are resolvable!!!
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#28Throwaway because obviously the stigma. But yes, it's very real. I am addicted to marijuana. I smoke nearly 3 grams a day; what has become a $1000+/month habit. I've always loved weed but the high salary has allowed me to lose control. I can't sleep or eat without it. Within 24 hours without weed I become an intolerable asshole who cannot eat or sleep. When I do sleep without it, it's full of nightmares and I wake up…
>Within 24 hours without weed I become an intolerable asshole
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest the underlying problem might not be the weed.
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
That you experience significant physical withdrawal symptoms from marijuana certainty calls into question the street wisdom that pot isn’t (physically) addicting.
There is one important difference: withdrawal from something like alcohol can actually kill you. Withdrawal from marijuana makes you an irritable asshole for a week or two. The hardest part is understanding and coping with the issue that drives the user to use marijuana so heavily in the first place. If it can be understood what need the marijuana use is providing for, changing use patterns becomes possible.
Pot destroys lives in part by being so apparently benign.
Re: Marijuana addiction is real, and rising
#30Throwaway because obviously the stigma. But yes, it's very real. I am addicted to marijuana. I smoke nearly 3 grams a day; what has become a $1000+/month habit. I've always loved weed but the high salary has allowed me to lose control. I can't sleep or eat without it. Within 24 hours without weed I become an intolerable asshole who cannot eat or sleep. When I do sleep without it, it's full of nightmares and I wake up…
Were there any distinct early warning signs that could have flagged others to what was going on? I have friends who, post-legalization, are naturally enthusiastic. Want to know the warning signs unique to cannabis addiction I can keep an eye out for.
Can't speak for marijuana addiction, but I know an addict or two, and problems seem to develop most prominently if the substance is used heavily and for self-medication.