*Marijuana and Psychological Addiction*

[thecurious1]

ANY action that creates emotions is and can be psychologically addicting.

You can be addicted to any action that produces emotions. Fighting, Sex, Eating, Sky Diving, Sports, etc etc.

What do you think love is? Nothing more than your brain pumping out polypeptides that reflect a certain emotion. Those chemicals are then released to the blood where they attach themselves to receptor cells in our body.

You love someone because they make you FEEL certain emotions. If and/or when they don't make you feel those emotions anymore you tend to fall out of love. Why? Because that persons actions no longer give you the "high" of emotions you have grown to depend on.

The polypeptides (emotions) that correspond with Love are probally the most psychologically addicting substances known to man. And indeed, the reason why many people do crazy things while under the influence of love.

When you smoke cannabis the chemicals rush through the blood stream and attach themselves to the SAME receptor cells that the chemicals our brain produce attach to.

It it then easy to see that marijuana, as well as any other chemical that attaches itself to receptor cells can become psychologically addicting.

The level of your addictions depends on your genetic code and environment.
Are people pre-destined for specific addictions? YES

Everyone is pre-coded to be more "sensitive" to certain emotions and chemicals. How we handle those emotions and chemicals depends on how strong willed the person is. For instance, you could have two people whom are both genetically more sensitive to the chemicals produced by alcohol.
One might be an alcoholic and the other might not be. Why?

Two most likely reasons.

1) The environment the alcoholic was/is living in broke their capacity to control their impulses. Lost of a job, a devastating incident, abuse, or being homeless are all examples of environment stimuli that can break a persons will.

2) The non-alcoholic has the mental focus (will) to beable to control their impulses. Their environment is most likely a positive one that ensures mental stability. They may one day experience something dramatic that causes their "addiction switch" to turn...they may not. But it's important to understand that we are indeed BORN with specific addictions that may or may never rise to the surface, depending on what's going on in our lives.

New studies are even finding that murderer's brains produce different amounts of chemical than a normal person. We may soon realise that our genetics has more to do with our actions in life than people think.

Some people may be born to desire the emotions released when you commit a crime while others may be born to desire the rush released to them by over-achieving at everything they do.

Eitherway, it comes down to our bodies desire to feel specific sets of emotions. We call those sets of emotions an identity, which in the end makes up our personallity.

When we can no longer control the emotions, they become an addiction.
Of course, there are different levels of addiction.

Is it possible for someone to become strongly addicted to marijuana psychologically? YES! Just like someone can become strongly addicted to any emotion or action that causes an emotion.

If you can voluntarily quit using marijuana then your addiction to the substance is small and relatively harmless. You may experience slight irritation or perhaps even find it harder to fall asleep for a few days but this is common with this level of addiction. This type of user generally likes to use marijuana regulary because they like how it makes them feel and they wish to continue to feel that way. When they no longer can, they get frustrated for a short period of time. But ultimately marijuana does not define their mental state for long periods of time.

If you can't voluntarily quit using marijuana then your addiction to the substance is at a high level and would be what most people consider "true" addiction. At this stage the substance becomes your first priority and you simply can't function properly without it. (Emotionally and/or Socially)

"True" addiction is rarer in marijuana than most other substances and emotions but it is important to know that it CAN exist for some people.

How you deal with your pre-destined addictions depends solely on your will to control your mind and body.


Those are my thoughts anyways. :D Comments?

[friendowl]

i am truly a marijuana addict.
i am 29 years old
i work 8-5 mon-fri.
i started smoking at age 15[staedily]
i smoke every 4 hours even while working or playing.
i have smoked for many years and love my high ass life.
if im gonna be stuck on this crime-infested planet and
i am expected to smile thru the bullshit you better believe
that im gonna smoke bud till im gone.

[BobBong]

Hi.. I'm Bob.. and I'm a Pot Smoker..

and proud of it :D

[thecurious1]

Believe it or not....the AMOUNT of marijuana you smoke does not decide your addiction.

A person might only smoke 1/2 gram a day BUT if they need that 1/2 gram inorder to maintain emotional/social balance then they are a "true addict".

At the same time....

You might see a non-addict smoke a few grams+ a day.

Again, addiction is not defined by the amount you use. It's defined by the effect it has on your mentality.

Who's in control of your mental state and life? The substance or you?

If it's the substance, you're an addict.

[BobBong]

Believe it or not....the AMOUNT of marijuana you smoke doesnt not decide your addiction.

A person might only smoke 1/2 gram a day BUT if they need that 1/2 inorder to maintain emotional/social balance then they are a "true addict".

At the same time....

You might see a non-addict smoke a few grams+ a day.

Again, addiction is not defined by the amount you use. It's defined by the effect it has on your mentality.

Yar.. i completely agree.. addiction is in the mind of the addict. The same person that will abuse alcohol or drugs is the same person that will abuse the amount they spend on T.V, entertainment... and so on.
Addictive Personalities, i think they're called...

and yea, they do exsist.

however.. you do have to remember there are certain chemicals that we know have addictive traits.. cocaine for example, or alcohol.. addiction comes in all shapes and sizes.. a food addict will eat and eat and eat. The thousand pound man is a great example..

Good points curious.. hopefull people realize addiction can exsist with pretty much anything and anywhere..

[friendowl]

im the thousand hit man

[Swizzy89304]

Well course MJ is gonna be addictive, psychologically.
You could say Im addicted to Dr. Pepper and Pepsi, because if I had a choice between a fizzy drink and a glass of blackcurrant, Id choose the fizzy drink.
If I had a choice between a pizza and a salad, Id choose the pizza.
If I had a choice between watching football and having sex Id........ Ill get back to you on that one.

All Im saying is that if we enjoy something, of couse were gonna carry on doing it. Its human nature. I enjoy doing a big smelly fart next to my parents and then leaving the room, so I do it.

[Fan o KmK]

ok so....what..lol
what are you saying, we dont give a fuck, every1 here is gona smoke even if u tell us were "addicted"

w.e dude lol.

[thecurious1]

ok so....what..lol
what are you saying, we dont give a fuck, every1 here is gona smoke even if u tell us were "addicted"

w.e dude lol.

What the HECK are you talking about? I never stated anyone was an addict nor was the post meant to shy people away from marijuana.

I consume marijuana too smart guy.

If you can't comprehend what was said, then don't reply.

[Swizzy89304]

I believe that every stoner is 'addicted' to Herb in some way. I dont think of it as a bad addiction like cigarettes or alcohol, but a healthy, 'neutral' addiction. Why stop something that you find enjoyable? Just because the government tells you to limit shagging to once a month, are you gonna do it? No, because its enjoyable and it makes you feel good about yourself.

[beachguy in thongs]

Saying that marijuana is as addictive as sex is the same train of thought that the government used to outlaw it.

When we drink water, eat food, or have sex, dopamine rises.

Look up "marijuana_and_dopamine".

This is why you can't call marijuana, "dope".

[thecurious1]

Noone said marijuana was/is as addicting as sex.

We/I are simply stating that while people talk about addiction to marijuana, people must ALSO realise that you can be addicted to ANY emotion or action which produces an emotion.

Sex isn't outlawed, yet there are addicts.
Alcohol isn't outlawed, yet there are addicts.
Love isn't outlawed, yet there are addicts.
TV isnt't outlaed, yet there are addicts.

The point to the post is to make light of marijuana addiction and for people to truely understand how addiction works.

Perhaps I should have made it easier for some people to comprehend...didn't mean to confuse so many people.

[beachguy in thongs]

I was saying that if you're gonna say that we can get addicted in our heads to Marijuana, it's not the same way as sex, lasagna, or beer. It operates seperate circuitry in the brain. Someone who repeatedly tells themself that they're addicted to Pot, then they're addicted to talking to themselves. You get pleasure from rewarding your dopamine system, which are only mediated by cannabinoids (keeping you from getting addicted).

[Fan o KmK]

What the HECK are you talking about? I never stated anyone was an addict nor was the post meant to shy people away from marijuana.

I consume marijuana too smart guy.

If you can't comprehend what was said, then don't reply.
yea i guess u have a point. i didnt read anything in this post except for the first 2 or 3 lines of yours and i gathered that you were for some reason informing us that we were all mentally addicted or something which is fine, but sortof irrelevant cuz were all gona smoke anyway. i guess i just didnt get the point.

[thecurious1]

I was saying that if you're gonna say that we can get addicted in our heads to Marijuana, it's not the same way as sex, lasagna, or beer. It operates seperate circuitry in the brain. Someone who repeatedly tells themself that they're addicted to Pot, then they're addicted to talking to themselves. You get pleasure from rewarding your dopamine system, which are only mediated by cannabinoids (keeping you from getting addicted).

This is somewhat untrue.... as I said in the original post.
Whenever we FEEL emotions, it's because our brain has pumped chemical proteins call polypeptides into our blood stream. These chemicals then surge through the body attaching themselves to receptor cells.

These receptor cells then go through a series of chemical changes which register in the brain as sensations and emotions.

The SAME receptor cells that produce our emotions are used to feel the sensation of marijuana. Infact, our brain is fully capable of producing the high associated with marijuana on its own.

When receptor cells are bombarded over time, they then will reproduce. HOWEVER, the new cell will have less receptor sites. When this happens it takes more chemicals to get the same feeling.

This soon becomes what we know of as Tolerance and is NOT limited to just mind expanding substances such as marijuana or drugs.

Our body builds tolerances for emotion as well.

The ONLY difference between a sex addict and an alcoholic is the SPECIFIC chemicals being pumped by the brains. Other than that, addictions can all be identified in the same way.

[beachguy in thongs]

The SAME receptor cells that produce our emotions are used to feel the sensation of marijuana.

When receptor cells are bombarded over time, they then will reproduce. HOWEVER, the new cell will have less receptor sites. When this happens it takes more chemicals to get the same feeling.

This soon becomes what we know of as Tolerance and is NOT limited to just mind expanding substances such as marijuana or drugs.


What are the receptor cells called? What part of the brain produces the chemical which will attach to them?

What property of marijuana attaches to them?

One last question... Why don't these chemicals produced by Love attach to CB receptor sites?

[CrAzYpOtHeAd]

ANY action that creates emotions is and can be psychologically addicting.

You can be addicted to any action that produces emotions. Fighting, Sex, Eating, Sky Diving, Sports, etc etc.

What do you think love is? Nothing more than your brain pumping out polypeptides that reflect a certain emotion. Those chemicals are then released to the blood where they attach themselves to receptor cells in our body.

You love someone because they make you FEEL certain emotions. If and/or when they don't make you feel those emotions anymore you tend to fall out of love. Why? Because that persons actions no longer give you the "high" of emotions you have grown to depend on.

The polypeptides (emotions) that correspond with Love are probally the most psychologically addicting substances known to man. And indeed, the reason why many people do crazy things while under the influence of love.

When you smoke cannabis the chemicals rush through the blood stream and attach themselves to the SAME receptor cells that the chemicals our brain produce attach to.

It it then easy to see that marijuana, as well as any other chemical that attaches itself to receptor cells can become psychologically addicting.

The level of your addictions depends on your genetic code and environment.
Are people pre-destined for specific addictions? YES

Everyone is pre-coded to be more "sensitive" to certain emotions and chemicals. How we handle those emotions and chemicals depends on how strong willed the person is. For instance, you could have two people whom are both genetically more sensitive to the chemicals produced by alcohol.
One might be an alcoholic and the other might not be. Why?

Two most likely reasons.

1) The environment the alcoholic was/is living in broke their capacity to control their impulses. Lost of a job, a devastating incident, abuse, or being homeless are all examples of environment stimuli that can break a persons will.

2) The non-alcoholic has the mental focus (will) to beable to control their impulses. Their environment is most likely a positive one that ensures mental stability. They may one day experience something dramatic that causes their "addiction switch" to turn...they may not. But it's important to understand that we are indeed BORN with specific addictions that may or may never rise to the surface, depending on what's going on in our lives.

New studies are even finding that murderer's brains produce different amounts of chemical than a normal person. We may soon realise that our genetics has more to do with our actions in life than people think.

Some people may be born to desire the emotions released when you commit a crime while others may be born to desire the rush released to them by over-achieving at everything they do.

Eitherway, it comes down to our bodies desire to feel specific sets of emotions. We call those sets of emotions an identity, which in the end makes up our personallity.

When we can no longer control the emotions, they become an addiction.
Of course, there are different levels of addiction.

Is it possible for someone to become strongly addicted to marijuana psychologically? YES! Just like someone can become strongly addicted to any emotion or action that causes an emotion.

If you can voluntarily quit using marijuana then your addiction to the substance is small and relatively harmless. You may experience slight irritation or perhaps even find it harder to fall asleep for a few days but this is common with this level of addiction. This type of user generally likes to use marijuana regulary because they like how it makes them feel and they wish to continue to feel that way. When they no longer can, they get frustrated for a short period of time. But ultimately marijuana does not define their mental state for long periods of time.

If you can't voluntarily quit using marijuana then your addiction to the substance is at a high level and would be what most people consider "true" addiction. At this stage the substance becomes your first priority and you simply can't function properly without it. (Emotionally and/or Socially)

"True" addiction is rarer in marijuana than most other substances and emotions but it is important to know that it CAN exist for some people.

How you deal with your pre-destined addictions depends solely on your will to control your mind and body.


Those are my thoughts anyways. :D Comments?


Well duh, tell me something i don't already know.

[thecurious1]

What are the receptor cells called? What part of the brain produces the chemical which will attach to them?

What property of marijuana attaches to them?

One last question... Why don't these chemicals produced by Love attach to CB receptor sites?

- Receptor cells can either be seperate generic "receptor cells" or can be specialized endings of afferent neurons.

- The thalamus is the world's largest pharmacy and is what produces these chemicals inside our brain. We also tend to call polypeptide chemicals produced by the brain "nerotransmitters".

- The ACTIVE ingredients in marijuana are what attach themselves to receptor sites. (THC and other CDBs) Interestingly enough, the brain produces an anandamide chemical which helps in this task.

- The chemicals produced by the emotion of love don't attach themselves to CB Receptor sites because they aren't designed to. There is still alot of working going on with this topic so there really isnt a solid answer.
Some people suggest that the anandamide chemicals produced by the brain act as a "password key" for THC/CDB to attach to CB1 and CB2 receptor cells.

[beachguy in thongs]

Well, I'm trying to find how marijuana affects these "addiction" receptors in a significant enough sense to not consider the "pleasure" receptors as the dopamine receptors.

Why are you telling me this stuff?
I wasn't looking for those answers.

Except for the generic receptor one.

[benagain]

Well I must be an addict. I'm all out of weed and I'm bumming pretty hard. I'll prolly be getting more this weekend, but it's gonna be a long 4 days.

[beachguy in thongs]

Basically, I'm looking for research into Cannabis' effects on the limbic system (in your brain). Do you have any links? Well, not really. I'm looking for these love receptors.

[robert42]

i thought i was

i was a daily toker 1 joint in the morn, bong hit in the afternoon, bong hits at 6pm joint EVERY NIGHT 9:30pm some times even 2 joints.

for 3 YEARS. DIDNT MISS A DAY

I quit like that v.easy. i even have weed in my room to tempt me which i resist to test my self.

Ways of coping:

KEEP OCCUPIED
PRACTICE MEDIDATION OR GOLF (VERY RELAXING)
AND REALISE U WAS BORN WITHOUT IT YOU CAN DIE WITHOUT IT

End of the day YOU and only YOU choose to toke up :)

[koshea]

weed accually does cause some very subtle physical withdrawl symptons from daily use. you wont notice them unless you look for them, but you get slightly shaky hands, sweaty palms, and slightly increased ammount of sweat everywhere, also it can cause headaches and insomnia, but you gotta be lookin for them to notice

[robert42]

but then koshea by looking at them wouldnt u be more likely to trigger them?

like 70% all ilnesses caused by stress.

so i dunno i dont think theres any physical withdrawels only cos ive gone thru the "cold turkey" process

[beachguy in thongs]

The withdrawals being that you leave your cells open to disease, or protection with whatever man has made for you. :smokin:

[koshea]

well i smoked daily for 2.5 years and had to stop against my will becuase of probation -huge frown- and i noticed shaking and sweaty palms and i couldnt sleep, and i later read in a magaziene these are common, but overlooked symptoms of mj withdrawl

[beachguy in thongs]

Maybe because the Cannabinoid receptors in your skin, that were once active, are now CRUMBLING AWAY!!!

[HiddenBeauty]

Fuck I am addicted to cannabis and I didn't even realise it :( but it makes me feel so good :stoned:

I do get easily addicted to things that is why I have not done more expensive drugs.I prefer to think of myself as psychologically dependant on cannabis,it sounds better :D

[AmberL]

A news letter, came the other day. From the Marjuana Policy Project. http://www.mpp.org. Inside was a article about depression. They found that people who didn't smoke, where more depressed, than those who do. And how researchers found that people who used marrijuana both daily and weekly had, "significantly lower levels of depression and higher levels of positive mood than non-users". It states people that smoke Weed are 30% less depressed. LeSS. That's why I smoke. When problems happen, smoke. Helps me to think. And deal with them in a calm manner.

[thecurious1]

Well, I'm trying to find how marijuana affects these "addiction" receptors in a significant enough sense to not consider the "pleasure" receptors as the dopamine receptors.

Huh? I said nothing about "addiction receptors"...there is no such thing.
Marijuana effects receptor sites just like any other chemical the brain produces. Different chemical reactions occurs, which is why you feel different emotions/feelings. Psychological Addiction occurs when you can no longer control the desire to FEEL certain emotions. All the receptors talk was just to explain how our bodies work.


Why are you telling me this stuff?
I wasn't looking for those answers.

Except for the generic receptor one.

Ummm....you asked more than one question. Thus, I answered each one of your questions. :confused:


And yes, the brain does produce a neurotransmitter for the emotion of love.

Lastly, I agree with the depression statements. I find it funny that some people consider marijuana a "downer". I don't know about you but a nice strain of Sativa can make me laugh my ballz off, let alone give me energy.

Cannabis has great physical AND mental healing abilities. :thumbsup:

[beachguy in thongs]

You started telling me about the hypothalamus, anandamide, and cannabinoids and I didn't ask that.

I've, only, been asking for proof that marijuana affects these "polypeptide" bonds, which supposedly reinforce addiction.

[Eshelmen]

So what if marijuana is addicting.. its a beautful herb.... i`m proud of it:)

[beachguy in thongs]

Everyone's addicted to a glass of water after a day in the desert.

[squeak]

world of warcraft is more addicitive than pot. Anyone hear that story about a korean guy who played starcraft for 48 hours straight at a net cafe, then died on the way home?



more people have died playing video games than smoking pot

[beachguy in thongs]

Video games kill brain cells, good ones, too.

Good brain cells. I don't know if there are any studies on video games destroying tumors.

[squeak]

anything fun kills braincells.

[mojoke]

anything fun kills braincells.

just be glad you were made a pothead instead of a braincell then. we are the preditorz and they are the prey, we're higher on the food chain.

[hellomandude]

ANY action that creates emotions is and can be psychologically addicting.

You can be addicted to any action that produces emotions. Fighting, Sex, Eating, Sky Diving, Sports, etc etc.

What do you think love is? Nothing more than your brain pumping out polypeptides that reflect a certain emotion. Those chemicals are then released to the blood where they attach themselves to receptor cells in our body.

You love someone because they make you FEEL certain emotions. If and/or when they don't make you feel those emotions anymore you tend to fall out of love. Why? Because that persons actions no longer give you the "high" of emotions you have grown to depend on.

The polypeptides (emotions) that correspond with Love are probally the most psychologically addicting substances known to man. And indeed, the reason why many people do crazy things while under the influence of love.

When you smoke cannabis the chemicals rush through the blood stream and attach themselves to the SAME receptor cells that the chemicals our brain produce attach to.

It it then easy to see that marijuana, as well as any other chemical that attaches itself to receptor cells can become psychologically addicting.

The level of your addictions depends on your genetic code and environment.
Are people pre-destined for specific addictions? YES

Everyone is pre-coded to be more "sensitive" to certain emotions and chemicals. How we handle those emotions and chemicals depends on how strong willed the person is. For instance, you could have two people whom are both genetically more sensitive to the chemicals produced by alcohol.
One might be an alcoholic and the other might not be. Why?

Two most likely reasons.

1) The environment the alcoholic was/is living in broke their capacity to control their impulses. Lost of a job, a devastating incident, abuse, or being homeless are all examples of environment stimuli that can break a persons will.

2) The non-alcoholic has the mental focus (will) to beable to control their impulses. Their environment is most likely a positive one that ensures mental stability. They may one day experience something dramatic that causes their "addiction switch" to turn...they may not. But it's important to understand that we are indeed BORN with specific addictions that may or may never rise to the surface, depending on what's going on in our lives.

New studies are even finding that murderer's brains produce different amounts of chemical than a normal person. We may soon realise that our genetics has more to do with our actions in life than people think.

Some people may be born to desire the emotions released when you commit a crime while others may be born to desire the rush released to them by over-achieving at everything they do.

Eitherway, it comes down to our bodies desire to feel specific sets of emotions. We call those sets of emotions an identity, which in the end makes up our personallity.

When we can no longer control the emotions, they become an addiction.
Of course, there are different levels of addiction.

Is it possible for someone to become strongly addicted to marijuana psychologically? YES! Just like someone can become strongly addicted to any emotion or action that causes an emotion.

If you can voluntarily quit using marijuana then your addiction to the substance is small and relatively harmless. You may experience slight irritation or perhaps even find it harder to fall asleep for a few days but this is common with this level of addiction. This type of user generally likes to use marijuana regulary because they like how it makes them feel and they wish to continue to feel that way. When they no longer can, they get frustrated for a short period of time. But ultimately marijuana does not define their mental state for long periods of time.

If you can't voluntarily quit using marijuana then your addiction to the substance is at a high level and would be what most people consider "true" addiction. At this stage the substance becomes your first priority and you simply can't function properly without it. (Emotionally and/or Socially)

"True" addiction is rarer in marijuana than most other substances and emotions but it is important to know that it CAN exist for some people.

How you deal with your pre-destined addictions depends solely on your will to control your mind and body.


Those are my thoughts anyways. :D Comments?

lol

like i always tell people

i am a pothead in the true sense of the word

like a crackhead is a crackhead
lol

[HiddenBeauty]

Lastly, I agree with the depression statements. I find it funny that some people consider marijuana a "downer". I don't know about you but a nice strain of Sativa can make me laugh my ballz off, let alone give me energy.Cannabis has great physical AND mental healing abilities. :thumbsup:


I had been smoking hash until this week when I got some weed and I have noticed a difference.When I smoke hash my depression is worse than when I smoke weed.Anyone else noticed a difference or is it just me?