Weed not being addictive is a myth

[couch-potato]

Everybody is different people. We all have a unique biochemistry to us, so different substances will have a different effect on us. Now, a vast majority of the population will experience similar effects due to the natural nature of the substance being used, but there are always free radicals to put into the equation. So what if the studies say that marijuana is not addictive - I've seen some of my close friends try to quit and it was like they were trying to get off of heroin (YES, I have seen people try to get off the shit, it is not pretty, nor enjoyable whatsoever). I wholly agree that MJ can become addictive. A scientific study cannot account for 100% of the human population due to the natural characteristics of our unique genetic make-up.

[BUZz UK]

Everybody is different people. We all have a unique biochemistry to us, so different substances will have a different effect on us. Now, a vast majority of the population will experience similar effects due to the natural nature of the substance being used, but there are always free radicals to put into the equation. So what if the studies say that marijuana is not addictive - I've seen some of my close friends try to quit and it was like they were trying to get off of heroin (YES, I have seen people try to get off the shit, it is not pretty, nor enjoyable whatsoever). I wholly agree that MJ can become addictive. A scientific study cannot account for 100% of the human population due to the natural characteristics of our unique genetic make-up.

This is VERY true. I was talking to my mum about this the other day actually. She was saying how I'm a totally different person when I don't smoke weed. My girlfriend said the same thing, and i could never see it before, but I'm a MUCH nicer person when i haven't been toking for a few days. So yeah, any substance that you take, will effect everyone differently.

[Nation_1ne]

The biggest issue with this thread is everyone's lack of understanding, and communication. People are putting forward good points, but failing to get the argument across, or even people failing to understand.

I think what everyone needs to understand is that, yes, cannabis is somewhat addictive. It varies between users. Although it's safe to say none suffer from physical withdrawal, as people do on other drugs. It's also safe to say Cannabis is most likely a whole lot safer, and less likely to ruin your life.

I'm sorry to say this, but Halcy0n (http://boards.cannabis.com/../members/halcy0n.html) you seem a complete prick. Who the hell are you to say that your experiences must be factual and true to every other person. This debate could have been an interesting one. Instead it seems you have come here with the intention to drag cannabises name through the dirt. Not only that it seems you're only willing to read into one side of the argument. Good job on ruining a thread.

[hero3279]

I think avid stoners just don't want to admit that it's addictive or else it's looked down upon even more. But to hell with that. If we don't be honest as tokers then what's the point. Weed smokers are in general, good hearted people but if we aren't honest about it then we're just as bad as the government.

We can't close our eyes and pretend it's NOT addictive. Just because it isn't for you, it may be for others. Whatever happened to being open minded? Come on fellow tokers, more honesty is needed. I'd love to smoke it till I die. I will back it up, but the macho approach of 'nothing' being wrong with weed and it's 'harmless' is wrong.

If you put tobacco in your joints, you could be addicted to the tobacco and not even wanting weed, your body may want the tobacco, as tobacco IS physically addictive. It takes 72 hours for tobacco to leave your body COMPLETELY and after them 72 hours you shouldn't feel the craving.

If you can go 72 hours without tobacco, the hard bit is done, I don't think you'll notice the weed. I've read up alot but still, there isn't conclusive facts or evidence to whether it's addictive or not?

I don't think it is physically addicting, but you might as well make it addictive. Physical or Psychological, who cares, it's still an addiction. If you can afford it and afford to smoke and not feel bad, then it should be okay.

It's all in the head, and whilst saying that, it's not easy to not think about the weed.

I've never smoked raw cannabis like in a blunt or with a bong, only joints w/ tobacco, so I can't judge myself or test myself. I'd love to hear about people who use bongs and have never smoked tobacco in their lives, just weed. I've heard of some people quitting for long periods without craving for it? So ???? I don't know, it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

In the mean time....keep toking ;)

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

The argument that because alcohol and tobacco are legal then weed should be to is wrong, just because something harmful is legal doesnt mean that something not as harmful should be legal. Dont get me wrong i am all for the legalization of this wonderful plant, but it wont happen with that argument. IMO

You might want to read my post again. That's not what I said (though it's arguable), I said the supposedly addictive properties of weed should not be a basis for illegality if the same criteria is ignored for the rest.
Anyway I do think that part of the argument for legalizing could be based on it being less harmfull than tobacco and alcohol as it provides a considerably safer alternative to the public.

Anyways as far as weed being addictive, I would say that personally I feel fine physically when I dont smoke, but yes I want it, I crave it, its almost like I fein for it. Weak will power? Maybe. But still I feel addicted, isnt that all that really matters?[/QUOTE]

[mfqr]

ScienceDaily: Marijuana Withdrawal Reported By Teens Seeking Treatment (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050511134634.htm)

Wait wait wait... this is proof? It's like a 3 paragraph news article. This is not proof of anything. Also, it sounds quite biased.
Sorting through your government bullshit? Looks you did a bad job, because those people have fallen for it.

Plus, this is one source, and a crappy one at that.

What needs to be said has already been said, so I am not going to say it.

But this is government propaganda bullshit. Every news media company is affected by it... and apparently you are, too. Please don't take us as fools just because we're all potheads.

[greatmuta]

I can say from my personal experience that Marijuana, at least for me, is not addictive whatsoever. I went about 2 1/2 years without smoking with absolutely no withdrawal or any negative affects. No physical or mental problems at all. It does feel good to be blazing again though. :jointsmile:

[rocktheganj]

theres crack in your weed if your addicted to it physically. its mentally addictive, yes, in that it makes you irritable and whatnot, but thats mental. if you're irritable its just how you're thinking. physical addiction is where you're all sweaty and vomiting cause you dont have you heroin.

[killerweed420]

The bigger issue here is that its not addictive to "normal" people.There are people to have naturally addictive personalities.I'm sure we have all known some.Some people can get addicted to pepsi or coffee or cheese burgers and a host of other things.But weed is not physically or phsycologically addicting. There are a lot of us that lived through the 60's and 70's that took virtually every recreational drug there was and made it through without being addicted.

[LIP]

If it's not addictive for everyone [only the minority] then that means it's NOT the WEED that is addictive at all. It's the person - we talk about addictive personalities. That's the indivual, NOT the weed.

Weed is weed. It's not crack, it's not nicotine. If you dont have any, you dont get stoned - that's it. You dont curl up in a ball sweating rocking backwards and forwards.

You may WANT it, but you dont NEED it.

It's like riding a rollercoaster - if you like it, you want to do it again - does that mean rollercoasters are addictive. Should THEY be illegal?

[Silent Wolf]

You may WANT it, but you dont NEED it.

That pretty much sums it up. It's like when it's dry. Your gutted because your having trouble finding the weed. But your not getting psyically ill over it such as vomiting, cold sweat, and ect.

[ghosty]

physically no, there's not addiction, maybe some minor side effects, if you are a heavy daily smoker and stop cold turkey for a week, like a headache or something, but mostly its all gonna be a psychological addiction. Your brain knows you like being high, and it's your mind telling you to smoke again. It can be a very hard thing to go against what your brain is telling you, but it's all in your head and can be overcome. I think if a person is worried about being addicted and really wants to quit, they should be prepared for some battles with self-control, and will power, and the head trips that are gonna come from not smoking, but nothing physical. Even if a person should find them self unable to maintain the self-control and will power to quit when they want or need to, there is counseling for that these days and if the person is willing to make an effort should be much easier than quitting something that is physically addictive such as alcohol, tobacco, or unmentionables.

[IanCurtisWishlist]

CANNABIS IS NOT PHYSIOLOGICALLY ADDICTIVE. ANY PERSON WHO HAS STUDIED PHARMACOLOGY WILL TELL YOU THIS.

I think that cannabis use can be likened to watching television. Why don't you all go study some pharmacology and then stop posting such bullshit saying it's physically addictive. You don't get sick without it, which is a physical withdrawl symptom of something like, say, HEROIN.

[Kid Dynamite]

/\/\/\ ian curtis makes good point. I think many people, i for one, smoke weed every day because it has become my way of releiving my boredom. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing unless you never do anything constructive with your time while high.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

CANNABIS IS NOT PHYSIOLOGICALLY ADDICTIVE. ANY PERSON WHO HAS STUDIED PHARMACOLOGY WILL TELL YOU THIS.

I think that cannabis use can be likened to watching television. Why don't you all go study some pharmacology and then stop posting such bullshit saying it's physically addictive. You don't get sick without it, which is a physical withdrawl symptom of something like, say, HEROIN.

"Sick" is way too vague a term. That is the ultimate question, what consitutes withdrawal? You're angrily telling everybody to study pharmacology but I see no indication in this post that you have either (and I'm not saying you haven't necessarily). But if you actually want a pharmacological example of withdrawal, marijuana use on average causes a 5,000% increase in melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone your body produces to make you fall asleep, hence why you get the burnout after getting high. Some people's bodies stop producing sufficient amounts melatonin because the cannabis has been doing it for them every day for a long time. So when they quit, their body needs a few-several days to start producing adaquate quantities again. In the meantime, a withdrawal symptom you get is an inability to sleep.

Decensitization of the cannabinoid receptors may also mean you lose your apetite after quitting for the same reason, your body has depended on the drug for it.

These symptoms don't happen to most people who quit cannabis, they never happened to me, but it does happen to some.

[slipknotpsycho]

"Sick" is way too vague a term. That is the ultimate question, what consitutes withdrawal? You're angrily telling everybody to study pharmacology but I see no indication in this post that you have either (and I'm not saying you haven't necessarily). But if you actually want a pharmacological example of withdrawal, marijuana use on average causes a 5,000% increase in melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone your body produces to make you fall asleep, hence why you get the burnout after getting high. Some people's bodies stop producing sufficient amounts melatonin because the cannabis has been doing it for them every day for a long time. So when they quit, their body needs a few-several days to start producing adaquate quantities again. In the meantime, a withdrawal symptom you get is an inability to sleep.

Decensitization of the cannabinoid receptors may also mean you lose your apetite after quitting for the same reason, your body has depended on the drug for it.

These symptoms don't happen to most people who quit cannabis, they never happened to me, but it does happen to some.

happens to me everytime i run dry again (i rarely get it but when i do i'm pretty much high for a week straight all day)

i do have a highly addictive personality...

but i still see them as psychological, rather then physical... to me physical constitutes nasuea, pain, tremors, etc..

[DubSack13]

yes minor withdrawl systems, no addictive. there is a difference.

[sam44]

let this thread die already

[Psycho4Bud]

Somebody play Taps....this one is dead.:cool:

Have a good one!:jointsmile: