Pot: addictive or not?

[elemental]

I've heard a lot about whether weed is addictive, physically or just psychologically, and I've always believed that it wasn't addictive. But I'm starting to wonder - the last few weeks I've been smoking 4 or 5 times per week, and I find myself wanting to get high every evening now. Take this evening: I feel I shouldn't smoke because I want a clear head tomorrow, but it's really hard to resist. I know I CAN resist, and I won't have any withdrawal or anything, but I'm still worried about how much I really want to smoke.
I smoke alone most of the time, btw, but don't consider that weird. I'm not that social a person, see, I've always been that way...I'm not sad about it or anything, it's just who I am (in fact I'm a bit tired of everyone assuming you need to hang out with friends all the time to be normal).
So am I addicted? Should I force myself to stop smoking for a week to break the habit?

elemental Reviewed by elemental on 10-23-2007. Pot: addictive or not? I've heard a lot about whether weed is addictive, physically or just psychologically, and I've always believed that it wasn't addictive. But I'm starting to wonder - the last few weeks I've been smoking 4 or 5 times per week, and I find myself wanting to get high every evening now. Take this evening: I feel I shouldn't smoke because I want a clear head tomorrow, but it's really hard to resist. I know I CAN resist, and I won't have any withdrawal or anything, but I'm still worried about how much Rating: 5

[Me.]

It's all bullshit. And all in your head.
I smoke alone regularly but when I finish off a nice fat bag, I take a break. 1 week at max. Usually going on 2 or even 4. After the first couple days the urge to smoke subsides and I get on with my life just as if I were smoking regularly. I will turn down free weed if I am on one of my breaks.
People do argue the fact of psychological dependence but that is the person. Not the weed.
I feel I can stop freely anytime I please. And I do.

[SantaClawz]

Its not physically addictive.
It is in fact psychologically addictive, but anything can be psychologically addictive. So if you cant have any you will not show any actual ill physical effects. All in your head.

[evan1612]

On Topic: I think it's definitely all phycological, if it was physical you would get withdrawal symptoms that would be physical. I've never heard of anyone that have had withdrawal from weed. :jointsmile:


Off Topic: I'm new here, but I've been watchin these forums for a week or so and I've finally decided to join!

[Th3 sand m4n]

Im not saying that weed is physically addicting but what about all the people who when faced with having no weed to smoke at night they cant go to bed and have no desire for food? I used to not believe weed was physically addicting at all but last year their was a time when i smoked 4-5 times a day ( because i had a bunch of home grown :} ) for a month and then when i stopped for a week to clear my system i felt terrible from about 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm for the first 3 days and usually had to take aspirin i also felt mentally slower during those times like i couldnt think of things as fast or as well? but then after 2 weeks of not smoking all those symptoms were completely gone.

[SMOKIN A WHILE]

I have smoked for over 35 years on and off. More on. I've never suffered from a withdrawl. Biggest side effect is sleeping less. I've quit because I felt like it. I've quit because of drought. I often take a break from smoking because if you take 2 weeks off and then smoke it's like the first time you smoked or similar(nothings like the first). I don't think it's addictive in the sense you can't stop. I love to smoke because I enjoy it (physchological)and don't let it get in the way of what I what to do. If you plan around smoking and not what you want to do(anything)I think that's troublesome. sandman I've never experienced anything like you describe, you may want to get a physical. See if everything is OK

[elemental]

So I finally broke down and smoked
Heheh not really, I just looked at the reason I wasn't smoking and decided it was crap, so I piped a bowl.
Now I'm stoned



^^See that makes sense to me. the second one. WHAT?

[tenajtimmad]

I agree of it being addictive... psychologically though. I know what you mean though.. you are like well i wont be doing such a bad things by just smoking, and i end up doing it anyway.. its mainly all in your head.. if you want a clear head in the morning then dont smoke as much and wake up with the attitude that your going to get things done.. if taking a shower and eating fruit helps you get the energy to normal then do what works.. but i feel fine in the morning after days I smoke

EDIT: oh i just saw you got stoned lol.. see, you dont really care about it anymore I bet?

[Th3 sand m4n]

nah this is the only negative side effects i have ever really experienced from smoking and it was probably because i was smoking about 6-7gs of widow a day :jointsmile:

[burnable]

People speak of this topic as if it's the weed alone that's acting upon you. It depends on the given person's predisposition for addiction. Some ppl can be addicted, craving it always and not seeming to be able to stop. I've tried a host of drugs and the only one I've wanted to do a lot is weed. Those other drugs are notoriously addictive, but not to me, cuz I didn't prefer them.

There are those who smoke enough that their bodies chemically adapt to the herb. This is called physiological dependence. it is not addiction in the sense that you crave it all the time. It simply means that your body is accustomed to the herb and it's used to a fix before being able to have an appetite or a good night's sleep.

I for one can easily resist the urge to smoke all day long, but I need a bowl if I plan on getting any sleep that night, since my body has adapted to cannabis.