SERIOUSLY, is cannabis addictive or not?

[denial102]

If that is 100% true, then maybe you could define mental addiction for us all! (as after all that seems to be the fundamental reason why you disagree with my initial assessment that extreme mental addiction can occur in a minority of cannabis users)

Peace,
Denial

psteve, still waiting on your definition here

[Dreadscale]

Hi All

I can't help but to put my 2 cents in to this topic.:twocents:

I am an alcoholic and have been in some form of treatment for it, for the past 28 years.
I have been in inpatient programs, outpatient, and about every 12 step program there is.
I personally know of no one who is, or was, physically addicted to marijuana.
I have met people in treatment centers who were there because, they had a problem with Marijuana. They were usually minors or young adults, who were sent there by the court system.
I know of one lady in her 30 who was in treatment for marijuana, but the real problem was she was having an affair with the person she bought it from. She got caught and went in to treatment to save her marriage.

People are creatures of habit, we live our lives, with habits.
Some are good, and some are bad. All things can be over done and may lead to obsession, compulsion, or addiction.

I don't think anyone would say the use of marijuana is without risks. In Washington to be able to use Medical Marijuana a licensed physician must recommend the use of it. They also sign a paper that states the good done from the use of Medical Marijuana, out weighs any risk involved in its use.

Since this is a Medical Marijuana Forum we have pretty much decided the benefit of this medication, outweighs the risk of the sideffects.

As for Marijuana being addicting, I have had no withdrawals from not using marijuana, and believe me I know what withdrawal is. I haven't used Marijuana for about 7 to 10 years. If I were addicted to it, I could probably tell you the day I quit, But I can't.
However I can tell you I have 815 days SOBER.

So Judge for yourself;
"IF IT CAUSES A PROBLEM, IT IS A PROBLEM" Father Martin:thumbsup:

I Hope this made some sense to you, and helped you answer the question for yourself. :hippy:

[denial102]

As for Marijuana being addicting, I have had no withdrawals from not using marijuana, and believe me I know what withdrawal is. I haven't used Marijuana for about 7 to 10 years. If I were addicted to it, I could probably tell you the day I quit, But I can't.
However I can tell you I have 815 days SOBER.

I still say people who really think marijuana is not addicting has not used it long term, I still say it is ignorant to assume it isn't when not enough research has been gone into it to say either way. I happen to have known some people that were severely psychologically affected and did show symptoms of withdrawal and addiction as defined in the medical dictionary.

There are cases out there folks, everyone is different. Just like the plants themselves,

Peace,
Denial

[psteve]

I still say people who really think marijuana is not addicting has not used it long term

Is 39 years long term enough?

[denial102]

Is 39 years long term enough?

Yes! Everyone is different though, I'm not saying you are mentally addicted, at the least I just would like to be pointing out everyone has different genetics and thus will have different neurological, hormonal and chemical reactions both physically and mentally :thumbsup:

Peace,
Denial

[Dreadscale]

I still say people who really think marijuana is not addicting has not used it long term, I still say it is ignorant to assume it isn't when not enough research has been gone into it to say either way. I happen to have known some people that were severely psychologically affected and did show symptoms of withdrawal and addiction as defined in the medical dictionary.

There are cases out there folks, everyone is different. Just like the plants themselves,

Peace,
Denial

I began using Marijuana in the mid 70's and subtract the higher estimate of when I quit, 10 years ago, that would be roughly 33 years of use.
I believe that qualifies as long term use!

To my knowledge there are no physical withdrawal symptoms attributed Marijuana use, or the lack of. If you know of some documented cases please enlighten me.

Along with the treatment for addiction I have received over the years, I have also had psychological treatment. I have seen people with sever psychological problems attributed to smoking marijuana that was laced with another substance.
Underlying psychological problems could manifest themselves as a result of using marijuana, I guess, most certainly if it were laced with another substance.

If you are worried about addiction to Medical Marijuana, I suggest not using it.
There are other treatments available, but some have far worst sideffects. :hippy:

[Purple Banana]

psteve- I think psychological cannabis dependency goes much deeper than a "personality disorder"... The DSM were the ones who, up until about 1973, also classified homosexuality as a 'mental disorder' under a DSM diagnosis, so don't be so quick to soley rely on that source for classification. New research is being developed all the time.

Like BG had mentioned, psychological dependency is far deeper-rooted; it's more into the neurological category than a personality issue. "Addicitve Personality," as they say, may project what may be a high sensitivity to the cocktails of neurotransmitters released in the brain when the person comes into contact with a substance; in this case we'll use cannabis as a relevant example.

When you smoke a joint, the THC/CBDs are carried to your brain, converted/broken down into various molecules our body can use, and we feel stoned. The receptors who (surprise) receive those chemical messages have been shown in some individuals to be overly-sensitive- that's why the term "psychological addiction" is more of a neurological predisposition.

When the pleasure-inducing chemicals are released in our brain on a regular basis from smoking pot, the receptors begin to become accustomed to the same chemical cocktails being released somewhat regularly. When those signals end abruptly, over a period of time, the receptors begin to become agitated, so to say, because of a lack of the feel-good chemical responsible for the high.

The main difference between physical and psychological dependence begins here. While physical dependence goes on to effect other parts of the body in a physical sense, psychological dependence remains in the brain with the neurotransmitters and other chemicals as the only physiological process in psychological dependence. That's the difference.

This can explain why some individuals can certainly feel emotional symptoms of psychological cannabis withdrawal, such as headaches, irritability, insomnia, ect. but do not have signs of physical withdrawal, such as fever, chills, sweating, and hallucinations. If these neurologically sensitive people experience such symptoms as a result of stopping their use of cannabis, then what is it?

psteve- did you get a chance to look at the links so generously provided by Bird Girl? If not, I suggest reading them, they're very informative and non-biased. Could you please supply us with some links from academic/non-goverment funded scientific sources that back your claim?

Here are some I found useful:

Dopamine Receptor Function And Its Role In Drug Use

Dopamine and the Dependence Liability of Marijuana

[denial102]

Like BG had mentioned, psychological dependency is far deeper-rooted; it's more into the neurological category than a personality issue. "Addicitve Personality," as they say, may project what may be a high sensitivity to the cocktails of neurotransmitters released in the brain when the person comes into contact with a substance; in this case we'll use cannabis as a relevant example.

When you smoke a joint, the THC/CBDs are carried to your brain, converted/broken down into various molecules our body can use, and we feel stoned. The receptors who (surprise) receive those chemical messages have been shown in some individuals to be overly-sensitive- that's why the term "psychological addiction" is more of a neurological predisposition.

This can explain why some individuals can certainly feel emotional symptoms of psychological cannabis withdrawal, such as headaches, irritability, insomnia, ect. but do not have signs of physical withdrawal, such as fever, chills, sweating, and hallucinations. If these neurologically sensitive people experience such symptoms as a result of stopping their use of cannabis, then what is it?

Very good info dude, I have to keep on insisting to people (around the world) that everyone is different, and also is their hormonal, neurochemical balance, some of which is predefined by environmental or genetic deposition.

In the medical community at least, the discussion of addiction in marijuana is not a new concept, and there are at least some people that exhibit this behaviour. It's likely controllable, the message for me is awareness and moderation in your drug taking activities - everything, in fact, in moderation. Ignorance just isn't good enough for me!

It's been a while since i've emersed myself in this stuff. There is an illusion though that I have recognised exists; a psychological control factor (possible some level of consciousness/awareness or biofeedback) plays a part on perceived "mental addiction". (The science community I am a part of considers cannabis weakly mentally addictive). What I call an inherent `psychological control factor has a lot to do with the synthesis of addictive behaviour - which can result from psychological or biochemical reactions in the brain. The "Illusion" of mental and physical addiction is someone compounded by the physical medium of the brain is in medical science considered a physical item that does interact with Delta9 and other cannabinoids.

Although research is generally inconclusive, it's of my opinion a very serious mistake to conclude that cannabis does not create addictive behaviour in patients, psychological or otherwise.

It is also of my opinion that although these "addictive" traits may be reversable by psychotherapy and other neurological treatments, usually in patients a chemical process occurs usually a form of hypersensitivity, or additional linkages in the brain that are either a) a result of their `mental illness`/addiction or b) something that is predisposed to create their mental illness/addiction

Given the subjects of the study are human, the scope of research is finitely limited and thus important to keep an open mind, again everything in moderation! If you don't want to do things that way, that's fine, great, it's your decision. There is still no substitute for awareness!


Peace,
Denial

[Purple Banana]

Here's another great link on the psychology of psychological dependence- although it substitutes chocolate for cannabis, it's a surprisingly similar physiological process:

Is Chocolate Physiologically or Psychologically Addictive?

EDIT: 2000th post :thumbsup:

[denial102]

Here's another great link on the psychology of psychological dependence- although it substitutes chocolate for cannabis, it's a surprisingly similar physiological process:

Is Chocolate Physiologically or Psychologically Addictive?

I read a paper just like this! It's very interesting. I wouldn't call it unreasonable to assume a weak link between the psychological and physiological "feedback" - which links in with the research that birdgirl pulled out of her hat. Very much about dependancy, chemical or otherwise, neurological or otherwise, physically induced or otherwise! (Something that the reward system is based around - i.e. system feedback).

:thumbsup:

keep this coming peeopls
Peace,
Denial