A 2020 study found that people have « genetic liability » with cannabis use disorder, meaning they are born with specific genes that increase their risk. However, experts agree there are usually more contributing factors, such as environment, access to marijuana, socioeconomic status, and more. Studies suggest that THC is the substance that creates the potential for marijuana addiction because of its psychoactive properties. Marijuana is made up of many components called cannabinoids.

Are You Really Addicted to Marijuana? Is Anyone?

• As well as the frequency of cannabis use, factors that may affect someone’s risk of CUD include a family history of substance use and how long someone has been a cannabis user.
• Substance dependence, also called chemical dependence, is when a person experiences physical dependence on a substance but is not addicted to it.
• Cannabis use disorder, or marijuana use disorder, is when a person continues to use the substance even though they experience negative health or life effects from use.
• But a big concern with CBD products is that the industry isn’t regulated.
• At 12 South Recovery, we recognize that marijuana affects everyone differently.

Short-term use of these substances may heighten dopamine activation, increasing feelings of happiness and pleasure. Marijuana addiction can be challenging both for the person experiencing the addiction and for those around them. Marijuana use disorder, addiction, and dependence are treatable. If any of these signs sound familiar, it may be time to assess your relationship with marijuana and seek professional support. Recognizing when marijuana use has become a problem is crucial.

• While not everyone develops dependence, some users experience withdrawal symptoms and difficulty quitting.
• Schizophrenia also affects the way you understand what’s real, but it includes other symptoms, such as trouble with speech and not being able to focus and show emotions.
• A lobbyist for Curaleaf, a marijuana company based in New York, is listed as the organization’s treasurer, and it is bankrolled by the cannabis industry.
• Smoking weed is usually the quickest way to feel its effects.

Long-Term Effects of Weed

• This condition can be diagnosed by a healthcare professional such as a medical doctor or psychologist.
• Estimates of the number of cannabis-dependent individuals widely vary, although it is generally accepted that longer use fosters dependence.
• The subjects were blind to experimental conditions so they didn’t know the THC content of the joint.
• One theory is that cannabis use could overactivate the cannabinoid receptors in your brain.
• Treatment methods include psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications.

If you used it recently, your doctor might reschedule your surgery if it’s elective (optional) and not an emergency. If you or your partner are trying to have a baby, doctors suggest that you both stop using marijuana. Some research suggests that it could affect both male and female fertility, but much more research needs to be done. If you talk to someone who uses weed often, they’ll probably have opinions about the strains they like the most. Or they may say that different types make them feel different ways. But a big concern with CBD products is that the industry isn’t regulated.

What we know and don’t know about pot

• Most early research into marijuana addiction suggested that marijuana use rarely produced tolerance and withdrawal.
• That includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and contingency management (CM).
• Many people find that hot showers and baths can help them control symptoms.
• That means you may need to use more of the drug to feel “normal,” or you may feel stressed out when you’re not using it.
• If you’ve ever felt like you’re in a mental fog when you haven’t smoked, that’s a sign that your brain is adjusting to working without THC.

For instance, those who use marijuana to cope with anxiety, depression, or sleep disorders can find more appropriate treatment types—including lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication—to help relieve their symptoms. How it affects you will depend on a lot of different factors, including your age, the amount and type you use, is marijuana addictive and any other medications or drugs you take. But so far, it’s clear that you should avoid all forms of it, including CBD products, if you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing. Cannabis use and heart attack incidence was assessed in a similar manner across the different studies. When cannabis is used therapeutically, it would not be uncommon to change dosages, especially during the initial treatment period.

Recreational users of the past are often compared to todays smokers. According to Iversen, marijuana became widely used in the US during the 1960s by Vietnam vets. This was a time of social upheaval and strong anti-war sentiment. Interestingly, many of today’s young smokers are children of the previous generation of smokers. And, my generation of marijuana smokers quit relatively easily when they became parents and homeowners.