Marijuana Addiction: 5 Signs Someone Is Addicted to Weed

This is true whether the addiction is to other substances such as heroin or alcohol, or activities like gambling, shopping, or sex. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies marijuana as a Schedule I substance. This means that it has no currently accepted medical uses and a high potential for addiction. But providers may certify marijuana use to help with certain medical conditions in states that legally allow it. If a dependent person stops using marijuana, they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, and mood swings.

• The age at which a person begins using cannabis is another factor linked to the risk for addiction.
• Cannabis plant material can also be concentrated in a resin called hashish or a sticky black liquid called hash oil.
• Marijuana is one of the most used drugs in the United States, particularly among young adults.
• A person with marijuana addiction may struggle to maintain healthy relationships with their friends and family if they withdraw from socializing in order to use the drug.

How Marijuana Use Impacts the Brain

According to a January 2024 Pew Research Center survey, nearly 90% of Americans believe marijuana needs to be legal for medical or recreational use. A notable majority of U.S. adults (88%) support legalization for medical purposes (32%) or both medical and recreational use (57%). Cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps to identify and modify damaging thinking and behavior, can also help people overcome addictions. One approach, call motivational interviewing, helps to turn ambivalence about quitting into energy to quit. Like the naturally occurring cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant, there are a number of synthetic cannabinoids that are made in a laboratory.

Bottom Line on Weed Withdrawal Symptoms

• Psychosis is a symptom of a serious medical condition called schizophrenia.
• In a 2017 Gallup survey, it was found that about 64% of individuals in the United States backed the legalization of marijuana.
• Many people consider marijuana use to be relatively harmless, because they believe that it isn’t addictive, and because the drug can be beneficial when used for a medically prescribed purpose.
• Although regular marijuana smokers may not believe that they’re addicted to the drug, experiencing cravings is a hallmark of addiction.

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of cannabis use disorder and how the condition is diagnosed. It also covers what causes cannabis use disorder and the treatment that can help. While abstaining from use altogether is a foolproof method to avoid addiction, it’s recognized that some individuals may still want to casually use cannabis without developing a dependency. Following detox, ongoing therapy and support are essential for addressing the underlying reasons for cannabis use, developing coping strategies, and preventing relapse. Using pot heavily, especially in your teen years, may leave more permanent effects.

Support for Me and My Family

Treatment options or “rehab” for marijuana addiction is similar to treatment programs and protocols for addiction to alcohol and other drugs. To diagnose cannabis use disorder, a healthcare provider assesses the person’s history. This includes whether they or their immediate family members have a history of substance abuse or mental health issues and also includes their medical history and exposure to environmental stress.

• Some who’ve quit smoking report having “using dreams” in which they dream that they smoke marijuana.
• The system activates naturally to distinguish input that might contribute to our flourishing—for instance, a good source of food, a potential mate, or other meaningful connections, information, or stimuli.
• Common signs and symptoms of marijuana or weed drug addiction include intense craving for marijuana, bloodshot eyes, increased heart rates, and issues like memory problems and difficulty concentrating.

Over time, the brain’s reward system adapts to this constant stimulation, leading to tolerance, meaning users may need higher doses to achieve the same effects. Marijuana is typically smoked as a hand-rolled cigarette (joint) or in a pipe or water pipe (bong). It can also be smoked in a blunt—a hollowed-out cigar filled with a mix of marijuana and tobacco. Other ways to consume marijuana include mixing its parts (leaves, flowers, stems, or seeds) into food as weed edibles or brewing it as tea. Terms of UseThe information on this website is for general information purposes only.

Tips for Reducing Addiction Risk

High doses can produce a temporary psychotic reaction in some users. Use of the drug can also worsen the course of illness for patients who have schizophrenia. A series of large, longitudinal studies also shows a link between marijuana and the development of psychosis. One study found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than those who don’t smoke marijuana, mainly due to respiratory illnesses.

However, it can also be brewed into tea or cooked in certain foods. In a nationally representative US sample, 12% of frequent cannabis users reported experiencing clinical symptoms of cannabis withdrawal in the past year. The American Psychiatric Association’s most recent criteria for substance use disorders include tools to identify cannabis addiction. For someone to is marijuana addictive be considered addicted, he or she must meet at least two of the 11 criteria, which include an inability to reduce consumption, constant cravings, and relationship and social problems. Adolescence, a period during which the brain is undergoing major changes, is an extremely poor time period for young people to try the effects of marijuana.

THC, marijuana’s main psychoactive compound, stimulates dopamine release, creating pleasurable effects. Repeated use can lead to brain changes, making users dependent on the drug for mood regulation and stress relief. Finding the right help through therapy, peer support, or family guidance is essential to lasting recovery.

Treating marijuana addiction, or Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), involves a combination of behavioral therapies, support groups, and, in some cases, medications to manage withdrawal symptoms. Also known as Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), addiction goes beyond physical dependence and includes psychological dependence. This means the person has a mental and emotional reliance on marijuana and may use it to cope with stress, anxiety, or other feelings, often prioritizing its use over other important responsibilities and interests. While many people think of marijuana as relatively harmless, research shows that regular and heavy use can lead to Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), a clinical term for marijuana addiction. Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for treating marijuana addiction, but medications are used to manage co-occurring conditions or withdrawal symptoms.