The economy and medicine are both benefiting from cannabis. That being said, even helpful things can frequently be misused. Cannabis does provide a sedative and may divert attention, which can result in addiction and other negative behaviors. Therefore, before beginning to use marijuana for medical purposes, it is always recommended that you speak with a marijuana doctor and get your medical marijuana card that grants you legal access to medical marijuana in your state.
Anything from sugar, caffeine, cigarettes, and even heavy drugs can cause people to become unhealthily dependent on things that interfere with their daily lives. Is marijuana physically addictive, though? Can cannabis cause physical dependence? What does marijuana withdrawal look like, and how long might it last?
Although there are many medical advantages to using cannabis to treat different symptoms and conditions, excessive marijuana use, particularly when done carelessly, may result in a use disorder. It’s a string of bad habits, much like an addiction.
Although there is no risk of a fatal overdose and cannabis is not toxic, excessive use of the drug can have harmful side effects. It may take some time for these physiological side effects to go away. This article will discuss the specifics of cannabis addiction, look at cannabis withdrawal, and offer some methods for kicking a cannabis habit.
Can You Develop an Addiction to Weed?
It is true that cannabis can lead to addiction. Cannabis may not cause you to develop a chemical dependence like other drugs like cocaine, heroin, meth, or even alcohol. You may have a cannabis addiction if you experience compulsive use and recurring cravings even though marijuana has a negative impact on your life.
Approximately three out of ten cannabis users may experience substance use disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is a 10% chance of becoming addicted to cannabis use. Teens are up to seven times more likely to develop a use disorder if they begin using cannabis before the age of 18.
Addiction is the same as substance use disorder, but unlike some substances, like heavy drugs or caffeine, which can lead to physical dependence, cannabis won’t cause your body to become dependent on it. Your relationship with cannabis may become unhealthy, just as someone may develop an addiction to food or sex. On the other hand, excessive drug or alcohol use can result in a physical chemical dependency where your body requires it to function.
According to a 2021 study conducted in Washington, over 40% of men over 65 and over one-third of men across all age groups reported using cannabis on a daily basis. One-fifth of women over 65 and nearly one-third of females between the ages of 50 and 64 use cannabis on a daily basis.
What Are the Effects of Using Too Much Weed?
Again, heavy or frequent cannabis use can have negative effects even though it cannot lead to physical dependence. Cannabis, and more especially cannabinoids, interact with the endocannabinoid system, which regulates a number of essential bodily processes, from inflammation to hunger.
It’s crucial to take tolerance breaks when using cannabis, whether for medical or recreational purposes. You should probably take a break to allow your tolerance to reach more baseline levels if you have ever used cannabis frequently and discovered that you need to take more THC to feel high.
Heavy cannabis use can reduce your endocannabinoid system’s CB1 receptor count, which is one explanation for this effect. Memory and cognition may suffer as a result of this reduction in CB1 receptors. Additionally, research has linked excessive cannabis use to hippocampal shrinkage. This area of the brain controls memory and learning.
Fortunately, unlike the negative effects of other drugs or substances like alcohol, many of these negative effects can be reversed by taking time to refrain from using cannabis. After a long period of cannabis abstinence, your body will naturally restore CB1 receptors.
Is It Possible to Overdose on Marijuana?
Marijuana overdose is not the same as a drug overdose, though it is possible. A drug overdose can endanger your health and possibly be fatal. An excessive level of THC in the bloodstream, which can be more unpleasant and unnerving than particularly harmful, is what constitutes a marijuana overdose.
The following are indicators of a cannabis overdose:
- Anxiety
- Panic Attacks
- Paranoia
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Visual or Auditory Hallucinations
- Seizures (In Severe Cases)
A potent strain, high-THC products like moon rocks, or inadvertently consuming edibles and not being ready for the high can all cause someone to consume more THC than they should, which can lead to an overdose.
The majority of the time, panic and anxiety make overdose symptoms worse. A marijuana overdose is probably only a problem if you have a heart condition or a history of mental illness, such as schizophrenia, even though marijuana can make your heart beat more quickly. In those situations, any significant problems stem from those underlying problems.
Additionally, it’s crucial to relax and control your breathing if you ever find yourself getting too high. To lessen the side effects of THC, you can also use terpenes like pinene or the cannabinoid CBD.
When you’ve taken too much THC, chewing peppercorns can give you a quick boost of pinene, even though it’s still unpleasant.
The Advantages of Quitting Marijuana
Although cannabis has many health benefits and unrealized potential for treating a variety of diseases and ailments, it can be very helpful to stop using marijuana if you are battling an addiction.
Reducing marijuana use can enhance focus, motivation, and memory. It can also assist you in addressing the issues that excessive cannabis use may be causing you to run from. Using drugs to escape reality or find solace instead of addressing any significant problems in your life can often cause you to miss out on your full potential.
Giving up marijuana can also improve your mental well-being. Researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark conducted a study that revealed a statistically significant link between schizophrenia and excessive cannabis use.
According to the study, if patients had not been addicted to marijuana, 30% of cases of schizophrenia in men between the ages of 21 and 30 might have been prevented. Research has also been done on cannabis psychosis, a disorder that resembles schizophrenia and is brought on by excessive cannabis use.
Giving up cannabis can help you reduce any health risks if you smoke it. Quitting cannabis use can make it easier for you to control your diet if you overindulge in the munchies.
Saving money is an evident advantage of stopping cannabis use. You can save a substantial sum of money that you can use for other areas of your life, just like with any addiction, including alcoholism.
The Conclusion
Similar to opiates, medical marijuana is showing excellent results, but it might not aid in your recovery if you are addicted to it. If you personally struggle with cannabis, you might want to look for other alternative treatments.
Although addiction is a serious issue, you can fortunately take action to address it. Any inclination towards compulsive or addictive substance use can frequently be addressed by seeking professional assistance and therapy to address the underlying problems.
Caffeine, sugar, nicotine, and alcohol can all lead to addiction, so even as cannabis use grows in popularity, it’s crucial to maintain a positive relationship that benefits both your physical and mental well-being.
You must have legal access to medical marijuana if you are considering including marijuana in your treatment plan to help with any of your crippling health conditions. This will allow you to legally consume marijuana in your state and prevent you from facing any legal ramifications. Additionally, you can obtain a California growers license, which will enable you to cultivate up to 99 plants in your home if you wish to grow marijuana for medical purposes.
