The Truth About Marijuana Dependency

By Leslie Thompson

For years, it was commonly believed that marijuana was not addictive—and many recreational users still believe this to be true. People thought that because marijuana is natural and has very few side effects, unlike other illicit drugs, developing a dependency on the substance was improbable. However, as further research has been performed, evidence indicates that marijuana is indeed addictive and can lead to major physical and mental health problems down the road.

Marijuana or cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. It is a dry, shredded, green and brown mixture of flowers, leaves, and stems from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. Historically, the hemp plant dates as far back as 2700 B.C. When settlers first moved to the U.S. in the 16th and 17th centuries, the plant was regularly grown and cultivated for its medicinal use. It wasn’t until 1937 and the introduction of the Marijuana Tax Act that the drug become criminalized.

Since then, there has been a lot of back and forth on legalizing the drug—some say it should be legalized for medical reasons, and others think it should be legal because they believe it to be harmless. However, the substance is far from harmless.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM I-V) states the criteria for substance dependence is based on tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, using the drug even if there are negative consequences associated with it, and giving up social and recreational activities because of drug use. Many marijuana users may believe they do not meet these criteria, but according to the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 4.3 million Americans were classified with dependence on or abuse of marijuana.

Most individuals who suffer from marijuana addiction have been long-term users. Addiction symptoms include a compulsion to continue the drug use with little to no regard to the harmful effects it will have on an individual’s health; becoming tolerant to the drug and needing to take more of it to get the same effect; and developing problems with their job or personal relationships as a result of the drug taking precedent over everything else. Marijuana abusers who have reportedly tried to quit experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, sleeplessness, and anxiety.

Long-term marijuana abusers are more prone to suffer from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts than their non-using peers. It is also suggested that marijuana increases the likelihood of developing cancer due to the carcinogenic hydrocarbons found in the drug.

Marijuana dependency is no longer a disease that should be downplayed, but one that needs to be addressed like any other drug addiction. Long-term abuse leads to long-term problems that can be avoided by getting professional help.