As someone who smokes weed way too often… I do it because I’m addicted to it and anyone who says it’s ‘habitual not addictive’ or they’re just ‘medicating’ is in denial
As someone else who smokes way too much… I do it because I’m addicted to it. Most people don’t realize that habitual addictions are addictions, and just because weed doesn’t have physical withdrawal symptoms, doesn’t meant you can’t be addicted.
The fun thing is, it does have physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop.
They’re just not nearly as bad some other substances.
I’d rank them worse than coffee’s withdrawal symptoms.
well I have been trying to quit and haven’t had a puff for like 3 days and I’ve been feeling like shit, whole body sore and persistent headache. I’m not sure if it’s withdrawal though or if I just caught a virus
It most certainly does have physical withdrawal symptoms. Perhaps it didn’t in 1960 when a lid of pot was $10 and had the same potency of 1 puff from a vape pen, but it sure as hell does today. I’ve watched people become insanely irritable and aggressive when quitting weed, suffering from headaches, sweats, and a plethora of other symptoms.
I smoked way too often and didn’t find it addictive, though. I smoked because I had it. I only quit because my lungs hurt lol
Anyone who says it isn’t addictive is lying to themselves and potentially harming others who may end up getting addicted themselves.
Every single person on this planet is addicted to one thing or the other. Basically we are genetically junkies. We strive for pleasure. Simple as that. I found pleasure in weed many years ago and I don’t have any moral or other intention to quit. I just don’t give a …
Thinking about what I’m addicted to 🤔🤔
Social media to a point, I guess
“WHAAT!”
(Or, DMX: barks)
Nobody HAS to. They want to, so why not.
Why do you look at your cell phone every day, are you addicted?
Yes
Ok, bad example!
You eat every day, are you addicted?!
Yes, i will literally die if I stop
You breathe every day, are you addicted?!
Bad example. You have to breathe to exist lol
The only point of saying weed is not addictive is to say you can quit with no negative repurcussions.
Now, if you become dependant on it for one reason or another, that’s addiction.
Ok but like I literally smoked every day for months on end and quit without negative consequences xd
There is chemical addiction and there is psychological addiction. Weed might not be chemically addictive but it can sure be psychologically addictive which is true with most stoners.
I don’t agree with that chemical/psychological distinction. Weed and other drugs mess with your neurotransmitters/receptors which are fundamental to our psychological functioning, you can’t draw a line and say this is chemical addiction that causes you to vomit, sweat, and shake, and this is some higher level ”I want it cause it makes me feel nice” addiction. It’s the same thing, just not as severe. And heavy chronic weed use absolutely will cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability, mood swings, apathy etc.
they hated him bc he was telling them the truth
Yep. I I had no appetite, severe insomnia, headaches and sweats for about 1-2 weeks when I came off of my heavy use, decade long pot habit. It felt like the flu. I’m glad I found r/leaves or I wouldn’t have known those were withdrawal symptoms that would eventually go away!
I never plan to touch the stuff again.
In the universe, everything boils down to physics. Even the most complex human behaviors could be justified if we understood the physical complexity of the brain. But we can’t, so we just refer to that complex behavioral layer of humans as “psyche”.
Some people could become addicted to a substance because it makes them feel assertive, so they feel insecure while they aren’t under its influence. How do you explain that physically? “Feeling insecure” belongs to the complex human behavioral layer. This would be a valid psychological addiction.
Everything is physical in the universe but we still have psychological disorders.
But, I agree, what most stoners call “psychological addiction” is just physical abstinence. It’s just crap like “I can’t focus if I don’t smoke”. Well, yeha, your dopamine levels are all fucked up, dude.
Which category do tea and coffee fall into?
I had ChatGPT answer this like a stoner:
Dude, coffee and tea are loaded with this incredible compound called caffeine. It’s like a chemical wizard that messes with your brain in two ways: chemically and mentally. Chemically, caffeine hooks onto these receptors in your brain, blocking this chill neurotransmitter called adenosine. So instead of feeling relaxed and sleepy, you’re all pumped up and alert.
But that’s not all, man. When you consume caffeine regularly, your body becomes physically dependent on it. So, if you suddenly stop guzzling that liquid goodness, you’re gonna feel some withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and even crankiness. It’s like your body is saying, “Hey, where’s my daily dose of that buzz?”
And let’s not forget about the mental game. Coffee and tea can be habit-forming, creating this psychological attachment. You know, that warm mug, that familiar taste, it becomes a part of your routine, man. Plus, the stimulating effects of caffeine can make you crave that buzz, that laser-focused state of mind.
So, there you have it, bro. Coffee and tea aren’t just about flavor and ritual; they mess with your brain chemistry and play tricks on your mind. It’s like a wild ride, all packed into a cup.
My God this had me rolling. This kinda shit is my favorite use of AI.
What a time to be alive where computers can do this.
I’ve always explained it like: if porn and gambling can be addictive, how can weed possibly not be?
I mean, everybody has a vice, for me it’s my phone and social media, I habitually check it every 5 or so minutes, it is an addiction but at least it isn’t physically damaging like cigarettes
Not getting enough exercise because you are checking every 5 minutes is physically damaging. Not saying its you but, its some people. I dont get enough because im addicted to getting things done. Which i feel is a good addiction as far as they go. But that problem does need solving.
You see, I think drugs have done some good things for us. I really do. And if you don’t believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn them. 'Cause you know what, the musicians that made all that great music that’s enhanced your lives throughout the years? Rrrrrrrrrrrreal fucking high on drugs. The Beatles were so fucking high they let Ringo sing a few tunes. -Bill Hicks
A Bill Hicks quote is always appreciated.
Because habitual doesn’t mean addictive, I also have a problem with peanut butter cups.
ya as someone who smokes a lot of weed. its not addictive as in like, i get the shakes if i dont smoke but its def more than peanut butter cups
its def addicting, just not physically so. i feel real uncomfortable if my smoke habit gets disrupted.
That’s pretty much a habit, I also get uncomfortable when I have to go out when I always have that day free. Peanut butter cups might not be a good example because the sugar is really bad for humans.
Personally I thought weed was very addictive, but not in the traditional sense.
Take coffee for instance. When I stopped drinking coffee I had headaches, was a dick for a few days, but that’s it. Which is pretty easy compared to, say, heroin (so I hear).
With weed, I didn’t have any of that, but I craved the relaxation it brought. The feeling of not giving a fuck about anything for a few hours was great, and I longed for it. I still long for it sometimes. And I think that’s the dangerous thing about weed being labeled as “non-addictive.”
Just because you don’t have a physical reaction to abstaining, doesn’t mean the emotional reliance is nothing.
I feel exactly the same way. Much less of a physical addiction for me. For a long time I was in the “not addictive” camp, but realized that there was a reason that I was resistant to stopping. I’ll still partake, but I’m more mindful about recognizing when its becoming a dependance issue again.
You can get psychologically “addicted” to anything.
Im not sure “addicted” is the right word.
Yeah, perhaps you’re right.
It’s hard to break habits. I’m not naive though, I know what it feels like, it’s a mind battle.
Marijuana is absolutely physically addictive as much as people want to say it isnt. Mind you im someone who smokes the minute they leave work until they go to bed. So im not here to push any kind of anti-marijuana view point, but i do think we as stoners should be honest. Everyone i know who stops smoking weed has two very common side effects.
- They have a lot of trouble getting to sleep
- Wild/fucked up dreams.
I understand that this is a side effect of lack of REM but you cant say these aren’t physical withdrawal symptoms. Research is needed, but just because we all want it to be legal, doesn’t mean we should ignore the facts.
Dude those “withdrawal symptoms” are a joke compared to any other drug.
That said, I don’t know a single person who identifies as a stoner that isn’t completely and utterly mentally addicted. And the drug is so subtle, stoners rarely try to stop.
Cocaine, even a 2 day bender is incredibly hard on your body. If you’re a person with any kind of responsibilities in your life, you’ll be strongly incentivized to reconsider the habit in no time.
But weed, it’s meh. Most users can restrict their use to when they’re not at work, so it’s fine.
Which makes it more dangerous.
I’ve watched so many promising futures flushed down the toilet by weed. Motivation? gone. Real hobbies? Indoors in front of a screen only. At its worst, I’ve seen friends totally withdraw from socializing almost entirely. Social anxiety combined with the escape of being high was enough to dampen and deny the very real human need to connect with others.
Every single one of these individuals went through some form of depression that was was extended and exacerbated by escapism and addiction in the form of excessive marijuana usage.
I know that’s not everyone. There are people who use it in a healthy, balanced way.
But there are also a ton of people who get heavily addicted because it dampens the pain of something they’re going through. And that pattern can make it a lot harder to make progress and work through whatever that person is dealing with.
Anyone who’s spent any time around stoners knows this is true. And yeah, for a lot of people, it’s a gateway drug. I’ve seen plenty of buddies in college jump from weed to xans to oxy. It’s ruined lives. It made my best friend drop out.
And yeah, these people clearly already had issues. But that’s how drug addiction works. It preys on people who are going through something and it makes a bad situation way worse.
Weed can do the exact same thing. Doesn’t matter if it’s not physically addicting.
This comment hit the nail on the head. It’s no big deal to spend an evening after work getting high and watching movies. But then it becomes every evening. Now you can’t deal with daily life if you don’t get to smoke between work shifts. Maybe you show up to work high to take the edge off. Now you’re high all the time and being sober feels weird. Spending all your time just sort of floating in a dream because being high is your default state now.
Everything becomes more effort so you just stop bothering. Playing an instrument? This requires too much focus. I’m gonna go lay down on the couch. Socializing? I’m too high to drive, I’ll stay home today (man I’m so freaking lonely). It really truly is a trade-off where you sacrifice a fulfilling life for an easily tolerated one. At some point you start to realize this and increase your intake to try to make those uneasy thoughts go away.
Does this sound anecdotal? That’s because it is.
I was hopelessly addicted to cigarettes. It took torturous willpower to quit.
I can smoke weed now and then and never crave it.
But sure, my experience is anecdotal.
So what? Some people are alcoholics, some people drink in moderation.
I believe the evidence points pretty clearly to alcohol and nicotine being more addictive than THC. I did state that my experience is anecdotal, but I wanted to chime in because you know, internet.
So you’re not addicted to weed… cool? I don’t see how your perspective on weed addiction is relevant if you haven’t even experienced that addiction
I think it varies from person to person. I use it sometimes and will stop for months at a time. The main reason I use it is to help me sleep, and it’s definitely not stopping weed that makes me not sleep since I had those sleep problems for years already while not using weed. Before it was legalized I only ever smoked at parties and had zero desire to go out of my way to find a dealer so I’d only use it very rarely and sometimes went years between using. Once it was legalized I started using lightly only for sleep and stress relief. Before I took sleeping pills instead but prefer weed because it doesn’t make me as drowsy in the morning. I think it’s a non statement to say that stopping weed makes it harder to fall asleep when one of its effects is making it easier to sleep. If the status quo is not falling asleep as well, stopping a sleep aid will of course return you to the status quo
But thats under the assumption people use weed for sleep. I never had a problem sleeping as a kid. But now as an adult, if i stop smoking I struggle to sleep.
Sleep issues become more common as a person ages. It may be that you have sleep issues now simply because you have aged since using, and the weed treated it. I use it at night because it reduces the frequency and vividness of my dreams. The dreams are a symptom of the CPTSD I suffer from being in a cult most of my life. We need to just wait for an actual scientific consensus before we assume anything from sharing our anecdotes.
Marijuana is absolutely physically addictive as much as people want to say it isnt.
I mean it scientifically isn’t though. Physical addictions don’t just give you psychological withdrawals, they are physical. Your body becomes dependent on them to maintain homeostasis.
Cold turkeying drugs like opioids and benzos can kill you.
Just because the withdrawal symptoms aren’t as bad doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I said this before, research is needed. Going off of whats been said over the last 50 years of prohibition seems silly to me. And i for sure use marijuana to keep me in homeostasis. We need to stop saying psychological withdrawal doesnt have roots based in brain chemistry. I think everything we have begun to learn about mental health shows what little we actually know.
There’s withdrawal but of the four drugs i have been physically addicted to (caffeine, weed, nicotine, and SSRIs) it’s the only one I can cold turkey in under a week and feel fine.
Agreed, this isnt a lesser of two evils argument. I absolutely believe weed is easier on the body then most other happy juices we love to use. But misinformation is misinformation, and i think people who want to use weed should be informed of possible side effects. The more we understand about it, the easier it will be to get it legalized.
Bro just copy pasted his own response
“Marijuana ist a memory loss drug, so maybe they just don’t remember.”
was that bad form on my part?
Nah I just thought it was funny
I thought this shit was left at reddit
There’s withdrawal but of the four drugs i have been physically addicted to (caffeine, weed, nicotine, and SSRIs) it’s the only one I can cold turkey in under a week and feel fine.
yes, I used to have the same experience. regular smoking and then stopping for a bit was fine. but it didn’t leave my mind. It’s not physically addictive, but neither is shopping or video games, or gambling, yet so many people are addicts
Weed is physically addictive. Withdrawal is very mild and only lasts a few days but it can happen with heavy use.
I didn’t experience it until I got into edibles and vaping concentrates and I had used weed regularly off and on for twenty years at that point.
So it takes heavy use, but physical withdrawal is a real thing with weed. But as I said, it’s the only drug I’ve been addicted to I would cold turkey.
Yeah, caffeine cold turkey is unexpectedly tough.
I don’t drink coffee or tea, but I usually drink caffeinated soda with food. I visited another country a few years back where soda isn’t usually drank except in special occasions like at parties. I couldn’t figure out why I had such a bad headache for the first few days. I thought the caffeine content from soda would be low enough that I wouldn’t have withdrawals. Finally on about day 5 I decided to have tea with my breakfast, and no headache that day. That was when I realized what a caffeine withdrawal headache felt like, and I finally realized why I get headaches if I don’t have lunch at my regular time (when I usually have my soda).
I really wish I could get caffeine free cola, because I don’t even want the caffeine. I just want the cola flavor. But it seems the only caffeine free cola that is sold in stores is also diet, which I don’t like the taste of. They sell caffeine free, non-diet cola online, but at absurd prices.
£5 for an 8 pack of coke zero decaf at the supermarket, I just checked. What and where are you looking at?
I’m in the US. It isn’t available in any stores here. You can get it online for $20 for a 12 pack. Regular price for coke right now is $7 for a 12 pack, which is already shockingly high. About 10-15 years ago you could get 48 cans for $11.
Not trying to be a dick, but “I don’t like the taste of diet soda” feels like a very minor inconvenience for fighting an addiction you want to shake
Aspartame likely causes cancer, probably worse for you than actual sugar. But the dosage of each makes all the difference.
It’s not so bad if you pop a Tylenol the first couple of days, just to get you through the caffeine migraine phase.
Depends on how bad your caffeine addiction is. I tried cold turkey when I had a tooth pulled when I was drinking a pot of coffee a day.
A week in bed on Vicodin and Percocet, didn’t touch that headache and it didn’t improve or go away until I drank coffee.
Oddly, I ate a large bag of mushrooms and got tazed by the cops one night. Ended up in the psych ward. Was able to cold turkey the coffee after that. Not sure if it was the mushrooms or the juice from the tazer.
Yeah, I’m not sure if Vicodin or perc would help a migraine, different pain killers help in different ways. I think opiods are the least helpful when it comes to migraines, if I remember correctly.
I confirm. Taking opioids against migraine gives you still a migraine, but on opioids. Not recommended.
but we’re not talking about migraines.
we’re talking about caffeine withdrawal headaches.
neither of which are 💯 understood but that doesn’t make them the same.
plus, Vicodin has Tylenol in it. so i was taking Tylenol.
Caffeine withdrawal can absolutely trigger migraines, easily.
Not sure about the Tylenol in Vic, but just that opioids in general don’t work well. You can easily Google it.
Caffeine isn’t addictive. Your body acclimates to long term usage, and you will experience some withdrawal symptoms but this is classified as a dependency and not an addiction as it does not trigger the reward mechanisms like weed and or methamphetamine does. It’s an important distinction and is why coffee and tea are often served at [Addiction] Anonymous meetings.
It’s both. Nicotine is also both. Note how people at AA still often smoke. And how much coffee they’ll pound even after dinner.
The only drug I misclassified is SSRIs. Which don’t trigger the dopamine reward system.
And my comment was in light of OP and common language usage. People say heroin addiction and they mean heroin dependency. It doesn’t help anyone to be pedantic about these two words. And I say that as someone who has taken college level classes on pharmacology and alcohol and drug dependence and is very aware of the technical differences used professionally.
true it’s probably the easiest drug to quit but there is a strong psychological addiction
I don’t have to.
I want to.
If you can’t ignore the want, that’s an addiction
Well when I don’t have any and can’t get any, I think “if I had a joint that would be nice.” The same way one might want a pizza they can’t afford. But it doesn’t occupy my mind all day, like if I’m out of cigarettes.
Yeah but are you sure you don’t also have a pizza addiction? /s
There’s two kinds of addiction, physical and mental. Nicotine is probably the most addictive substance in terms of physical addiction (more so than heroin, according to Imperial College London). So comparing the physical addiction to nicotine with a mental addiction to cannabis will never be equivalent. However you can have a mental addiction to anything, even without a chemical dependency - gambling addictions are probably the simplest example. As such you most definitely can have a cannabis addiction, just like you can be addicted to porn, TV, internet or whatever.
It’s a habit, and one that you want to do. You might not feel like you need to do it, but it’s a strong want. The harm comes if you pursue the habit to the detriment of other things.
It also doesn’t help that the clinical terminology is kind of the wrong way around. In clinical terms, “addiction” refers to the physical part, while “dependency” refers to the mental part. This doesn’t sit well with me, as “addiction” has negative connotations while “dependency” is more neutral (a child is a dependent of their parents, and this is fine). And yet we still have a gambling “addiction” which doesn’t really have any physical element.
But yeah, people can and often are addicted to lots of things. Any habit can potentially be considered an addiction.
Yeah, this is what I told myself for 10 years. But the fact is there were numerous situations where I would think “this would be so much better with weed”.
If I can’t enjoy life’s basic experiences without drugs, there is a problem.
Also pizza doesn’t cause mood swings, memory loss, lethargy, paranoia etc.
Acknowledging the fact that everything is better with weed doesn’t mean you’re addicted.
Yeah, like water or food.
I virtually never want food or water. My body screams “eat now or you’re going into a coma, idiot!”
oh bro then we different. some times a cool crispy glass of water is just so dang desirable. same with a fresh batch of fries man
I wonder if there’s a hydrohomies community
They’re should be.
You smoke weed every day because you are mentally addicted.
I smoke weed everyday to quiet the cacophony that is our insane world.
We both have mental health issues.
It’s not chemically addictive. Honestly people should really pointing fingers at smokers. Majority who smoke know the risks. Sugar is far more dangerous yet and they add it to everything. Weed on the other hand can help the majority with far less side effects then prescription pills. I’d take an edible or spray any day. Although it is far more fun to use a bong.
Good meme but honestly when do you see an angry smoker? Even if he breaks his piece, worst that happens is a bummed high.
It is physically addictive. Research has shown this already I am fairly sure. It’s not nearly as addictive as some other things like alcohol obviously. Psychological addiction also shouldn’t be dismissed.
Sugar is dangerous? Maybe refined sugars are - especially if you’re diabetic - but most sugars are actually natural and some form complex carbohydrates and fibres. It’s a lot more complex than this hot take. Sometimes even diabetic people need sugar in an emergency condition called hypoglycemia. It’s also not in any way a drug; really wish people stopped saying this. Also genetic material is partially made from sugars like ribose and deoxyribose.
There are real life consequences to smoking too much weed and this can include damage to your lungs and can negatively impact the brain. Brain problems is mostly an issue for people under 25 though so smoking after this age is less problematic. That being said it’s still much better than some other drugs like you say. Before people ask yes this includes alcohol as alcohol is quite toxic to brain and body when consumed habitually.
Weed can’t replace all prescriptions either. It’s just not as good at blocking pain as opiates even if it’s a lot safer. That being said if it helps you then that’s great - especially if it’s in edible form or spray form as this is healthier than smoking.
Not sure I’d agree with any study saying it is physically addictive, habitually I’d agree.
My point on the sugar though is it certainly does create addiction. It’s in so many things even products like jerky. I know lots of other things get broken down into sugar which is also the point. We would do far better without all the added sugar. It’s what creates future diabetics in the first place. There is so much fake healthy foods it’s ridiculous. Like…Wheat bread!? All sugar, better off with white if your gonna bother with bread. You’re body should be running off fat not sugar. People on keto for example can lower their cholesterol immensely vs the doctor recommend way. I’m just having trouble concerning the different between chemical ladden cigarettes vs shit that is available in stores. Now the one thing that I see a negative for weed is that it is a stimulant. Increases in heart rates could be an issue in older folks, for a potentially greater risk of heart attacks.
Not sure I’d agree with any study saying it is physically addictive, habitually I’d agree. So you’re willing to ignore science… that’s sounds like a river in Egypt to me mate.
Habit forming and addictive mean the same thing in medical terms. Cannabis has observed withdrawal symptoms like sleeplessness, appetite changes, and nausea that classify it as physically addictive. You’re ignoring these because it dosen’t suit your narrative and beliefs.
My point on the sugar though is it certainly does create addiction. I agree with this provided your talking about refined sugars. The point is though it’s not a drug. Sugars are a natural part of the human diet. They literally make up your DNA. Refined sugars are not natural though.
If you’re trying to argue weed isn’t at least a wee bit addictive, you’ve clearly never smoked it any actual length of time. I love weed, but let’s no kid ourselves lads.
