Between 1995 and 2022 the delta-9 THC potency (strength) in illegal cannabis products seized by law enforcement quadrupled from 3.96% to 16.14%. However, along with the cannabis plant flower, there are many products made from the cannabis plant and new ones are constantly being developed and sold. Unless mentioned otherwise, the information on this webpage is only about cannabis products containing intoxicating amounts of delta-9 THC.
Marijuana addiction is clinically known as Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). Doctors urged people who need help to get it, whether it’s with a professional or in a peer group. “When we break it down into these criteria that have to do with the impacts of their use, it’s a lot more relatable,” Das said. It’s become more common as cannabis has gotten stronger in recent years. Here’s how to know whether you or a loved one are addicted to marijuana — and what kinds of treatment exist. Whether you’re dealing with withdrawal, daily use, or just want to take a break from weed—you’re not alone.
Consumable “hemp-derived cannabinoid products” will be limited to ≤ 0.4 mg total THC per container, a threshold far lower than current doses in THC drinks. In states where hemp-derived THC is loosely regulated, consumption of THC beverages, including seltzers and “hemp elixirs,” has rapidly increased. Consumer enthusiasm is growing for drinks infused with cannabis, primarily Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The percentage of drinking adults in the US has been dropping since 2010, and the trend away from alcohol is accelerating. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation. There is evidence that cannabis can be effective in treating some forms of pain, and there is emerging evidence that it may have additional therapeutic uses.
Age People Begin Smoking
While it may not carry the same overdose risks as opioids or alcohol, marijuana addiction is real, diagnosable, and treatable. If marijuana use is interfering with your responsibilities, goals, relationships, or mental health—and you find it hard to stop—it may be time to consider support. While often dismissed as “mild,” marijuana withdrawal is medically recognized and can significantly impact mental and physical well-being. Marijuana addiction is classified medically as cannabis use disorder. One example is when a person who has taken a prescription medication for a long time stops taking that medication and experiences physical or mental withdrawal symptoms.
Bushnell, 60, said peer support is essential to recovery and some people feel more comfortable chatting online than in person. Many marijuana users first come to Das for help coping with something else, like alcohol use disorder. The same amount can have “major impacts” on one person’s daily life but have no impact on another person’s, Das said. If you’ve met just two of the criteria for cannabis use disorder in the last year, doctors say you have a mild form of the condition.
Marijuana Addiction and Abuse
In contrast, cannabis is perceived as safer, without causing liver damage, cancers, or the cognitive decline linked to alcohol. While the focus has been on Gen Z and millennials, more recently, some baby boomers are also switching to cannabis from alcohol, because of recent studies challenging decades of alcohol benefits and raising alarm over drinking. Major cannabis companies launched THC drink lines, promoting them as modern alternatives to alcohol and targeting consumers cutting back on drinking or who no longer drink at all. Some commentators describe this cultural shift as the adoption of the “California sober” mindset—consuming cannabis or THC-infused beverages rather than alcohol. As I have noted earlier, Gen Z and millennials are using less alcohol and more cannabis, often edibles. The cannabis products are marketed as “better for you,” without hangovers, with fewer calories or less intoxication (depending on dosage).
How to Avoid CUD
Life after marijuana is brighter, clearer, and more fulfilling. Recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. For more severe addiction, structured programs provide therapy, group sessions, and relapse prevention skills. This helps boost internal motivation for quitting, especially for people who are on the fence about change. But thousands of people have walked this road before you and come out stronger on the other side.
Who Gets CUD?
People sometimes try to temporarily relieve their symptoms by taking hot showers or baths. Experiencing such an episode may be linked with developing a psychotic disorder later in life.46 Cannabis intoxication can also induce a temporary psychotic episode in some people, especially at high doses. The association between heavy cannabis use and schizophrenia has been found to be especially strong in young males compared to females.
- You may have heard that marijuana helps with morning sickness.
- See ABCD Study® results on cannabis exposure for more information.
- 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.
- Not using drugs when you’re young might lower your chances.
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. Over time, you become less sensitive to the chemicals in marijuana. It triggers receptors in your brain called endocannabinoid receptors. Mental health issues, like an anxiety or a mood disorder, can raise your chances, too.
- Some people might still go to work or school while using, but struggle with focus, memory, or motivation.
- This condition can be diagnosed by a healthcare professional such as a medical doctor or psychologist.
- NIDA supports the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study (ABCD Study®), which follows nearly 12,000 children ages 9 and 10—before substance use typically begins—into young adulthood.
- The negative effects of marijuana are not limited to recreational marijuana.
Symptoms of Cannabis Use Disorder
Treatments are available that can help people overcome marijuana addiction. Studies have found those who struggle with cannabis dependence often find dissatisfaction in various areas of their lives, including relationships, work, and education. Daily or weekly marijuana use has been found to increase the chances that a person becomes dependent on the drug in the future.
Frequent or heavy cannabis use has been linked to problems in cognitive functions like learning and memory, attention, processing speed, perceptual motor function, and language.42,43,44,45 It can also it can also make people feel more irritable or restless.18 Delta-8 THC is another intoxicating cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Dried cannabis can also be vaped using electronic vaporizing devices such as dry herb vaporizers and vape pens. People commonly use cannabis by smoking dried plant material (“buds” or “herb”) in joints like a cigarette, in blunts—cigars or cigar wrappers that have been partly or completely refilled with cannabis—or in pipes or bongs (water pipes).
How does cannabis use impact adolescents?
Later, she said, they’ll often come back and mention a struggle with cannabis. Dependence is physical, while addiction want to quit drinking use these 8 strategies to make it a reality involves behavior changes. People can be dependent on and addicted to substances. “When we break it down into these criteria that have to do with the impacts of their use, it’s a lot more relatable,” Das said.
There are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of cannabis use disorder or for medically assisted withdrawal,69 but research is ongoing. One study estimated that 12.1% of people who frequently use cannabis experience cannabis withdrawal.66 Withdrawal symptoms may include anger, irritability, aggression, feeling nervous or anxious, restlessness, decreased appetite or weight, depression, insomnia, experiencing strange or unsettling dreams, headaches, sweating, abdominal pain, and tremor. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)—a reference text published by the American Psychiatric Association that health professionals use to diagnose substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders—defines cannabis use disorder as a pattern of use that leads to clinically significant impairment or distress. Given these related genetic and environmental vulnerabilities, additional data from prospective, longitudinal research (studies that measure participants’ health over long periods of time) are needed to determine whether, to what extent, and for whom cannabis may cause or contribute to poor mental health outcomes. The longer dependency is ignored, the more damage it can cause—to careers, relationships, mental health, and quality of life.
You might have this condition if smoking marijuana causes physical, emotional, or social problems. Studies show about 1 in 10 adults who use marijuana can get addicted. But whether someone chooses to join a group or not, even being able to lean on a community of people who aren’t using pot is an important part for recovery. Another is cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT, a form of talk therapy that helps people to challenge negative thought patterns and reduce unhelpful behaviors. One is called motivational interviewing, a goal-oriented counseling style that helps people find internal motivation to change their behavior.
Increased Cancer Risk
A startling shift has occurred in the United States—from use of alcohol to use of cannabis, THC, and cannabis-infused beverages. NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. The NIDA-funded Monitoring the Future survey measures drug and alcohol use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide. Cannabis use disorder can be diagnosed as mild (when a person has two or three of these symptoms), moderate (four or five of these symptoms), or severe (six or more of these symptoms). However, CHS only resolves when a person stops using cannabis completely.52,53 These include cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), which is when a person has nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after long-term, heavy cannabis use.38 Other potential gastrointestinal issues include acid reflux, pancreatitis, and peptic ulcer disease.39
Your chances also go up if you use marijuana a lot and by yourself. Do those go away when you use marijuana again? Do you get unwanted symptoms when you stop, like anxiety, crankiness, or trouble sleeping? Do you use marijuana every day or almost every day?
However, research is limited and the details of the negative effects on the brain are not fully understood. This is an increased concern for younger people exposed to THC, including babies during pregnancy. THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the part of the cannabis plant that causes the mental effect. After regular use over time, they build a tolerance, where the effects of the substance are not noticed as much or at all. It is usually marked by a change in behavior, where the person becomes consistently focused on using that substance regardless of potential negative outcomes.
Create profiles for personalised advertising. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Buspirone was one medication of interest, but some research has shown that it is no more effective than a placebo and, in some cases, was linked to worse cannabis use outcomes.
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