Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is one of the most commonly used and abused drugs. Although it is now legalized either medically, recreationally or both in the vast majority of states, marijuana use disorder is a recognized mental health condition.

There are now treatment programs for cannabis use disorder that address how the addiction forms, ways it can negatively impact a person’s life and strategies for living life without using marijuana.

Find out how an Any Length retreat can help you overcome marijuana addiction.

Is Marijuana Addictive?

When you are discussing addiction, many people question is marijuana addictive. Due to its rapid legalization across the United States, many mistakenly believe that marijuana use is completely safe. Unfortunately this puts many people at risk for developing dangerous addictions to marijuana itself or to other “harder” substances.

Although marijuana admittedly doesn’t create a strong physical dependence in many people like other substances, it does carry a risk for serious psychological addiction and poses some major health problems.

New Research About Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder

Research from the CDC clearly states that long term marijuana use can lead to addiction, with approximately 9% of people who use marijuana becoming addicted in the long term to marijuana other illicit substances. 

The CDC also reports that “the number goes up to about 1 in 6 among those who start using marijuana as teenagers and to 25% to 50% among those who smoke marijuana daily”.

If someone becomes addicted, it means they meet the diagnostic criteria for dependence outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This may be more common than you’d think, as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has found, in 2020 around 14 million people, or 5% percent of the population, had a marijuana use disorder.

Despite the notoriously euphoric effects of the plant, the problems associated with a cannabis use disorder are no laughing matter. The CDC says marijuana use disorder includes health problems such as persistent or increasing use and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. 

And worst of all, studies show how difficult it can be to finally stop an addiction that does not necessarily threaten your life, but rather threatens to slowly, subtly limit you and prevent you from being your best self. This makes professional rehab for marijuana addiction even more important.

To top it off, research from the CDC shows strong evidence that marijuana abuse can keep your brain primed for addiction, simultaneously threatening to become a highly detrimental addiction in itself.

The Connection Between Marijuana Potency and Addiction

Research suggests that an issue is marijuana potency. Cannabis addiction has increased as THC levels have risen. In the past few decades average THC content of marijuana has risen dramatically. In the 1990s marijuana contained about 4% THC. Today, marijuana flower in dispensaries often has 15%-25% THC, but it can be as high as 35%.

In addition to cannabis flower being more potent, there are also different forms such as cannabis extracts and concentrates that can have very high concentrations of THC. Extracts typically have somewhere 50% and 90% THC.

Men’s addiction recovery programs utilize gender-specific solutions to address marijuana use disorder head-on so that the addiction doesn’t get worse. At Any Length Retreat you’ll find the drug addiction help you need to finally quit cannabis and beginning being your best self.

Understanding Marijuana Use

Marijuana goes by many different names including cannabis, weed, dope, Mary Jane and pot. It’s a plant with psychoactive properties from the cannabinoids it contains. Cannabinoids are compounds with cannabinol, which is mildly psychoactive.

Currently, the federal government has classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug. However, the Biden Administration has announced that it will be reconsidered the country’s marijuana policies given that there could be potential therapeutic uses for cannabis. While this may be welcome news for people with certain mental and physical health issues, it’s a bad sign for addiction treatment experts that are working to reduce marijuana use disorder.

THC

THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol. It’s a psychoactive cannabinoid that generates the “high” feeling when smoking marijuana or ingesting it. There are many different types of THC, but what’s most often being referred to with marijuana use is Delta 9 THC.

Sativa

Sativa is a strain of cannabis plant. The cannabis sativa plant produces more of a cerebral “head high” that is energizing and anxiety reducing. It can actually make a person feel more alert and focused.

Indica

Indica is another strain of cannabis plant. This strain is known for giving a “body high” that relaxes the person and can even promote sleep.

Hybrid

A hybrid strain is a mix between a sativa and an indica.

It’s common for young men to develop a marijuana addiction in their teenage or college years, since weed can be more attainable compared to alcohol for underage users. Marijuana is also used to help adolescents manage stress and cope with social anxiety during their formative years.