Marijuana addiction (cannabis addiction) is a serious substance use disorder that can significantly impact individuals and families. We offer expert marijuana addiction treatment.
Yes. You can become addicted to marijuana and develop marijuana use disorder (also called cannabis use disorder).
Despite the fact that recreational and medical use of cannabis is legal in 29 US states, cannabis does pose risks for dependency. Significant scientific evidence and high-quality, peer-reviewed studies prove that today’s high-potency THC products can lead to addiction (using more cannabis or using it more often than intended) and develop significant adverse side effects.
A late 2023 study published in the JAMA Network suggests that more than 20 percent of people using cannabis have a cannabis use disorder (CUD), and 6 percent have severe CUD. Treatment professionals nationwide began to see a significant increase in the number of patients experiencing CUD following ongoing legalization and commercialization efforts.
What is cannabis addiction?
Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) is when someone uses more cannabis or uses cannabis for a longer period of time than intended. Like other addictive disorders, people with cannabis use disorder feel compelled to use cannabis, need to consume more cannabis to experience the same relative effects and continue using cannabis despite experiencing negative side effects.
What are the signs of marijuana addiction?
- The inability to stop using cannabis (THC products)
- Concentration and memory problems
- Psychosis or psychotic episodes
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) (continuous vomiting)
- People also report problems with anxiety and panic, sleep disturbances, and heart problems.
Marijuana addiction is a real & growing problem
Personal experience researching and educating about cannabis use disorder
NRT Managing Partner Ben Cort is a cannabis commercialization policy expert. An author, speaker, and educator who informs policymakers and organizations nationwide about cannabis, Cort has seen the effects of commercial THC products on public health and wellness firsthand.
“Positioning cannabis as medicine is one of the most effective tactics used by the THC industry to reduce the perception that cannabis poses any health risks. The latest longitudinal study results show that fewer people — especially young people — believe that cannabis can cause harm compared to years ago. At the same time, teh THC products sold in today’s cannabis stores are many times more potent than naturally occurring plants used by people decades ago. This combination of higher-potency THC and reduced fear of harm is leading to dramatic increases in cannabis use disorder, psychosis, paranoia, violence, negative health effects, and all of the other adverse impacts that go along with this disease.”
Cort has contributed content to the newest medical textbooks being used to train new doctors about the latest cannabis data. “The risk of cannabis addiction is growing as product concentrations increase. However, the growing bodies of evidence that demonstrate personal and societal issues related to cannabis use and misuse are heavily outweighed by advertising and the cultural popularity of THC products. Education simply hasn’t caught up with reality. Unfortunately, we are seeing rising numbers of people showing up for treatment with severe cannabis use disorder, and this is a difficult condition to treat. In some cases, effectively treating cannabis use disorder takes longer and requires more resources than other types of substance use disorders.” — Ben Cort
Cannabis Treatment Challenges
Treating cannabis addiction poses unique challenges
Long-term use of highly concentrated cannabis products can lead to a buildup of THC and other cannabinoids in the body’s fatty tissue. Stored THC and cannabis can continuously be released into the bloodstream, causing people to experience the effects of THC even after they have stopped using cannabis products.
Because cannabis can affect cognitive abilities, paranoia, and psychosis, people may require long periods of supervised detoxification before engaging in treatment. Cannabis-induced hyperemesis poses another challenge in that clients may experience prolonged periods of vomiting and nausea for which they require medical attention.
How we treat cannabis use disorder
We provide comprehensive residential treatment for cannabis use disorder. While humans have used cannabis for thousands of years, the high-potency THC products produced in the past decade bear no resemblance to the marijuana of yesteryear. Even now, new forms of THC and synthetic THC derivatives are being transformed into more potent and addictive products.
Just as cannabis is evolving, so too is the treatment of cannabis use disorder. Not only do too few behavioral healthcare providers offer specialized cannabis addiction treatment, but some mainstream doctors perpetuate the myth that cannabis is nonaddictive or poses little danger of causing addiction. This is why Foundry Front Range stays up to speed with the latest cannabis use disorder evidence-based care.
Marijuana addiction FAQs
Absolutely. Marijuana addiction (technically referred to as cannabis use disorder) is real and is an official diagnosis contained within the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM). THC, the primary psychoactive compound found in marijuana, is an elative psychoactive drug that can cause dependence.
Addiction symptoms vary from person to person. However, cannabis use disorder (marijuana addiction) can typically be identified by a perceived need to use more cannabis than desired or use it more often than desired. Like other substances, cannabis use disorder can cause people to need higher doses of cannabis to feel the same effects. Other symptoms include continuing to use cannabis despite negative consequences.
Marijuana addiction (cannabis use disorder) can cause numerous adverse health effects. Cannabis-induced psychosis (being disconnected from reality), paranoia and paranoia-related violence, hyperemesis syndrome (prolonged bouts of vomiting and nausea), and exposure to accidents and falls are some widely reported impacts. Other marijuana addiction dangers include accidents related to driving while using cannabis and exposure to legal and financial losses associated with use.
Three FDA-approved medications have been developed from cannabis derivatives or synthetics. These medicines, which are prescribed by medical doctors, are used to treat rare seizure conditions and nausea or appetite loss due to wasting conditions associated with HIV/AIDS and cancer treatment. No cannabis-based medications have been created to treat pain, and claims that cannabis may be a useful alternative to opioids or other types of pain medicines are not substantiated by scientific evidence.
Not necessarily. Unlike alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and some other substances, THC withdrawal symptoms are not typically life-threatening. However, THC stored in the body’s fat cells can remain in the body and continue affecting individuals for an extended time, during which they may require supervision. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to provide a time for detoxification from cannabis use disorder, although typically without the need for the medical supervision required to detoxify from some other substances.