The Cellar - Marijuana Addiction is Real, and Rising

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- - Marijuana Addiction is Real, and Rising (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=33586)

Marijuana Addiction is Real, and Rising

That click bait headline in the Denver Post doesn't match the story. :rolleyes:

Quote:

Although estimates of the number of people who use marijuana vary, the federal government and the marijuana industry tend to agree that total marijuana use has remained relatively constant over the past decade. Increased use in the past three years has been slight, despite increased commercial availability in states that have legalized it.

The percentage of people who become addicted to marijuana — estimated at about 9 percent of all users, and about 17 percent of those who start in adolescence — also has been stable. Some studies report that even higher proportions of marijuana users develop a dependence, which means they experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug.

Yet here in Northern California, some addiction treatment practitioners say they’re seeing a surge in demand for help, particularly among adolescents.
Marijuana’s estimated rate of addiction is lower than that of cocaine and alcohol (15 percent) and heroin (24 percent). Unlike with opioids and stimulants, marijuana dependence tends to develop slowly: Months or years may pass before symptoms begin to affect a dependent user’s life.

One minor point, even with the THC content of 20% to over 30%, nobody dies.

link

OTOH, I wouldn't call being addicted to anything really living.

Awesome discussion on the nature of addiction (to anything):

Hmm interesting, lots of truth there.
When you've had your heart ripped out, dribbled down the court, and slam dunked, and there is nobody around to turn to, you can count on the dope/booze to always be there.

Quote:

Marijuana Addiction is Real

Pfft. I been smoking dope for almost 40 yrs, and I ain't addicted.[/RichardPryor]

If you take it up as an old-timer it reduces inflammation in the brain and preserves memory.

It's a very effective substitute for opiate addictions.

The last time I was in the drugstore I noticed a sign saying the tinctures, oils and vapor boxes are empty, take the empty box to the cashier and they will fill the box.

Just like allergy pills.