Marijuana Addiction

Is Marijuana a Hallucinogen, Depressant or Stimulant?

Commonly referred to as pot, grass, hemp, herb, shake, dope, reefer, joint, bud, tree, joint, skunk, or ganja and is made from a mix of flowers with a potency that has tripled in the last 20 years. The growth of the cannabis industry has created quite an open forum to discuss the pros and cons of marijuana use.

Growers are developing more and more strong strains which are coming from the breeds of cannabis known as indica, sativa, ruderalis and hybrid varieties. With these strains increasing, so is the level of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

The most prominent compound found in cannabis is delta-9, which is also the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol. Once delta-9 is metabolized into the bloodstream it reacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors through the brain and nerve tissues.

This stimulating reaction is what causes the “high” along with temporary hallucinations. Everyone’s high is different as cognitive, perceptive and emotional moods have now been disrupted. Panic attacks, paranoia, and anxiety can occur from overstimulation within the neural pathways. During the release of chemicals, the effect of lowering the neurotransmitter levels is observed as a depressant.

In general, the reaction of TCH within the nervous system can react as a hallucinogen, depressant or stimulant, depending on the individual.

What is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol, which reacts with receptors in the human mind and immune system. CBD can reduce pain, discomfort and other drawbacks caused by health problems. The FDA has recently become more receptive to approving cannabinoid based medications for proven treatment. While there are many therapeutic aspects that are becoming discovered from CBD treatments, THC the psychoactive component of marijuana can create mental instability and dependency.

Read more: FDA Approves Epilepsy Treating CBD

Legally Using Marijuana Does Not Prevent Addiction

While marijuana is becoming legally and socially accepted for recreational use, it is still illegal in most states and over 800,000 people are arrested for possession every year. These arrests can create a financial and sociological burden on individuals. This can place them in an adverse situation from something they may have viewed as harmless marijuana use.

States where Marijuana is Legal for Medicinal Use:

• Arkansas
• Arizona
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Ohio
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• West Virginia

States where Marijuana is Legal for Recreational & Medicinal Use:

• Alaska
• California
• Colorado
• District of Columbia
• Maine
• Massachusettes
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Vermont
• Washington

“Recreational use” is a very vague term. Does that identify someone as a puff a week user or as a who uses marijuana or marijuana-based products 5+ times a day? While the term was meant to be all-encompassing, is using pot 5+ times a day actually “Recreational Use” or is it more so “Habitual Use”? Marijuana can become very habit forming and can create negative setbacks based around repeated use. When someone finds themselves dependent on any substance, the preoccupation with the sensation or infatuated with the act of using, it can be looked at as an addiction to using the drug. Marijuana while becoming socially and legally accepted is still very capable of becoming an addiction.

What Can Cause Marijuana Addiction?

It would be irresponsible for us to ignore the fact that men we have treated during recovery have expressed a dependence on marijuana that was affecting their life.

Most addictions do not begin with the substance itself but rather a history of trauma, internal conflicts or mental illness, amongst other issues, that went unresolved.

These issues can take years, in some cases lifetimes before they are understood to be the cause of an addictive behavior.

Prescott House is dedicated to resolving the guilt and shame that hinders a man’s life. Whether that was caused by self-destruction, abuse, or neglect, getting to the root of the addictive behavior is vital to successful recovery.

Removing the substance of choice does not remove the underlying issues men face. Sobriety allows recovery to grow and endure through the bad times and the good.

No matter the specific drug of choice, Prescott House is here to disscus how we can restore a man to having a healthy, productive and meaningful life, free from addiction.

Heath Risks

Marijuana, like all substances, effects everyone differently. Short-term hazards of marijuana users have expressed anxiety, memory loss, paranoia, difficulties learning and thinking, lack of attention, judgment, increased appetite, reddening of eyes, sleepiness and poor driving skills.

The long-term hazards of marijuana addiction can cause serious respiratory problems from smoking due to a higher burning temperature which leads to risks of infection.

There are many ways that marijuana can enter the body. It is usually smoked using a pipe, a bong, by rolling a joint, and in blunt form (cigars that are emptied out of tobacco and refilled with marijuana). Edibles are becoming more popular as it removes the carcinogenic risks of smoking. It can be eaten in food and through various baked products.

Follow Up

The subject of marijuana use and misuse is touchy among advocates and mental health care professionals. It is heralded for its positive treatment properties but also acknowledged to have the potential for abuse. If you or someone you know is dealing with negative consequences based around marijuana or substance abuse use please reach out to us at Prescott House 1-866-425-4673.