Is marijuana addictive?

Nurses General Nursing

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A couple of us were having this discussion tonight. One nurses says no it is not addictive. I said "well I've know some potheads who couldn't stop smoking, couldn't face life without pot, etc." Sounds like an addict to me.

She says it's not been proven to be physically addictive.

Actually, I'm of the belief anything can be addictive, especially if it's mood altering, or even endorphin raising.

Originally posted by ITSJUSTMEZOE

PS: You can drive on it, if your speed limit is 15 mph because thats as fast as you will be going. Though in your mind your driving 55.

yeah...but it feels like it takes hours to go a block.....:rolleyes:

pot is not physically addictive - that is, no physical withdraw symptoms when you stop using - but sure does make some people feel good. whether that constitutes an addiction who knows. AA and NA dont treat someone as sober who still smokes pot. i dont think that if something is not physically addictive then its ok - what about methamphetamine? that is also not physically addictive - no withdraw symptoms - but did you ever see some try to kick a meth habit even though they are just psychologically addicted? the psychological part is often the hardest.

Originally posted by bodine

the psychological part is often the hardest.

Someone can become psychologically addicted to just about anything, whether it is physically addicting as well or not. Some people are addicted to cigarettes, or alcohol, or food, or even exercising. I don't really think the government's job is to save people from themselves. People should be given the straight facts (no bullcrap like those anti-marijuana commercials) and be allowed to decide for themselves. If someone has no self control, no amount of making something illegal is going to solve that. If you have no self control, and you want it bad enough, you'll get it. I think we need to focus less on drug use as a criminal problem and focus more on it as a medical problem requiring treatment and rehabilitation.

Marijuana doesn't seem to be addictive, as people have said here. People do get hooked (in the vernacular) in that they really really like it and don't WANT to stop. Heck, my best friend is a major cigarette (tobacco) smoker and she doesn't want to stop. She's aware of the health risks, and to her, it's worth it.

I've also read that the smoke from marijuana is more damaging to lung tissues than tobacco smoke, but it seems to me that, unless someone's entire lifestyle is nothing but lying around smoking pot, they don't have nearly as much exposure.

I'm the other one in my generation -- and I suspect I'm a bit older than you -- who's never tried it. There's no way I can or ever could purposely inhale smoke. Some friends said that they'd fix some brownies for me, but to my knowledge (LOL) they never did. I'm pretty laid-back though. I had a friend who hurt my feelings by saying she'd known me for four years before she figured out I wasn't stoned every day of my life. Me! Upstanding wife, mother and member of the community!

I didn't understand the study quoted here. But, unfortunately, I've known quite a few people who have been on "hard" or harder drugs, and every single one of them - 100% - started out with marijuana. I don't know how to interpret this, but in my experience, it's true. It is certainly NOT true that every person I know who indulges in pot has moved on to heavier drugs.

Here's a good question, I think. And since the thread seems to have wormed away a bit from the original question, I'll pose it. WHY is marijuana illegal? Here's my paranoid conspiracy theory reason: The big liquor companies were afraid it would cut into their profits, so they put up PAC's to keep it illegal.

But maybe I'm just cynical. I think that "big sugar' is keeping cyclamates illegal, too.

I wish it was available medicinally. The THC has some awesome properties: antinausea, pain relief, reduction of occular pressure. Cant' think of any more, but those by themselves seem like they're worth getting it legalized for medical reasons.

I have an acquaintance in California. I don't know if it still is, but medicinal marijuana was legal where he lived. He was in a lot of pain from a severe motorcycle accident, lost a let and has major spinal problems. Marijuana is the most effective pain reliever for him. He moved to another state to be with his "queen," and was arrested for his medicinal marijuana.

Now, he has other issues, of course. I think that most people, if they acted reasonably at the time of the arrest or arraignment or trial would not be jailed for a small amount of marijuana. But he was. He wanted the publicity for his cause of legalizing it.

Love

Dennie

I think it depends on what it is being used for ..... I have seen some amazing help with cancer patients......and I have seen some very sad cases of abuse with drug addicts.

The addicts need the high to escape, and unfortunately like any other drug after awhile the high isnt so great and the need is greater leading to "bigger and better means"... Therefore I think its not only a physical but also a mental means of dependency/

Thank god for me benadryl knocks me out ..... hahahaha cheap date for those of you who can relate :D

Of COURSE it should be legalized. This takes the crime out of the picture. For those who don't think it should be used...don't use it!

We need to legalize it, slap a sin tax on it and put those farmers in Iowa back to work.

-Russell

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

Russell, you speak the fewest and truest words once again.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by Rustyhammer

Of COURSE it should be legalized. This takes the crime out of the picture. For those who don't think it should be used...don't use it!

We need to legalize it, slap a sin tax on it and put those farmers in Iowa back to work.

-Russell

Ok, just promise me in 20 years you won't file a stupid lawsuit against those Iowa farmers for growing something that was bad for you, and blame the government for it.

Originally posted by Susy K

Ok, just promise me in 20 years you won't file a stupid lawsuit against those Iowa farmers for growing something that was bad for you, and blame the government for it.

It's better to let others think you a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

-R

Originally posted by stevielynn

Just a little clarification to those of you who don't think the marijuana grown in the good old USA has any ties to Columbia. Actually read an article, coincidentally, yesterday that said that the illegal aliens who guard the pot gardens in California's National Forests are hired by these same Columbian Drugs Lords portrayed in said anti-marijuana commercials . . . .they use the profits from selling marijuana to you casual, recreational users to fund making methamphetamine, which they sell to little 15 year old girls who then let men use their bodies for sex, make babies who are addicted to methamphetamine, and live lives of degradation. Are you all really nurses? Do you live with your heads in the sand? Are there an OB nurses out there who see the effects of illegal drugs on kids? The stats for my county show that over 50% of the babies born here are born with illegal drugs in their system. How in the world can legalizing drugs stop that? It is appalling that we fund Columbian Drug Lords and their murderous mayhem. Just because alcohol and cigarettes are legal doesn't mean that we should add to the negative effects of alcohol and cigarettes and the people who already use illegal drugs. Legalizing santions drug use. More people will use. More kids will be irrepairably hurt.

I do believe you are a victim of propaganda.

Where do you live that over 50% of the babies are born with illegal drugs in their system and why are they drug testing all the babies born in your county?

Don't believe everything that the media throws at you.

-Russell

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Not sure I understand your post, Rusty.

I wouldn't have to state this about filing stupid lawsuits if we didn't have people suing McDonald's and the tobacco companies for claiming the same things. Who would've thunk it?

Originally posted by Rustyhammer

I do believe you are a victim of propaganda.

LMAO! Every pot head I know has said that to me at one time or another as they fire up the bong. :rolleyes:

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