is cannabis or marijuana addictive. scientific response please?

Answer 1

"Animal research has shown that the potential for cannabinoid psychological dependence does exist, and includes mild withdrawal symptoms. Although not as severe as that for alcohol, heroin, or cocaine dependence, marijuana withdrawal is usually characterized by insomnia, restlessness, loss of appetite, irritability, anger, increased muscle activity (jerkiness), and aggression after sudden cessation of chronic use as a result of physiological tolerance. Prolonged marijuana use produces both pharmacokinetic changes (how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted) and pharmacodynamic changes (how the drug interacts with target cells) to the body. These changes require the user to consume higher doses of the drug to achieve a common desirable effect, and reinforce the body’s metabolic systems for synthesizing and eliminating the drug more efficiently.

Preliminary research, published in the April 2006 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, indicates that cannabis addiction can be offset by a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational incentives. Participants in the study (previously diagnosed with marijuana dependence) received either vouchers as incentives to stay drug free, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or both over a 14-week period. At the end of 3 months, 43 percent of those who received both treatments were no longer using marijuana, compared with 40 percent of the voucher group, and 30 percent of the therapy group. At the end of a 12-month follow-up, 37 percent of those who got both treatments remained abstinent, compared with 17 percent of the voucher group, and 23 percent of the therapy group."

This, and more, available on the free, online encyclopedia, Wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_issues_and_the_effects_of_cannabis

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a report entitled, "Combination of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Incentives Enhance Treatment for Marijuana Addiction" at this web site:
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2006/nida-01.htm

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

The term "addictive" is not a scientific term as it can mean too many different things.

The problem with most drugs is that they do change brain chemistry sufficiently enough to cause a loss of some ability to live a life independent of drugs. Some drugs, such as meth, alter the brain chemistry after only one or two uses so that the person, the victim, loses any ability to enjoy life without the drug. That is a serious problem as it typically leads to suicide.

The desire to experiment and discover altered states of consciousness is a natural one, but you have to be really careful with drugs. They are not to be taken lightly, if at all. There are NO drug experiences that are worth the risks. They simply block you from exploring your mind's ability at learning and being creative. At best they waste your time on triviality and empty pleasures. At worse, they kill you.

Answer 3

It is not addictive.
I am not retsricted by someone elses science. Practical experience is far more important.
I smoked marijuana very heavily, like 6 or 8 joints a day, for over five years. I stopped with no wothdrawal symptoms or problems, and my wife did the same. So it is definitely not addictive, irrelevant of waht any scientist, who is usually paid by the pharmaceutical companies, says. Don't forget who sponsors scientists. They are looking for reports which say the things they want them to say. Any reports which say otherwise do not get published. There are more reports destroyed than are kept.

Do not believe in scientists. They too, are controlled by the mind-control propaganda machine.

Answer 4

well sure it is.
just depends on the person using it.
everything has the potential to be habit forming:
gambling
exercising
recreational drugs
medical treatment
sugar
eating
sex
internet

Anything can lead to a habit forming situation which is "addiction". why would marijuana be any different?

Marijauna is just as addicting as anything else that is psyhcologically addicting, which again is EVERYTHING!

While it isn't some kind a gateway drug as people suggest, to keep you form doing it, it is psychologically addicting.
And may make you lazy, and possibly gain weight after you start hitting the lil debbie's snack cakes when you get the munchies!

it just depends on the person using it, and how much self control they have to prevent themselves from abusing something they like.

Answer 5

anything can be addictive, it just depends on the person. addiction is just as much a mental thing as it is physical.

government and scientific studies say that pot is addictive.

many pot users say it isnt.. but these are also the same people that think the carebears are the most amazing thing in the universe.

Answer 6

See link below:




Having been around Narcotics Anonymous for several years and having seen members whose drug of choice was pot I would conclude that it is both physically and psychologically addictive or these members (scores of members) would not have such difficulty in stopping and staying stopped. I can't speak from first hand experience however, as pot was not my drug of choice.

Answer 7

Hi, the easiest way is that, the herb itself is not addictive but the reaction from it is. Hope you understand that...

Answer 8

Excuse me while I put one together!! um er what was the question?Yeah I suppose just like tea and toast except you cant buy it from the corner shop.Too much of anything is bad!!!

Answer 9

not generally but if you have an addictive nature or you are using it to mask unwanted emotions then yes it becomes so

Answer 10

I think it can be psycologically addictive rather than physically.