I loved this and really appreciate takes like this. I started smoking weed in high school and later on in college ended up incredibly dependent on it. I felt similarly to those you described in MA, that being dependent on weed is something that people laugh at, but it was definitely an unhealthy form of self-medicating for me and I'm sure for a lot of others as well. I 100% support legalization and letting people smoke however they want, but there should definitely be more nuanced discussions about the reality of dependence.
I so appreciate this research and information on an often overlooked aspect of cannabis use. Personally and professionally I have often heard similar to "“A lot of people say marijuana worked, until it didn’t." The "it is good for everyone!" (as if any substance that has a notable impact on one's system in such a way doesn't also come with side effects & contraindications) as a way to relax message that is marketed leaves many who become addicted confused & isolated, which creates barriers to get help and support they need. Thanks so much for sharing this.
infinite jest ass anti stoner column sorry ppl with real problems laughed at u for getting scared but caffeine's a way more painful withdrawal than weed could ever be where's this energy for red bull or whatever u sound like alex berenson
I understood the basic idea as being that you can get addicted to any chemical. Obviously, med marijuana is going to involve the risk (much less damaging than opiods) of addiction, and addictive behavior. And... the situation is an improvement over the 'charging people for felonies' for their marijuana use/addiction. The drug panic-law enforcement complex has adapted to the threat to their business adroitly by promoting the fentanyl panic.
It is still the case that the US has a crappy healthcare system, miserably bad addiction treatment system, and is absolutely godawful at dealing with severe mental illness.
Great piece -- I'm gobsmacked by the claims that sellers of hemp-derived mail-order thc products make in adverts.
the perfect way to relax, unwind, with no negative side effects whatsoever!
I find it particularly hard to avoid on podcasts (are those ad-feeds targeted to the listener yet?), and pretty jarring when you compare the ads against what alcohol purveyors are allowed to communicate.
Towards the tail end of my addiction to weed, I was smoking an ounce of flower a week. I ended up having psychosis due to withdrawal from it when detoxing and had to be hospitalised despite never having experienced psychosis on over hundred trips of acid or mushrooms (last one being three years before this incident) and was delirious and had enhanced paradolioa for about six weeks afterwards and still have lasting effects of that although with medication, it is significantly better. May my suffering be an example for those who say that withdrawal from weed is a piece of cake.
Really, really appreciate the angle of this reporting. As someone who has generally been pro-normalization of weed culture, I can definitely see how there needs to be more research and discussion around weed as an addictive substance.
My impression is that weed addiction butts up tight against more systemic issues affecting mental health. I've talked to people who get high every day and most of the time, they do consider it a necessary medicine but other times, they'll admit it's to treat anxiety largely caused by life problems - especially burnout from work. I'm happy with my relationship to weed because I take an edible maybe once every two weeks as a sort of trip. But I also have a good enough job and my bills paid. I don't know what advice to offer people who will acknowledge they're not happy with how often they smoke but believe it's necessary treatment to cope with a situation they can't get out of.
Thanks for sharing. I'm writing a Substack on my sobriety journey from weed, because I wanted something out there for other folks like me, struggling with an addiction to weed in a world where a lot of folks deny the addictiveness of it. I was even taught it isn't addictive in high school, back in the 90's, before we knew what we now know about the effects of THC on the brain.
I loved this and really appreciate takes like this. I started smoking weed in high school and later on in college ended up incredibly dependent on it. I felt similarly to those you described in MA, that being dependent on weed is something that people laugh at, but it was definitely an unhealthy form of self-medicating for me and I'm sure for a lot of others as well. I 100% support legalization and letting people smoke however they want, but there should definitely be more nuanced discussions about the reality of dependence.
I so appreciate this research and information on an often overlooked aspect of cannabis use. Personally and professionally I have often heard similar to "“A lot of people say marijuana worked, until it didn’t." The "it is good for everyone!" (as if any substance that has a notable impact on one's system in such a way doesn't also come with side effects & contraindications) as a way to relax message that is marketed leaves many who become addicted confused & isolated, which creates barriers to get help and support they need. Thanks so much for sharing this.
infinite jest ass anti stoner column sorry ppl with real problems laughed at u for getting scared but caffeine's a way more painful withdrawal than weed could ever be where's this energy for red bull or whatever u sound like alex berenson
I understood the basic idea as being that you can get addicted to any chemical. Obviously, med marijuana is going to involve the risk (much less damaging than opiods) of addiction, and addictive behavior. And... the situation is an improvement over the 'charging people for felonies' for their marijuana use/addiction. The drug panic-law enforcement complex has adapted to the threat to their business adroitly by promoting the fentanyl panic.
It is still the case that the US has a crappy healthcare system, miserably bad addiction treatment system, and is absolutely godawful at dealing with severe mental illness.
elm
news at 11... for the past 50 years
Great piece -- I'm gobsmacked by the claims that sellers of hemp-derived mail-order thc products make in adverts.
the perfect way to relax, unwind, with no negative side effects whatsoever!
I find it particularly hard to avoid on podcasts (are those ad-feeds targeted to the listener yet?), and pretty jarring when you compare the ads against what alcohol purveyors are allowed to communicate.
Wow. I totally thought marijuana was “the one drug” that wasn’t addictive. Thank you
Towards the tail end of my addiction to weed, I was smoking an ounce of flower a week. I ended up having psychosis due to withdrawal from it when detoxing and had to be hospitalised despite never having experienced psychosis on over hundred trips of acid or mushrooms (last one being three years before this incident) and was delirious and had enhanced paradolioa for about six weeks afterwards and still have lasting effects of that although with medication, it is significantly better. May my suffering be an example for those who say that withdrawal from weed is a piece of cake.
Really, really appreciate the angle of this reporting. As someone who has generally been pro-normalization of weed culture, I can definitely see how there needs to be more research and discussion around weed as an addictive substance.
My impression is that weed addiction butts up tight against more systemic issues affecting mental health. I've talked to people who get high every day and most of the time, they do consider it a necessary medicine but other times, they'll admit it's to treat anxiety largely caused by life problems - especially burnout from work. I'm happy with my relationship to weed because I take an edible maybe once every two weeks as a sort of trip. But I also have a good enough job and my bills paid. I don't know what advice to offer people who will acknowledge they're not happy with how often they smoke but believe it's necessary treatment to cope with a situation they can't get out of.
Thanks for sharing. I'm writing a Substack on my sobriety journey from weed, because I wanted something out there for other folks like me, struggling with an addiction to weed in a world where a lot of folks deny the addictiveness of it. I was even taught it isn't addictive in high school, back in the 90's, before we knew what we now know about the effects of THC on the brain.