Cannabis / Marijuana (‘Weed’ ‘Grass’) Addiction Treatment

Marijuana, also called Marijuana, Pot Weed, Grass, Ganja or Hashish, is the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. Hashish and hash oil are concentrated cannabis plant materials.

Marijuana is smoked in a joint, pipe, or water pipe (bong).

What are the effects of marijuana addiction?

When you smoke marijuana, THC (a drug compound) gets into your bloodstream quickly and goes to the brain and other organs.

THC targets brain cell cannabinoid receptors regardless of how it is taken. These receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system, which controls how the brain grows and works.

Cannabinoid receptors are most common in parts of the brain that control pleasure, memory, thinking, focus, perception of time and senses, and coordinated movement. Marijuana over-activates the endocannabinoid system, causing the “high” and other effects, such as:

  • Changed mood and perception
  • In-coordination
  • Thinking, problem-solving, and memory issues
  • Low or increased appetite

Marijuana use worsens as a result of daily problems. Heavy users are less happy with their lives, mental and physical health, relationships, and academic and career success. Drug use increases the likelihood of dropping out of school. Several studies show that people who use marijuana are more likely to miss work, be late, get into accidents, and quit their jobs.

Diseases caused by cannabis

Marijuana use can cause heart, lung, and mental health issues.

People who smoke marijuana often can get many of the same breathing problems as people who smoke tobacco, such as:

  • Coughing and phlegm daily
  • Frequent chest infections
  • Lung infections
  • Lowered immunity
  • Kills brain cells
  • Damage to the central nervous system
  • Infertility
  • Hypertension and heart rate

Numerous studies link chronic marijuana use to mental illness. Some users experience psychosis at high doses. Schizophrenia patients’ symptoms may worsen with drug use. Marijuana also causes psychosis.

Other mental health issues linked to marijuana abuse include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Personality issues
  • Suicidal Ideation (among adolescents)
  • Disinterest in activities (demotivation syndrome)

Marijuana use during pregnancy increases neuro-behavioral problems in babies. Pregnant mothers who use marijuana may affect the fetus’ brain’s development. The child may have attention, memory, and problem-solving issues.

Heavy marijuana use can also harm young brains. Thinking and memory may be permanently affected.

Marijuana impairs judgment and motor coordination, making driving more dangerous. Marijuana use appears to double a driver’s accident risk. Marijuana and alcohol together impair driving more than either one alone.

Is marijuana addictive?

Marijuana is addictive. Addiction affects 9% of users, according to research. Seventeen percent of young and daily users become addicted (an estimated 25–50 percent become addicted).

Cannabis addicts may experience withdrawal when quitting. Withdrawal symptoms like irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug cravings can make abstaining difficult.

What are the signs of cannabis addiction?

Marijuana addiction is usually diagnosed in adolescence or young adulthood. But recent changes in society that make marijuana use more acceptable and make it easier to get both recreational and medical marijuana may make it easier for older people to become addicted. Marijuana addiction has behavioural and physical signs like other drug addictions (known medically as cannabis use disorder).

Signs of marijuana addiction include:

  • Misperceptions
  • Lack of coordination
  • Problems thinking and solving
  • Memory issues
  • Blurred, bloodshot eye
  • Mucus-filled cough
  • Arrhythmia
  • Thirst
  • Anxiety, paranoia, or fear
  • Forgetfulness
  • Disorganised
  • Unresponsiveness (not being able to express feelings)
  • Lack of motor control

Cannabis withdrawals

Long-term drug abuse causes marijuana withdrawal symptoms within a week of stopping use. Common cannabis withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Aggression, irritability
  • Unease
  • Sleeplessness
  • Weight loss/decreased appetite
  • Restlessness
  • Sadness

Physical symptoms include abdominal pain, shakiness/tremors, sweating, fever, chills, or headache.

An addiction professional needs to look at these withdrawal symptoms to figure out if they are caused by marijuana withdrawal or by something else.

What is the treatment for cannabis addiction?

Marijuana “rehab” is similar to alcohol and other drug rehabs. Depending on the patient’s situation, other drug use, and treatment needs, evidence-based therapies like Twelve Step facilitation, cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and others can treat addiction. Discover our treatments.

Some cannabis addicts may simultaneously suffer from co-morbid addictions or several mental disorders, requiring care and treatment. Hope Trust has an excellent track record with dual-diagnosis treatment.