Marijuana is one of the most widely used drugs in the United States, but it can have serious health consequences as well as other negative effects on a person’s life. There are some signs to watch out for that suggest a person might be addicted to weed. THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the part of the cannabis plant that causes the mental effect. THC can cause changes to the brain that impact the structure and ability to function, including learning, memory, cognitive ability, and behavior—including future substance use. This is an increased concern for younger people exposed to THC, including babies during pregnancy.
Support Our Mission
- His successor, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, chose not to appeal.
- Experts are still investigating why some people become addicted while others don’t.
- This condition can be diagnosed by a healthcare professional such as a medical doctor or psychologist.
- The age at which a person begins using cannabis is another factor linked to the risk for addiction.
- In other words, marijuana is cannabis, but not all forms of cannabis are marijuana (contain THC).
They don’t get caught with marijuana and never enter the legal system. This means that when the drug wears off, the person’s heart could start to race, they could become irritable or depressed, or experience any number of other reactions called withdrawal. Volkow marijuana addiction thinks that this decreased response to dopamine is likely caused by marijuana use. Another possibility is that marijuana users who become misusers have a dopamine system that’s naturally less responsive, making them more vulnerable to abusing the drug.
Medical Marijuana: Facts about cannabis, THC, and CBD
Some researchers are looking at CBD, the nonintoxicating component of cannabis, as a treatment for cannabis withdrawal. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a drug must have well-defined and measurable ingredients consistent from one unit (such as a pill or injection) to the next. Medicinal marijuana is used to treat and manage a variety of medical concerns, including physical and mental health challenges. Despite the risks, studies of medicinal marijuana use have shown effectiveness. Nearly 90 percent of people who use medicinal marijuana claim that it helps them to manage their disease and symptoms, and many find that they are able to decrease their use of other medications.
Barriers to treatment
In recent years, there have been a number of studies that have highlighted the use marijuana in treating certain medical conditions. “Mental health is a huge risk factor for addiction,” said Stalcup. If you’re anxious, it’ll go away with a couple of hits, a beer.
- These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and function.
- Millions of Americans can pick up, and put down, marijuana relatively easily.
- With the ongoing legalization of marijuana in the United States and around the world, it can be hard to say how this will impact marijuana use and abuse.
- Judge Maryellen Noreika refused to accept the deal because of disputes between prosecutors and defense lawyers over whether it protected Biden from potential future charges.
