Although it’s often considered to be a harmless drug, marijuana addiction exists and it’s certainly not harmless. On this page we’ll put this drug in the spotlight and cover all you need to know about weed addiction, including the ways that it is consumed; how it is taken in the US, the UK and elsewhere; weed slang names; and more.

Once you’re ready then you might want to take a look at our other pages on this drug, including Marijuana Detox, which can help you kick your weed addiction to the curb and get on with your life. Assuming that you want to, of course, because as discussed in our CBD Marijuana page, there are a lot of benefits to using this drug.

Marijuana Addiction

Cannabis is one of the most popular drugs in the world, and one that has been used since ancient times. The name “Cannabis” refers to the cannabis plant, from which the flowers are harvested and dried to create a drug known as “weed” or “marijuana”. These flowers contain the active ingredient THC. This is also found in the leaves of the plant, which are used to make hashish, a block form of cannabis.

Marijuana has a sedating and euphoric effect, and it does not lead to the heavy addictions and withdrawals commonly associated with harder drugs. However, Marijuana can cause many unique problems and it can also lead to psychological dependency.

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Although Marijuana is not as physically addictive as opiates and other hard drugs, it can be psychologically addictive, which in turn can lead to many physiological effects. Heavy smokers of cannabis often find it difficult to get motivated and constantly feel fatigued and sluggish. The dissociative effects of the drug, as well as the paranoia so commonly associated with the cannabis high, also leads to feelings of isolation and anxiety.

Those with mental illnesses and a family history of mental illnesses are also at risk of developing further problems or triggering issues that have since laid dormant. What’s more, because cannabis is smoked, it can lead to respiratory problems, including lung cancer.

There is a common fallacy amongst regular users that cannabis is somehow “healthier” than cigarettes and that it can even clean your lungs of the tar left by tobacco smoke. This is simply not the case, and while cannabis does not include many of the chemicals that make cigarettes so unhealthy, it is still smoke and it is still toxic. You also have no way of knowing what the drug was sprayed with before you purchased it, and in the case of low-quality weed you might be better off with a cigarette.

Addicted to Weed: Are you Suffering from Marijuana Addiction?

The main symptom of marijuana addiction is the feeling that you can not live without the drug and the constant desire to consume it. However, there is a little more at play. Marijuana addiction refers to something that consumes you and your life. You might think that you’re okay because you can stop at any moment. That’s what many addicts say.

But only when they actually try to stop do they realize that they are in deeper than they thought. They panic when their supply runs low, they begin to do desperate things to ensure they always have some marijuana to turn to. Marijuana addiction is not just about heavy use. It is something that consumes the person and their life, something that takes over their career, their relationships and every other aspect of them.

Weed Slang: Names for Weed

There are hundreds of slang terms for marijuana. In fact, Time once suggested that they were over 1,000 names for weed. That’s an impressive number and a surprising one at that. These range from the most common, such as “weed” and “pot” to ones that are more common in specific countries, such as “reefer”.

There are also specific terms for joints, such as “doobie” and “spliff”. It is also known as:

• Bud
• Grass
• Hash
• Herb
• Mary Jane
• Ganja
• Chronic

Ways Weed is Consumed

There are many different ways that marijuana is taken. These include some obvious and some less than obvious ways, as described in more detail below:

Smoking and Inhaling Weed

The most common way to consume weed is to smoke it. It produces a quick and short high and this is the method of least preparation. Joints are made without filters to allow for a stronger and easier toke and bongs are also a popular method of getting the maximum hit from a single dose.

Smoking can cause damage to the lungs and the throat though. Because of this vaporizers have become increasingly popular. These can be used to turn the cannabis into a cool vapor which is then inhaled. It’s kinder on the lungs and throat and there is none of that toxic smoke to deal with.

Marijuana Edibles

One of the most common ways to consume marijuana is via edibles, which basically means consuming the weed as food. Cooking the buds help to activate the THC like smoking would. It takes longer to act as the body needs to steadily release it, but because of that steady release edibles typically produce a longer and stronger effect.

You will need to be careful when measuring out the dose of edibles. It’s always advised that a first-time cannabis eater consumes a small amount and waits to see the effect before trying more.

Cannabis edibles are made from all kinds of sweet and savory foods. One of the easiest ways to make foods from this drug is to create cannabis butter and to then add this butter to batters, fillings and toppings. The flavor is strong though, as is the smell. So you might want to crank open a window when you’re cooking.

Cannabis Cream

One of the newer ways to consume weed is via something known as marijuana topicals, or weed cream. These are cannabis-infused creams, balms and oils that are rubbed into the skin and are said to be absorbed into the blood. But do cannabis creams work?

Well, they work in the sense that your body gets a dose of many of the components active in marijuana. The topicals bind to cannabis receptors in the body, but THC does not. So, even if the cannabis cream contains THC it is highly unlikely that it would produce any kind of high.

THC Pills and Oils

In the past THC has been available in pill form. These are often prescribed for medical issues and are less common for recreational use. One of the most common of these is a product known as Marinol. This is a synthetic chemical and is is technically not marijuana, even though it is often thought to be. Marinol has its uses though and it also has its own schedule. Marinol has been available since the mid 1980s and is approved by the FDA for us in treating many diseases.

Creating THC pills is not as simple as grinding some pot and putting it into gelatin capsules. The marijuana needs heat for those chemicals to be activated. So, THC pills are often made by baking the product, grinding it to a fine dust and then adding it to capsules. These may be created by medical marijuana users to give them an easier and smoke-free way of consuming weed. They can also be sold on the street.

What is Jimson Weed?

Jimson Weed is not a form of marijuana. It can be used as a drug, but it really shouldn’t be. Jimson Weed is a plant that is a member of the Belladonna family, also known as one of the most toxic plants in the world. There are reports that it was previously used as a drug by teenagers in the 1990s, but thankfully this no longer seems to be the case.

It is highly risky, highly dangerous and nothing like cannabis. So, leave this one along.

What is Bubblegum Weed

Bubble Gum weed is just a strain of weed, but one that seems to be very popular. For whatever reason, Bubblegum weed or Bubble Gum weed has received a lot of publicity in recent years and it’s the one we have heard the most about. It is a hybrid of weed, which means it comes from both of the main cannabis strains (indica and sativa) and it has been popular for several decades.

It is not overly strong and is not one of the many modern skunks that get a bad press for their high THC content. As a result, it could be considered to be safer and more of a viable option for first-time smokers.

Marijuana Addiction in the US

As mentioned above, there are many American states that have legalized the use of medical marijuana. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can buy weed freely throughout the country and that you are free to enjoy it on the street and in your own home. This is a misconception that often surrounds countries that have legalized marijuana and it is something that was believed about Amsterdam for many years.

For one thing, many US states have yet to legalize marijuana. If you are caught smoking it there then you can end up with a pretty severe sentence on account on the fact that many regions still have strict cannabis laws in place. Secondly, smoking in most forms is illegal in public places, including restaurants and even the street. Thirdly, most states that have “legalized” it have only legalized medical marijuana. You need a prescription to use this. That prescription is often easy to get, but that doesn’t mean you can use freely and without fear of repercussion.

If you are caught in possession of marijuana without a prescription then you will be treated just as if you were caught with other prescription narcotics. Finally, it’s also important to note that you can not, under any circumstances, sell marijuana, even in states where it is seemingly legal. You need the correct licenses to do this and street dealers are still punished by the law.