Approximately 4 million 12+-year-old individuals faced marijuana use disorder, i.e., addiction in 2016. And the rate continues to grow.
Its less than 10 per cent but still represents a significant portion of the entire population. And the fact that the price is increasing instead of decreasing is alarming.
Truthfully, such statistics are a result of numerous reasons. But the prominent reason is the legalization of medical marijuana.
Medical Cannabis products are getting consumed in more than 30 states of the USA in the form of brownies, beverages, creams, lotions, oils, and vaporizers.
The reason you found an emphasis on the last word is that it’s a point of concern for many. Smoking medical marijuana has become a topic of debate.
Some tend to compare the practice with tobacco smoking and demand ban. They claim it may result in the loss of lungs and brains of an entire generation if the authorities refuse to take timely action.
While some counter with research that claims smoking marijuana can increase lung capacity instead of damaging it. But that doesn’t address addiction. Does it?
Well, amidst all the chaos and arguments, smoking medical Marijuana, its addiction, and the treatment have become a convoluted topic. Knots need to get untangled, and the truth needs attention before its too late.
We have formulated this article to clear the fog out for you. Continue reading to learn if smoking medical marijuana can ever cause addiction. And if so, how should you treat it?
Medical Marijuana At a Glance
The usage of cannabis for medicinal purposes dates back to as far as human beings can remember. However, with time, the plant has encountered legal limitations, which has sprung up a wave of curiosity in enlightened minds.
In the modern era, cannabis has grasped the attention of almost every other scientific organization.
Each entity is researching and testing the short-term as well as long-term effects of cannabis. The linkage between cannabis and medicine is the most popular one these days. But why? Let’s inspect how marijuana improves one’s health.
Cannabis has different chemical compounds called cannabinoids. However, the most beneficial is cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
These chemical compounds are similar to the ones produced by our ECS system. The Endocannabinoid System of our body comprises of endocannabinoids, enzymes, and receptors. Together the three components work to keep our body healthy in terms of emotions, appetite, temperature, etc.
With the similarity, the cannabinoids enter our body and collaborate with the ECS system to boost the overall health.
The CBD interacts with both the mind and body receptors to bring benefit, whereas THC combines with only mind receptors. Hence, explaining the high effect associated with the THC.
Concisely, medical marijuana is famous for bringing the following positive outcomes:
- Reduced anxiety & depression
- Balance in appetite
- Lesser inflammation & chronic pain
- Negligible nausea & vomiting
- Decreased muscle spasms
According to several types of research, medical marijuana is capable of treating the following diseases:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Cancer & tumors
- Mental health disorders
However, medical marijuana use may result in some side effects, too, like dizziness, dry mouth, and bloodshot eyes.
The legality of Cannabis Medication
Despite the presence of a few side effects, people have preferred to value the positive side of the plant and demanded ever since.
Recently, the demand and positivity towards medical cannabis increased so much that a majority of US states have legalized it. Altogether 33-states have legalized medical marijuana, including:
- Delaware
- Connecticut
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Maine
- Hawai
- Florida
- Arkansas
- Colorado
Well, with such expansive legalization, you might not be surprised to find numerous dispensaries in the country. And, in the dispensary, you will find a hundred different medical-marijuana based products.
Indeed, different people like to consume cannabis differently. Some prefer eating cannabis-infused edibles, while others like smoking or inhaling through vaporizers. There are also cannabis creams and lotions available.
Who Smokes Medical Cannabis, and Why?
A majority of medical marijuana consumers prefer smoking to edibles and topicals. But why? Well, there are a couple of good reasons for the preference.
- It transfers cannabinoids far rapidly and efficiently
When a person inhales the medical marijuana, the cannabinoids travel to the lungs that absorb it in seconds. The lungs have small air sacs called alveoli. Alveoli access to millions of blood vessels as the gaseous exchange is taking place over there. Thus, when cannabis compounds reach the lungs, they get readily absorbed into the bloodstream through alveoli.
- It helps control dosages
Smoking helps people who aren’t sure about cannabis dosages. With smaller puffs, they consume marijuana only until it relieves the pain. Hence, one can easily control the cannabis dosage.
- It is an easy way of experimentation
At times, patients want to try out different cannabis strains for increased benefits. Hence, smoking marijuana offers ease in quick experimentation.
Ways of Smoking Medical Marijuana Properly
There are a lot of different styles of smoking cannabis that people prefer. Some of the standard methods include:
- Rolling Papers
The rolling papers refer to the practice of rolling marijuana into a paper so that it looks like small cigarettes. It is a convenient method, though the cannabis odour is powerful, and some of the smoke gets lost to the air. Also, be careful of the amount you pack in one roll.
- Pipes
Usage of pipes to smoke medical marijuana has become quite popular these days. People use two types of pipes, namely; Hand pipes and Water pipes.
Hand pipes are easy to control the amount of cannabis and offers good flavors. There is a hole on the pipe to control the flow of smoke too.
Water pipes are a unique way of smoking. But, one has to replace the water after use and clean the pipe properly. Upon inhaling, patients get a cooling effect as the smoke passes the water first. Also, water pipes produce a lot of smoke.
Both types of pipes are available in a variety of styles and designs.
Effects of Smoking Cannabis
The following are the effects of intensive pot smoking:
Physical:
- Expansion of Bloodvessels in the eyes, making them look bloodshot.
- Negative impact on fertility
- Increase in blood pressure
- Inability to walk properly
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
Psychological:
- Orthostatic Hypotension (Dizziness)
- Loss of memory
- Sleepiness
- Altered senses
- Anxiety and depression
- Hallucinations
- Drug-craving addiction
Extent of Cannabis Addiction
Almost every other day, numerous individuals get themselves enrolled in 12-step groups to treat their marijuana addiction. In a 4-year-long study, 2446 individuals (aged 14-24) using marijuana were observed. The results were as follows:
- 13% of them continued using marijuana in spite of the adverse addiction it caused.
- 14% faced difficulty controlling the use
- 17% faced withdrawal when they stopped taking weed.
- 10% met the criteria of Cannabis Addiction
Such is the dangerous results of cannabis addiction. But does the same imply to medical cannabis? Well, not exactly.
According to several types of research, medical marijuana has quite a low risk of addiction. That’s because, for medicinal purposes, it gets consumed in minimal amounts. Thus, small quantities of intoxicating compounds enter the body.
Hence, it does not cause much toxicity, as well. However, there is a growing concern about the psychological dependency on heavy users.
Cannabis Dependence and Withdrawal
A majority of medical marijuana users consume only the amount that is necessary to relieve them from pain. But, at times, one may get dependent on the drug.
It is because the brain gets accustomed to the drug effects. And, when one stops consuming cannabis, the brain may work to reduce the drug effects.
For example, a person used medical marijuana to treat excessive anxiety and stress. Over time, the brain may get dependent on the effects of the drug. And, once the person stops consuming marijuana, the mind will increase anxiety and stress. So, that one keeps on taking those drugs.
This particular condition where one feels adverse effects after cutting down the drug supply gets referred to as withdrawal.
Although medical marijuana addiction exists, very few people experience it. The reason behind it is simple; people consume medical marijuana for a prescribed period. Thus, it cures the pain without causing the brain to get dependent.
Marijuana Treatment Options
Quite surprisingly, it is none other than the Cannabis plant itself that beholds the treatment of recreational or medical cannabis addiction. It holds the solution in the form of CBD.
CBD or cannabidiol is the second active compound of Cannabis Sativa. In recent years, lots of new CBD-based products got introduced that treat several ailments.
However, its the CBD Oil that gained the most considerable popularity of all. Not only because it provided a potential treatment for conditions like:
- Seizures
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
- Depression, etc.
But also because it provided a possible cure for Cannabis addiction. Be it, curing of medical marijuana case gone wrong or a patient willing to get rid of recreational addiction.
As per an authentic source, claims that people who took CBD capsules were able to half the amount of cannabis they previously smoked. In another test, 82 severely addicted people received three varying doses of CBD Oil. These include:
- Small dose
- Moderate (400mg)
- High (800mg)
Results confirmed that the moderate dose worked best. After six months of use, Cannabis smokers were able to half the amount of their Cannabis intake.
Another possible solution to the problem is a drug called Sativex. It contains the same ratio of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD. It cancels out the addictive effects and helps patients recover.
However, experts still prefer CBD over Sativex. That’s because CBD possesses a bunch of anti-addictive and anxiety-reducing properties.
Curing with Rehab Programs
Apart from the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for addiction, there are rehabilitation programs as well. They help to minimize marijuana dependence until it almost becomes non-existent.
Some of the practical and customarily used techniques include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational Enhancement and Interviewing
Another approach to treating this addiction is to address mental health issues. Around the world, mental health professionals use individual, group, or family therapy to cure the condition. At times, they even take the help of medical management and diagnostic assessments to address the issue.
The following are some conventional techniques used by professionals:
- Inter-Personal Therapy (IPT)
Marijuana addiction can bring long spells of depression, which seems to reinforce and fuel it. To treat this, some mental health professionals use IPT. The treatment uses a variety of methods to increase awareness in the patient about his or her ongoing social relations.
After the therapy, the patient realizes the toxic relations or pattern in relations that keep driving him or her to addiction. And to treat addiction, the person should first set that pattern right.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
By using practices like gentle stretches in yoga, mindful meditation, SOBER technique, and Body scan, this therapy aims to increase present-moment awareness. At times, addiction numbs our mind to the extent that we keep falling into the same destructive cycle over and over again. This helpful therapy aims to break the cycle by making patients more aware of their thoughts and actions.
- Solution Focused Therapy
Unlike other therapies, the Solution Focused Therapy aims to liberate the patient of his current worries and seek a positive future. Based on the fact that life is ever-changing, the therapy eventually motivates the patient to acquire that positive change. The mental health professional begins sessions with minute things like what does the addicted patient expect of today’s sessions. Gradually, the conversations shift to a broader canvas, helping him let go off the excessive marijuana for the better.