There is chemical addiction and there is psychological addiction. Weed might not be chemically addictive but it can sure be psychologically addictive which is true with most stoners.
I don’t agree with that chemical/psychological distinction. Weed and other drugs mess with your neurotransmitters/receptors which are fundamental to our psychological functioning, you can’t draw a line and say this is chemical addiction that causes you to vomit, sweat, and shake, and this is some higher level ”I want it cause it makes me feel nice” addiction. It’s the same thing, just not as severe. And heavy chronic weed use absolutely will cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability, mood swings, apathy etc.
they hated him bc he was telling them the truth
Which category do tea and coffee fall into?
I had ChatGPT answer this like a stoner:
Dude, coffee and tea are loaded with this incredible compound called caffeine. It’s like a chemical wizard that messes with your brain in two ways: chemically and mentally. Chemically, caffeine hooks onto these receptors in your brain, blocking this chill neurotransmitter called adenosine. So instead of feeling relaxed and sleepy, you’re all pumped up and alert.
But that’s not all, man. When you consume caffeine regularly, your body becomes physically dependent on it. So, if you suddenly stop guzzling that liquid goodness, you’re gonna feel some withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and even crankiness. It’s like your body is saying, “Hey, where’s my daily dose of that buzz?”
And let’s not forget about the mental game. Coffee and tea can be habit-forming, creating this psychological attachment. You know, that warm mug, that familiar taste, it becomes a part of your routine, man. Plus, the stimulating effects of caffeine can make you crave that buzz, that laser-focused state of mind.
So, there you have it, bro. Coffee and tea aren’t just about flavor and ritual; they mess with your brain chemistry and play tricks on your mind. It’s like a wild ride, all packed into a cup.
What a time to be alive where computers can do this.
My God this had me rolling. This kinda shit is my favorite use of AI.
As someone who smokes weed way too often… I do it because I’m addicted to it and anyone who says it’s ‘habitual not addictive’ or they’re just ‘medicating’ is in denial
As someone else who smokes way too much… I do it because I’m addicted to it. Most people don’t realize that habitual addictions are addictions, and just because weed doesn’t have physical withdrawal symptoms, doesn’t meant you can’t be addicted.
It most certainly does have physical withdrawal symptoms. Perhaps it didn’t in 1960 when a lid of pot was $10 and had the same potency of 1 puff from a vape pen, but it sure as hell does today. I’ve watched people become insanely irritable and aggressive when quitting weed, suffering from headaches, sweats, and a plethora of other symptoms.
The fun thing is, it does have physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop.
They’re just not nearly as bad some other substances.
I’d rank them worse than coffee’s withdrawal symptoms.
well I have been trying to quit and haven’t had a puff for like 3 days and I’ve been feeling like shit, whole body sore and persistent headache. I’m not sure if it’s withdrawal though or if I just caught a virus
Anyone who says it isn’t addictive is lying to themselves and potentially harming others who may end up getting addicted themselves.
Nobody HAS to. They want to, so why not.
Why do you look at your cell phone every day, are you addicted?
Yes
Ok, bad example!
You eat every day, are you addicted?!
Yes, i will literally die if I stop
You breathe every day, are you addicted?!
Bad example. You have to breathe to exist lol
Every single person on this planet is addicted to one thing or the other. Basically we are genetically junkies. We strive for pleasure. Simple as that. I found pleasure in weed many years ago and I don’t have any moral or other intention to quit. I just don’t give a …
Thinking about what I’m addicted to 🤔🤔
Social media to a point, I guess
If you’re trying to argue weed isn’t at least a wee bit addictive, you’ve clearly never smoked it any actual length of time. I love weed, but let’s no kid ourselves lads.
Well it really isn’t addictive as opiates for example are. You wont become chemically dependant to it. The kind of addiction it causes is the same one that social media, TV, gaming, etc might cause. It becomes an habit and you get used to that. I know this is a simplification but this is how I see it.
It’s not chemically addictive. Honestly people should really pointing fingers at smokers. Majority who smoke know the risks. Sugar is far more dangerous yet and they add it to everything. Weed on the other hand can help the majority with far less side effects then prescription pills. I’d take an edible or spray any day. Although it is far more fun to use a bong.
Good meme but honestly when do you see an angry smoker? Even if he breaks his piece, worst that happens is a bummed high.
It is physically addictive. Research has shown this already I am fairly sure. It’s not nearly as addictive as some other things like alcohol obviously. Psychological addiction also shouldn’t be dismissed.
Sugar is dangerous? Maybe refined sugars are - especially if you’re diabetic - but most sugars are actually natural and some form complex carbohydrates and fibres. It’s a lot more complex than this hot take. Sometimes even diabetic people need sugar in an emergency condition called hypoglycemia. It’s also not in any way a drug; really wish people stopped saying this. Also genetic material is partially made from sugars like ribose and deoxyribose.
There are real life consequences to smoking too much weed and this can include damage to your lungs and can negatively impact the brain. Brain problems is mostly an issue for people under 25 though so smoking after this age is less problematic. That being said it’s still much better than some other drugs like you say. Before people ask yes this includes alcohol as alcohol is quite toxic to brain and body when consumed habitually.
Weed can’t replace all prescriptions either. It’s just not as good at blocking pain as opiates even if it’s a lot safer. That being said if it helps you then that’s great - especially if it’s in edible form or spray form as this is healthier than smoking.
Not sure I’d agree with any study saying it is physically addictive, habitually I’d agree.
My point on the sugar though is it certainly does create addiction. It’s in so many things even products like jerky. I know lots of other things get broken down into sugar which is also the point. We would do far better without all the added sugar. It’s what creates future diabetics in the first place. There is so much fake healthy foods it’s ridiculous. Like…Wheat bread!? All sugar, better off with white if your gonna bother with bread. You’re body should be running off fat not sugar. People on keto for example can lower their cholesterol immensely vs the doctor recommend way. I’m just having trouble concerning the different between chemical ladden cigarettes vs shit that is available in stores. Now the one thing that I see a negative for weed is that it is a stimulant. Increases in heart rates could be an issue in older folks, for a potentially greater risk of heart attacks.
Not sure I’d agree with any study saying it is physically addictive, habitually I’d agree. So you’re willing to ignore science… that’s sounds like a river in Egypt to me mate.
Habit forming and addictive mean the same thing in medical terms. Cannabis has observed withdrawal symptoms like sleeplessness, appetite changes, and nausea that classify it as physically addictive. You’re ignoring these because it dosen’t suit your narrative and beliefs.
My point on the sugar though is it certainly does create addiction. I agree with this provided your talking about refined sugars. The point is though it’s not a drug. Sugars are a natural part of the human diet. They literally make up your DNA. Refined sugars are not natural though.
Marijuana is absolutely physically addictive as much as people want to say it isnt. Mind you im someone who smokes the minute they leave work until they go to bed. So im not here to push any kind of anti-marijuana view point, but i do think we as stoners should be honest. Everyone i know who stops smoking weed has two very common side effects.
- They have a lot of trouble getting to sleep
- Wild/fucked up dreams.
I understand that this is a side effect of lack of REM but you cant say these aren’t physical withdrawal symptoms. Research is needed, but just because we all want it to be legal, doesn’t mean we should ignore the facts.
Dude those “withdrawal symptoms” are a joke compared to any other drug.
That said, I don’t know a single person who identifies as a stoner that isn’t completely and utterly mentally addicted. And the drug is so subtle, stoners rarely try to stop.
Cocaine, even a 2 day bender is incredibly hard on your body. If you’re a person with any kind of responsibilities in your life, you’ll be strongly incentivized to reconsider the habit in no time.
But weed, it’s meh. Most users can restrict their use to when they’re not at work, so it’s fine.
Which makes it more dangerous.
I’ve watched so many promising futures flushed down the toilet by weed. Motivation? gone. Real hobbies? Indoors in front of a screen only. At its worst, I’ve seen friends totally withdraw from socializing almost entirely. Social anxiety combined with the escape of being high was enough to dampen and deny the very real human need to connect with others.
Every single one of these individuals went through some form of depression that was was extended and exacerbated by escapism and addiction in the form of excessive marijuana usage.
I know that’s not everyone. There are people who use it in a healthy, balanced way.
But there are also a ton of people who get heavily addicted because it dampens the pain of something they’re going through. And that pattern can make it a lot harder to make progress and work through whatever that person is dealing with.
Anyone who’s spent any time around stoners knows this is true. And yeah, for a lot of people, it’s a gateway drug. I’ve seen plenty of buddies in college jump from weed to xans to oxy. It’s ruined lives. It made my best friend drop out.
And yeah, these people clearly already had issues. But that’s how drug addiction works. It preys on people who are going through something and it makes a bad situation way worse.
Weed can do the exact same thing. Doesn’t matter if it’s not physically addicting.
This comment hit the nail on the head. It’s no big deal to spend an evening after work getting high and watching movies. But then it becomes every evening. Now you can’t deal with daily life if you don’t get to smoke between work shifts. Maybe you show up to work high to take the edge off. Now you’re high all the time and being sober feels weird. Spending all your time just sort of floating in a dream because being high is your default state now.
Everything becomes more effort so you just stop bothering. Playing an instrument? This requires too much focus. I’m gonna go lay down on the couch. Socializing? I’m too high to drive, I’ll stay home today (man I’m so freaking lonely). It really truly is a trade-off where you sacrifice a fulfilling life for an easily tolerated one. At some point you start to realize this and increase your intake to try to make those uneasy thoughts go away.
Does this sound anecdotal? That’s because it is.
Marijuana is absolutely physically addictive as much as people want to say it isnt.
I mean it scientifically isn’t though. Physical addictions don’t just give you psychological withdrawals, they are physical. Your body becomes dependent on them to maintain homeostasis.
Cold turkeying drugs like opioids and benzos can kill you.
Just because the withdrawal symptoms aren’t as bad doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I said this before, research is needed. Going off of whats been said over the last 50 years of prohibition seems silly to me. And i for sure use marijuana to keep me in homeostasis. We need to stop saying psychological withdrawal doesnt have roots based in brain chemistry. I think everything we have begun to learn about mental health shows what little we actually know.
Why? My guy, have you seen the world? Have you seen how people treat each other? If you don’t smoke I don’t know what the fuck you’re doing, but if it’s to be “a moral and upstanding citizen” I both laugh and cry at your blissful ignorance.
I don’t like smoking.
me neither
Don’t like how it feels.
Fair enough to all three of you, just let me have my weed in peace.
Of course i have nothing against people who take weed, i just personally don’t like the feeling of alcohol/weed or anything like that. Makes me feel like I’m not in control of myself. I hate not being in control of myself.
You need to take some shrooms and realize you’re never really in control of yourself
Absolutely not
I don’t care if anyone smokes. Just don’t annoy me with it. People smoking in public places and giving you free lung cancer is my worst pet peeve.
Thats why I hate smoking more than drinking. Drinking doesn’t make me want to cough my lungs out and doesn’t endanger me directly when someone does it. Smoking does.
I seriously doubt you’re near enough second hand pot smoke to get cancer compared to like whatever’s ins the water or like idk I feel like micro plastics in your blood should be a bigger concern. But hey everyone’s entitled to their own version of paranoia. Gotta keep these meat suits living as long as possible, right?
There’s withdrawal but of the four drugs i have been physically addicted to (caffeine, weed, nicotine, and SSRIs) it’s the only one I can cold turkey in under a week and feel fine.
Yeah, caffeine cold turkey is unexpectedly tough.
It’s not so bad if you pop a Tylenol the first couple of days, just to get you through the caffeine migraine phase.
Depends on how bad your caffeine addiction is. I tried cold turkey when I had a tooth pulled when I was drinking a pot of coffee a day.
A week in bed on Vicodin and Percocet, didn’t touch that headache and it didn’t improve or go away until I drank coffee.
Oddly, I ate a large bag of mushrooms and got tazed by the cops one night. Ended up in the psych ward. Was able to cold turkey the coffee after that. Not sure if it was the mushrooms or the juice from the tazer.
Yeah, I’m not sure if Vicodin or perc would help a migraine, different pain killers help in different ways. I think opiods are the least helpful when it comes to migraines, if I remember correctly.
I confirm. Taking opioids against migraine gives you still a migraine, but on opioids. Not recommended.
but we’re not talking about migraines.
we’re talking about caffeine withdrawal headaches.
neither of which are 💯 understood but that doesn’t make them the same.
plus, Vicodin has Tylenol in it. so i was taking Tylenol.
Caffeine withdrawal can absolutely trigger migraines, easily.
Not sure about the Tylenol in Vic, but just that opioids in general don’t work well. You can easily Google it.
Caffeine isn’t addictive. Your body acclimates to long term usage, and you will experience some withdrawal symptoms but this is classified as a dependency and not an addiction as it does not trigger the reward mechanisms like weed and or methamphetamine does. It’s an important distinction and is why coffee and tea are often served at [Addiction] Anonymous meetings.
It’s both. Nicotine is also both. Note how people at AA still often smoke. And how much coffee they’ll pound even after dinner.
The only drug I misclassified is SSRIs. Which don’t trigger the dopamine reward system.
And my comment was in light of OP and common language usage. People say heroin addiction and they mean heroin dependency. It doesn’t help anyone to be pedantic about these two words. And I say that as someone who has taken college level classes on pharmacology and alcohol and drug dependence and is very aware of the technical differences used professionally.
Cuz weed fuckin rocks bruv.
🚫not to me🚫
Life is so fucking grim and full of misery and there’s barely anything to help people cope but weed is the hill you die on.
I don’t like it, I’m fine with people who do though. Drugs aren’t for me :)
What about caffeine? People act like “drugs are bad” is a reasonable stance, but they mean illegal drugs which just happen to be illegal, usually without good reason. Most adults are drug addicts, it’s just that the drug of choice is caffeine and they don’t see it as an issue because it’s legal and been normalized.
Animals have been doing drugs for longer than humans have existed. There are many benificial drugs that can help us with manually regulating bodily activity. Used responsibly, drugs can be great.
Caffeine is just a mild stimulant though. Doesn’t have the same affects
Same with medicinal drugs too. They’re fine
What about alcohol? Rapes, murders, even silly accidents like falling down the stairs and caving your head in is unfortunately quite common for the inebriated.
Loads of people had an argument too many and pulled the trigger during a moment of inebriety.
I don’t like alcohol, it messes with my head
Yeah, the point is that drugs are fine morally. It’s when they’re abused they cause issues. There is some line that you’ve made up where drugs become “bad” but it is made up. Recognizing that it’s a made up line is important. I’m not saying you need to use drugs or anything like that, just realize that “drugs are bad” is a blatantly dishonest and untrue statement.
There are also plenty of psychoactive drugs that can be pretty helpful to human mental health. Marijuana also can have many health benefits, and it doesn’t cause people to do dangerous things usually. Most of the time it just causes people to sit around inside and not bother other people, unlike alcohol.
Drugs aren’t bad. Drug abuse is bad. Doing bad activities while on drugs is also bad, but the drugs are not.
Sure, I don’t say drugs are bad, I say I don’t like them. Why do I have to keep saying this man?
Where did I say drugs weren’t morally fine or bad??
Straight out of the addicts playbook. Former stoner of 10 years, I see the excuses. Needing drugs to walk through life is like needing a crutch. You are not stronger with them, they are an inhibitor to your natural greatness.
“I don’t need drugs, I want them”
Desire, when the pattern holds, becomes need. I used to think “yeah stopping weed is easy,” then would spend all the time in-between thinking “this situation would be so much better with weed.” So much so that I did absolutely insane things to get hold of it while I was living in China. My desire was very much in the realm of need, but I always made excuses to myself and my loved ones.
I rairly use caffeine (I was addicted at one point, noticed it, then drastically reduced consumption. I have a cup of coffee maybe every three days max.), and alcohol (Also not that frequently). I’ve also used Marijuana a handful of times and that’s it. I’m not an addict. I just recognize drugs have been used throughout history, often to great effect. I also recognize that the modern illegal drugs are political, not practical.
Blink twice if someone is forcing you to smoke.
Huh?
I drink coffee everyday. I will rise my cup of Joe to the stoner. I get you bro.
Thing is, caffeine is physically addictive. Weed is not.
But you can make a habit out of anything.
Cheers! I’d like to pass on this info though, for anyone who enjoys both like myself:
Caffeine drinking potentiates cannabinoid transmission: interaction with stress effects - Neuropharmacology 2009
Our data suggest that the cannabinoid system is implicated in the psychoactive properties of caffeine and in the ability of caffeine to reduce the pathological consequences of stress. Chronic caffeine assumption sensitized GABAergic synapses to the presynaptic effect of cannabinoid CB1 receptor stimulation by exo- and endocannabinoids. The synaptic effects of caffeine were slowly reversible after its removal from the drinking solution. Furthermore, although exposure to caffeine for only 24h did not produce measurable changes of the sensitivity of cannabinoid CB1 receptors, it was able to contrast the down-regulation of CB1 receptor-mediated responses after social defeat stress.
I copied the rest from bloommedicinals.com, just the relevant bits. Also added the links to the studies and the pages with additional descriptions.
TL;DR:
- Low levels of caffeine can help to maximize the effects of THC, but too much caffeine can lessen the impact of your cannabis
- Caffeine and THC can both increase dopamine levels, but too much at once can trigger anxiety, agitation, and paranoia
What Happens When You Smoke Weed and Drink Coffee?
Since coffee and cannabis may offer so many health benefits on their own, you might think it’s safe to assume that enjoying a little bit of weed with your coffee would be okay. The reality is … it might be safe for most, but not for all. Here’s why.
THC and coffee can boost the amount of dopamine in our systems. Although dopamine can promote feelings of happiness and euphoria, too much of it at once can trigger anxiety, agitation, and paranoia. In addition, both caffeine and THC can both increase your blood pressure and heart rate.
This is why many doctors advise that those with heart conditions and those at risk of heart arrhythmia or stroke, should not mix caffeine and THC. So, if you’re new to mixing coffee and cannabis, it’s important to consult your doctor to make sure it makes sense for you. If it does, begin with lower amounts of coffee and cannabis than you would normally consume on their own. Then if needed, you can increase your dosage slowly.
Back in 2014, a study was conducted to measure the effects of mixing caffeine and cannabis on squirrel monkeys. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Neuroscience. (also described here)
The monkeys were given the ability to self administer cannabis whenever they wanted. All they had to do was to pull on a lever. When the monkeys were given low doses of a substance similar to caffeine, they seemed less likely to reach for the THC. But, when they received high doses of caffeine, they seemed to reach for that lever more often.
Then in 2018, a study led by Marilyn Cornelis at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine seemed to back up these findings. This time, the study examined the effects of mixing cannabis and coffee on humans. It found that the more caffeine people consumed, the less cannabis their body was able to metabolize. (also described here)
So, although small amounts of caffeine can help your THC go a long way – too much caffeine can lessen its effects.
Because a lot of them probably have undiagnosed ADHD or Autism and don’t realize what they’re trying to help by doing it or why it’s helping.
Prolonged use of use of weed can reduce you brains motivation system which is something that people with ADHD already have a problem with. Long term use of weed may be risky idea for someone with ADHD. source: my doctor who gave me my medical card and my psychiatrist
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I think it fixes itself when quitting for a long enough time but I’m not entirely sure. I’d ask a doctor.
Weed is illegal federally, but it keeps getting produced at a state level. This really worries me, si to try to rectify this situation, I have just been buying and burning as much as I can. I don’t know how much of an effect its having because I just keep seeing more pop up.
I will continue despite it seeming more and more like a fools errand.
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Woosh
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Thats why you gotta specify mentally addictive. But thats the same as videogame or tv addiction😂
You get physiological withdrawal effects from weed. Problems with sleep, for example.
Meh anytime I take a tbreak the first few days kinda suck but all I had to do was make sure I was getting enough activity through the day and got to sleep just fine. Only times I really felt the sleep issue in a tbreak is if I was just sitting on my ass all day
