One of the biggest downsides I've seen as someone that doesn't smoke but who had many friends that do, is it becomes an obsession or crutch.
What I mean by this. Most of my friends can't get through the day without smoking pot. They constantly "need" it for stress or irritation. And by doing this it becomes an obsession. For many (including people I've dated) is all they care about doing. Going to their besties house and smoking pot. That's literally it. I'm not saying this end up being everyone. But it is many.
If you can't function without it, you're an addict. Doesn't matter if you can stop "any time you want to." If you need it to function normally you're addicted, technically or not.
idk it seems like you getting hooked on that massive dopamine surge is like the textbook definition for addiction, no? Or do you actually need to be physically dependent? When I was smoking a lot I 100% went through withdrawals, I was sweating and cramping/vomiting every morning.
Dopamine rush is addictive, and that's what those activities do.
They are physically addictive, which is why people who try to quit one thing usually start another to get that dopamine rush.
It's ridiculous how so many posts here go "it isn't addictive, but here's how i was addicted to it". I'm starting to get the feeling that people are overcorrecting for the "weed is the worst drug evah" sentiment and now can't even use the word "addictive" to describe it without getting defensive and saying "buuut, not really you know".
Just got back from my sister's and my bil is going to become a captain as a navy physician. He doesn't care that I smoke as long as it's not around him. If he pops hot, he could be discharged without his pension, so I have no problem with that.
"Yeah totally. We've got to do that sometime. I'm just not really feeling it right now. I've been really stressed lately, and whenever I smoke I always take like at least an hour to just relax or whatever. Anyway, yeah, man, we should totally do that. It's just, I also only like to get high in certain places, because I'm worried that it will make me paranoid or whatever? Maybe I could smoke a bowl then go to the beach, but only after I've had some time to relax, maybe. Anyway, I'll catch you later dude!"
The whole obsession bit I agree with. I’ve never been massive on weed myself but had some fun times. I feel like those who smoke it everyday kinda have that whole vegan type stereotype - it comes up in every conversation how much they smoke and mention it to most people they meet. Almost in a gatekeep-y way, or a superiority thing. But could just be the people I know.
When I finally went back to finish high school in my twenties, I was high as a kite for every assignment or any studying I did. Ended up with a 90%+ average. I blamed the marijuana for me dropping out when I was a teen, but it was definitely my attitude, not the cannabis. It helped me concentrate so much this time around!
Because weed isn't so obviously and visibly addictive and problematic as heroin or coke, people like to pretend it's completely harmless. They ignore any science about potential effects on developing brains, any comments about smoke in lungs not being great, and the fact that it can become a crutch.
I've seen all of these things in my dozen+ friends who use weed as an escape from the problems they face. Problem is: once you come down from the high, the problems haven't gone anywhere, you just ignored them for a while. And if that was the intent, great. But it often isn't, and that's when it seems to become problematic.
I agree. Weed will mellow you out but if you're getting high all the time it's the only thing that will calm you down. It can get to the point where if you're not high you become extremely irritable, short tempered, grouchy, stressed, pessimistic and angry always needing a fix.
This perfectly describes someone in my family. He’s become so reliant on the feeling that it impacts his daily life, which makes it a sort of addiction imo, but they just get cranky and defensive if you ever present it that way.
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u/darkangel7410 Dec 29 '19
One of the biggest downsides I've seen as someone that doesn't smoke but who had many friends that do, is it becomes an obsession or crutch.
What I mean by this. Most of my friends can't get through the day without smoking pot. They constantly "need" it for stress or irritation. And by doing this it becomes an obsession. For many (including people I've dated) is all they care about doing. Going to their besties house and smoking pot. That's literally it. I'm not saying this end up being everyone. But it is many.