Why is it "addictive" let's discuss

While we can safely say there are no physically addictive qualities to any chemicals to be found in the marijuana plant, I think many of us will agree there is a strong psychological element to the addictiveness.

Let's bring together our experiences, thoughts, knowledge... analyse it and come to some small conclusions that we are able to.

Personally I believe that its addictive simply because it is so good. I think being high is genuinely a better state of mind than being sober, as my creativity surges and my thoughts express themselves in a way that normally doesn't come through.

It's possible I could do this before I started smoking pot, and the addiction has simply stripped my sober self of the ability to do this. But somehow I believe that marijuana is more than just an escape, or tricking yourself into believing you're happy etc etc

 

dude,

Look at it as if was SEX

Yes, it is not Physically addictive, but, once you try something that is so good... It is hard not to want to do it again.

I think a lot of people make the mistake of saying... But see, you like it and you want to do it again.. that is an addiction. NO - it the sam as sex, chocholate, chillin on the beach.. when something feels good.. it is human nature to want to keep doing it.. it does not mean your addicted.

I would rather say addiction is the opposite.. Its when you don't want something (i.e. a coffee or a cigarette), but withou it, bad things happen .

 

Agreed with Socratez...

an addiction to me is-
Doing something to get by. When Pot becomes a necessity more than a special event in your day to day life. Thats when you can classify it as an addiction. When all the positive effects wear off and your down to NEEDING the pot to function.

 

I always love how everybody rationlizes their addiction to weed. Be it comparing it to sex or food or because you don't feel like you NEED it NEED it, or whatever it maybe, I've heard'em all, it's just so funny. Whatever floats your boat though, so see your weed usage as whatever way makes you feel good about it.

 

Maybe they just say that because it's a good and reasonable comparison that anybody can relate to?

 

Toker, you say that people rationalize their addictions, yet never give anything that can help to prove your statement.

I don't say that to be an ass, but you really aren't saying anything.

Under that definition, you can say that people are ADDICTED to breathing.


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a. The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something.

b. Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance

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B. What's more habit-forming than our need for oxygen? Oxygen is also a compulsive physiological need.

A. We are completely involved with breathing; Breathing is autonomic.

The same type of argument can be directed towards our need to eat.

Now, no one says that you HAVE to continue eating or breathing, but choosing not to will result in your death. You can certainly choose not to continue these habits if you will it so.

I would like to replace the definition of addiction to mean, "One who is a slave to a habit, substance, or an instance". A slave would be anyone who loses their power of choice. Do we ever lose our power of choice? That is debatable, but I would say that we don't, but we can, instead, lose sight of our ability to choose, no matter the controlling agent.

So addiction is to: Become addicted over a habit, substance, or an instance by the forgetful occurrence that one misplaces their knowledge of their ability to choose who is ultimately slave and master over a habit, substance, and an instance.

or

Forgetting who is the slave and who is the master.

I am the master of my usage of cannabis, so I am not addicted.

Does that sound like the type of argument that a drunk would use? Definitely, but that is used mostly as a dodge... it's obvious who is the slave and master because we can see how much their addiction has changed their lives for the worse.

Is addiction completely dependent on how much a substance can negatively affect your life? I would say so, but I would also say no as well. It really all depends on the habit or addiction.

Do I have a habit of smoking pot? Yes. Do I need pot to get by? No. Do I want pot? Yes. The way I want pot is the same way I want to watch a movie at a movie theater. I can create a habit to smoke pot just as I can create a habit to watch movies with a group of friends. These habits can be frequent or infrequent. Each habit can prevent me from doing other things that I "should" be doing.

Oh boy... this argument can go on forever, it seems. But overall, are you in control over your habit, or is your habit in control of you? - Did you forget that you have a choice? - If you aren't sure of this, if you have any doubts, then the latter is probably true.

 

How to tell if someone is a slave to a habit that they developed:

Do they have goals, either short-term or long-term, and does their habit prevent them from reaching it? This assuming that their goals are actually achievable... even if it's such a small goal as to buy groceries... Instead of buying those groceries, did the person smoke pot instead and forgot about his short-term goal? Does their habit have control over their needs and wishes? Is the one who is addicted believe that he NEEDS something to get by?

 

addicts have addictions they can be addicted to drugs alcahol sex gambling pain many many things they will give up anything to fuill those needs
im not an addict i dont buy weed i smoke it when its there when its not i dont even think about it and if im handed some and dont wanna smoke i dont smoke

if your an addict your an addict its best to be addictrd to a non addicying substance but if your an addict you can be addicted to stupidity too
you can be addicterd to killin yourself slowly andseek out bigger better dangers
weed itself is not addicting but if u feel adicteed you are an addict and u should avoid all adictions like the plague never risk tryin any addictive substances
addiction sucks

 

I would say this, though:

There ARE withdrawal symptoms from not using pot... It is there, but it's overall pretty mild and not something that merits worry... Quitting pot is almost as agonizing as if you were to quit eating sugar.


Can you get addicted to the way you think while high?

Yes. I believe you can start to think that you can't do without that type of thinking, then you are addicted. Are you then a slave to this addiction, or... ? Is it necessarily wrong if you were?

 

it's only addictive if you get addicted to it i mean some people smoke weed cause they like the feeling and it's fun so why not keep doing it
and i guess some people smoke cuz they feel they need to cause they have issues?
personally i think i'm somewhere inbetween i could stop if i had to but i'd probably get depressed for a while.

well i guess if i had to stop smoking weed for a while but i could still get fucked up on other things it would be fine just if i had to be sober in general for the rest of my lifei t'd fucking suck.

but yeah i think it's addictive because if you like something..and most people like weed... you'll keep doing it over and over until it becomes a habit

 

I think a lot of it has to do with your personality; are you the kind of person who becomes fixated on a certain thing and is inflexible in your desires? I think that can contribute to an addiction problem. If you're looking forward to a smoke-out with some friends all day, and you fantasize about the fun you're going to have, and then something happens and it falls apart, are you angry? Frustrated to an unreasonable degree? Then I think you're beginning to idolize a substance, and you should take a step back and try to rethink your situation.

I used to smoke several times a day, and when I took a week break, I didn't get any major cravings--I simply thought life was slightly more mundane. I didn't get any of this anxiety or insomnia that some people report.

 

Everyone has to be addicted to something, so that they can occupy their mind and not go insane.

Being addicted to your job is ok though because you're helping society....you're getting that businessman his hamburger when you're working at McDonalds. If everyone were off getting high who would get his burger? That's the only distinction between job addiction and marijuana addiction, in 1 you're helping/supporting society and with the other you're not.

That's the same with all addictions. Ones that help society are accepted, ones that don't are shunned. That's why marijuana is illegal, its a danger to the structure of society.

Many times I've had goals of going to the supermarket or whatever. I eventually realize I still have food here at my place, its not the food I want, but its better than spending money. Besides that I also have long-term goals, and weed does not get in the way of those goals.

Am I addicted? Yes. Its not a physical addiction though. Go ask a hardcore World of Warcraft player to quit, he'd have much worse withdrawals than someone quitting weed. Or go find out about heroin or cocaine addiction, those have horrible withdrawals.

 

I dunno, I have to say I'm a pothead but pot is less addictive than most drugs I've done. I would consider it somewhat addictive, but after you stop smoking for about a week, the urge to smoke decreases and you think about it less. Definately a psychological addiction unlike my other addictions to coffee, beer, and cigs.. those seem to be more essential than pot.