Is Cannabis Addictive?

Before I dive into this topic I want to clear the air by saying that technically, ANYTHING could become an addiction if it consumes your mind, body or ability to do anything else. So yes, cannabis, sugar, television, cigarettes, crack, anger and eating soap can all be addictions. 

This blog, however, views addiction as a psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a substance that causes psychological and physical harm. 

When a person experiences true addiction, they cannot control how they use a substance or partake in an activity, and they become dependent on it to cope with daily life; picture a cigarette smoker, huddled outside in -30C smoking in shorts: that’s addiction.

Looking at cannabis through this lens, it would be hard to view its addictive qualities in the same light as quick-acting, life-killing hard drugs like heroin and opioids, and you only need to look at the popularity and mass adoption of AA groups and cigarette addiction treatment options to see that cannabis is likely nothing like cigarettes and alcohol — but that doesn’t mean there are no risks associated with consumption. 

Many daily users have reported a psychological dependence on cannabis. Withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, irritability or loss of appetite can be very real for those who are used to consuming the drug regularly, and cravings are common as well. 

However, studies such as this one by the Mayo Clinic show cannabis dependency is significantly less likely than legal substances tobacco and alcohol, as well as heroin and cocaine, leading us to believe that once again, cannabis has no business being discussed in the same sentence as these harmful, and undeniably addictive substances. 

One offers a ton of medicinal and social benefits, while the rest have literally zero redeeming qualities. So why has cannabis been lumped in with the rest of these addictive substances for so long? Is there any connection at all?

According to this same study, there are, actually, a few common influencers that do seem to make it more likely for a person’s cannabis consumption to lead to a dependency. For example:

• People who consume cannabis mixed with tobacco are much more likely to develop a dependency. 
• Mental health and genetics can also play a role in potential dependency, including people who are predisposed toward addictive behaviour, or who have already been addicted to another substance.

The fact remains that everything can be addictive if you choose to make it more important than anything else, but science suggests that cannabis is nowhere near as addictive as cigarettes, tobacco, hard drugs or a number of legal substances like caffeine, sugar or social media. 

And when it comes to the stigma that using cannabis leads to other drug use – we debunked that in this blog.

Therefore, it is the opinion of this writer, and countless cannabis advocates all around the globe that cannabis is addictive only in the sense that all of the world’s greatest offerings are worth repeating. 

(Cannabis) is unique among illegal drugs in its political symbolism, its safety, and its wide use. – G. J. Annas

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