Do You Really Have To Worry About Cannabis Use Disorder?
This Phrase Is Thrown Around So Often These Days
But How Does It Really Compare To Dangerous Addictions?
Cannabis use disorder is commonly discussed on the internet these days.
It seems that, the more cannabis becomes mainstream thanks to legalization and education, people still continue to fear it. Fear mongers and prohibitionists spread concern that cannabis will cause people to become addicted and thus, develop a dependence that makes it difficult, or nearly impossible, to quit. Is CUD real?
That said, cannabis use disorder, or an “addiction” to cannabis, is an extremely nuanced topic for many reasons.
Cannabis Isn’t Physically Addictive
When we think about drug addiction, the typical image of a drug addict may come to mind: one who can’t breathe, eat, or sleep without his fix. One who will get sick without a hit, and possibly even die without it. Seizures, tremors, and death are all serious risks with drug withdrawal, if we’re dealing with alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.
But with weed, it’s different. Scientifically speaking, marijuana isn’t considered physically addictive; the body doesn’t become physically dependent on it because the human body does not go into a state of dangerous, or potentially fatal withdrawal. Of course, when an individual is using cannabis for long periods of time, they may become psychologically dependent on it and experience symptoms such as temporary mood swings, a decrease in appetite, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.
These are merely discomforts and are not physically dangerous. The human body doesn’t actually crave cannabis the way it does alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs. Even researchers in 2014 acknowledged that while marijuana use can be habit-forming, the addictive potential of it is much lower compared to other recreational drugs.
Cannabis Use Disorder Is Less Common
The psychological dependence may cause people to think that cannabis is addictive, but it isn’t. Even then, some individuals may be more prone to dependence, especially if cannabis helps them feel good. After all, marijuana is therapeutic, and if it gets rid of your aches and pains, who wouldn’t want to be on it all the time?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 9% of marijuana users develop a “disorder”. That number is significantly less compared to the 15% of drinkers who become dependent on alcohol, 17% of cocaine users who become dependent, 23% of heroin and 32% of tobacco.
Cannabis Is NOT Dangerous
For decades, especially after the War on Drugs was implemented, cannabis was unfairly and unnecessarily lumped together with dangerous drugs, including heroin, psychedelics, cocaine, and many others. In fact, cannabis is still a Schedule 1 substance, which, in the eyes of the US federal government, means that it contains no therapeutic potential.
Other drugs in the same Schedule I category include LSD, heroin, peyote, and ecstasy. But we know now that cannabis isn’t dangerous, and it should be reclassified: there is a lot of strong data and serious studies out there that have proven time and again how cannabis is not harmful. It’s medicine.
Cannabis “addiction” is usually exaggerated by fear mongers who create narratives that ignore context completely. After all, most cannabis users who use it for wellness, recreation, and medicine are able to consume it without a problem. Even then, consuming weed won’t harm the liver, brain, or result in dangerous overdoses, unlike other substances such as alcohol, which is completely legal. Unlike opioids and stimulants, it won’t disrupt the brain’s reward system and lead to deadly dependence.
The Real Danger
The real danger here isn’t weed, the legalization of cannabis, or cannabis use disorder.
The real danger here is the misinformation being spread by fear mongers. Enough of these fear-based narratives that the public has been fed these past decades; even if cannabis is already legal in most of the United States, there is still a lot of work to be done. Spreading outdated propaganda is no help at all: cannabis is not dangerous, nor is it a gateway drug!
More people turn to marijuana as a gentler, safer, and natural alternative to many addictive and dangerous medications out there. It’s also a safer alternative to recreational substances, including tobacco and alcohol. There is a lot of research out there, proving that the risk is little to minimal when using weed compared to tobacco and alcohol, both of which are socially accepted, easily accessible, and completely legal!
CONCLUSION
Keeping people fearful of weed will prevent them from experiencing the many health benefits of marijuana. THC, CBD, and the numerous minor cannabinoids, as well as terpenes, in the plant have all been proven to interact with the endocannabinoid system, which is necessary for regulating critical bodily processes that help the body function well. These include pain, appetite, stress, and mood , to name a few.
Thus, marijuana use can help restore balance in the body and promote homeostasis, whereas other drugs destroy the mind and body when abused.
In the end, the conversations about cannabis use disorder need to shift to spreading education and information. Let’s make use of the data, which clearly shows the risk profile of the plant is nowhere near hard drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. Even though a small percentage of cannabis users may develop a habit, it seriously pales in comparison to the dangers of dependency on alcohol, which is far too accessible and legal in our society.
Let’s stop worrying about cannabis dependence and instead worry about stigma, misinformation, and the lingering of prohibition-era myths. The truth is that weed is not the problem, it can be the solution.
WHAT IS CANNABIS USE DISODER? READ ON..
