What is Considered Heavy Marijuana Use?

Understanding Cannabis Use Disorder and When to Get Help

Most people don’t think of smoking cannabis as an addiction. I’ve heard over and over again from marijuana users that you can’t be addicted to weed. This is a giant lie that continues to be perpetuated.

Based on my own use of marijuana, I can tell you for a fact that I was totally addicted. But what is considered heavy marijuana use by ‘normal folks?’

I did not realize just how deep my addiction was until I went to Purpose Healing Center. Cannabis use disorder had clouded my brain and negatively affected my mental health. I didn’t see it that way until I lifted myself out of the smoke cloud.

Keep reading for the clinical definition of a heavy cannabis consumer, a chronic marijuana user, and more from my own personal experiences in getting consumed by the world of weed.

How To Recognize a Cannabis Use Disorder

There is no handbook or manual when it comes to substance abuse, but if you find yourself smoking marijuana all day, every day for a prolonged period, you are most likely suffering from cannabis use disorder. If you find it difficult to go without marijuana for even one day, it’s hard not to view it as drug abuse.

So what are your options? Can you even go to rehab for cannabis use disorder? Are there really that many health risks associated with smoking marijuana? I will answer all of these questions in the paragraphs below. Because of my time at Purpose Healing Center, I have a lot more knowledge on just how detrimental cannabis use can be.

Cannabis is often the first drug that many people try. A lot of addicts don’t start off with cocaine or heroin. Marijuana and alcohol are entry-level drugs that can very easily lead to addiction. The first time I smoked marijuana, I was thirteen years old. I loved it right from the start and never wanted to let it go.

My thought process was “I’m going to smoke weed until the day I die, no matter what.” That right there is the definition of addiction.

Is Smoking Cannabis Considered Drug Abuse?

Any mind-altering substance can be abused. Marijuana is no different despite not being recognized as a “hard” drug. Marijuana use may not be fatal like other drugs, but it can cause serious issues in your personal and professional life. There is also something to be said about the lack of motivation that comes from cannabis use disorder.

When I was using marijuana, I had no desire to do anything other than get high. I became lazy and uninterested in furthering my education or my career. I much preferred lounging on the couch and eating junk food than making something of myself. All of the ambition to do anything positive with my life disappeared.

Suffice to say, a cannabis use disorder is definitely a recognized form of substance use disorders, and is found within the DSM – V, the clinical tome for psychiatric disorders of all kinds.

While I know there are many more ‘functional stoners” out there, I know for myself that even when I was going to work and school, my mind was always fixated on the next chance to get high, and my next purchase to keep my stash full.

The History Of Marijuana And It’s Legality

Like many other substances marijuana has been around for centuries. The cannabis plant can be cultivated in many different climates and is not a very difficult plant to grow. I got into growing marijuana illegally, both as a source of income and as a way to always have marijuana to smoke.

For decades, marijuana was mostly illegal in the United States. In the last couple of decades, its legality has changed significantly. The rise in medical marijuana and decriminalization of marijuana led to it becoming legal in many states. Depending on where you live, it’s not uncommon to see marijuana shops popping up in your neighborhood.

The Health Effects Of Cannabis

Marijuana has a reputation for being harmless compared to other drugs, but it is far from being risk-free. There have been many cases of marijuana use leading to a variety of mental health issues. Cannabis use can be a serious issue if you suffer from any kind of psychotic disorder.

There is also evidence to suggest that psychotic disorders can be brought on by prolonged psychoactive drug use.

There is also a link between marijuana abuse and brain development. This is especially true for anyone who begins using marijuana during their youth. Brain development continues well into your twenties. If you begin to use marijuana as a teenager, it can have serious effects on the way that your brain matures.

Is Marijuana Smoke Dangerous?

I’ve heard plenty of people boast about how safe marijuana is. Sure, marijuana smoke may not be as dangerous as cigarette smoke, but the fact is you are still ingesting smoke into your lungs. Smoking marijuana can lead to an increased risk in respiratory infections and lung damage.

I smoked so much weed that it was very common for me to cough up black stuff after a night of smoking. For months after quitting cannabis consumption in any form, I still produced a lot of this ‘tar’ from my scorched lungs.

Now just imagine if you are consuming marijuana over years or even decades. No matter how “safe” you claim it to be, you are putting your health at risk. Many marijuana users are known to use other drugs as well, including alcohol and psychoactive drugs like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms.

Other Risk Factors Associated With Marijuana Use

Other risk factors include nausea and vomiting, particularly with high-dose THC products. This phenomenon is known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Driving under the influence of marijuana is another big issue that comes into play.

Because I used to smoke all day every day, I was high every time I got in my car. Driving while high on marijuana can cause impaired thinking, slow reaction time, and decreased coordination.

With the rise of legal marijuana, many cannabis products are much more potent than the flower form of the plant. Hash oil, shatter, and dabs are becoming much more common forms of marijuana that can lead to a higher level of impairment. A lot of high-dose THC products can lead to intense paranoia, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Options For Treating Cannabis Use Disorder

As I mentioned above, the general opinion on marijuana is that is non-addictive. That opinion is slowly changing the more research is done into the effects of marijuana.

More research is needed, but it’s becoming clear that marijuana can be abused in the same way that any other drug can be abused and that it causes pronounced withdrawal symptoms for some of us, myself included.

Because of this changing opinion, there are more resources available to marijuana abusers than there used to be.

Support groups are a great tool for any addict, and it’s no different for marijuana users. Attending support groups for marijuana abuse will show you that there are plenty of others who also deal with marijuana use disorders in some form. It may be more of a mental addiction, but it is still an addiction regardless.

Recovery Is Possible – Seek Treatment For Cannabis Abuse

If your marijuana use has had negative effects on your life, health, and happiness, there are options available. When I first sought help for my marijuana addiction, I couldn’t imagine my life without weed.

Now that I have been off of it for a prolonged period of time, I couldn’t imagine smoking it ever again. I understand that a relapse is possible, but as long as I keep my health a priority, I have no desire to pick it back up.

Don’t let your continued use of marijuana prevent you from reaching your full potential. I attacked my cannabis addiction the same way I would have with any other form of substance abuse. Working on your mental health can have giant benefits when it comes to putting down the pipe, joint, or dab device.

Life Is Full Without Marijuana – Thanks to Purpose

My life today is fulfilling and exciting. It took a lot of work on myself, but it was worth every moment of discomfort. When I go to support groups today, I see a lot of people struggling with cannabis use. I make it a point to let them know it doesn’t have to control their life.

I also make sure to let them know that marijuana can make an addiction just like any other. Don’t let anybody else tell you marijuana use isn’t a big deal.

I put in the work and am clean today because of my time at Purpose Healing Center. They helped me get my mind back first and then gave me the tools to avoid falling back into my old ways. Are you ready for your own personal transformation? Give them a call today.