For many years it was thought that people did not get addicted to pot (marijuana). That was largely because there was no evidence of withdrawal when the person stopped using it.
That has all changed. The marijuana used in the ‘60s had only a small amount of THC, the active ingredient producing the desired effects. Recreational use was common and was considered to be no different than having a drink of alcohol.
However, now it is clear that you can become addicted to marijuana. Largely, that is due to the fact that the THC content is much higher today.
According to the NIH, the THC content increased by 212% between 1995 and 2015. Also, “we now have concentrated THC products such as oil, dab, and others that have been able to get the THC concentration upward of 95%.” For perspective, keep in mind that the concentration prior to the 1990’s was less than 2%.
Elizabeth Stuyt, MD in Mo Med 2018 pointed out that we now know there can be a withdrawal syndrome, which we would expect from an addiction.
She writes that there is a “definite recognizable withdrawal syndrome, which includes increased anger, irritability, depression, restlessness, headache, loss of appetite, insomnia, and severe cravings for marijuana.”
Her paper states “that 9% of those who experiment with marijuana will become addicted; 17% of those who start using marijuana as teenagers will become addicts; and 25-50% of those who use daily will become addicted.”
An article in the journal Addiction in 2021 by Freeman and colleagues states that the “higher potency of THC is associated with intoxication, anxiety, and cognitive impairment during use; long-term exposure has been associated with psychotic disorders and cannabis use disorder.” (Cannabis is a different name for marijuana.)
The bottom line is that the THC content of today’s pot is dramatically higher than it was years ago. As a result, it is now possible to become addicted. It is especially important for teens to avoid using products with THC because their brains are still developing, and they have an increased risk of significant negative consequences.
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine & Psychiatry
