Is it normal i'm addicted to weed

I've been smoking weed every day for about 2 years now. I didn't think it would ever be a problem for me to stop but I really can't. I've smoked so much that it doesn't even give me the same affect anymore. I'll have a head high for about 20 minutes max and then I'll feel drained for the rest of the day.

I desperately want to quit at least for 3 months just as a start but I can't seem to last a week. I ran out of weed before and had a difficult time getting more for about 12 days. Around the 6th day I started to get irritable and depressed. Around the 8th day I began to have outbursts and meltdowns and I became suicidal. (Granted I have been diagnosed with clinical depression).

I keep getting the urge to smoke for no good reason. I even risked getting high on the job recently on a slow day. I immediately regretted it because it made me unable to concentrate and I felt too tired to work efficiently.

I've spent my grocery money on weed a few times before. But I really don't enjoy the high like I use to. I'm not sure how to break the habit because it seems that nothing works.

Voting Results
37% Normal
Based on 30 votes (11 yes)
Feeling Suicidal?
We couldn't help but notice that you might be asking about things related to suicide...
If that's not the case, please ignore this message.
But, if that is the case, please, please, please call this hotline and talk to someone about it. Or, visit one of these websites and get some help.
Unfortunately IIN isn't the best place for you to be asking about this. Check out the above websites or call one of the hotlines instead. They can help. Really. We know what we're talking about. Call. Do it. Please.
Remember that everything gets better with time.
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 43 )
  • seekelp

    Talk to a doctor.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Motorhippy

    Yeah, but I'm saying as a person who has smoked A LOT of weed for a much longer time that I can say with full confidence and years of research that weed is NOT addictive, if you smoke every day for a long time it will compound the effects over that period of time, to the point that when you quit you will reach a new level of sobriety every week until it's all gone, not to mention the possible psychological effects of derealization and smoking while having depression, both of which can stay with you for months.

    I know the feelings of all those things, and it is not an addiction, because I have played with addiction before, it's not the same game at all. It's a short phase, it is not difficult, if he can't quit smoking he needs help from a psychologist, not an NA meeting, you're simply ignoring his depression, wich could easily become derealization when you're high, which also explains why he feels tired when he smokes and his negative psychological dependency on weed, depression is very real and powerful, and so is derealization.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • BobbyTheBear

    Emo's shouldnt smoke weed

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • VSpnklvr

    Sounds like your smoking some shitty weed as well. Good marijuana should not make you tired every time you smoke it. There are actually strains that are designed to increase your energy, get off the shwag.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • Dr.Screw

      shit.not if i smoke blunt after blunt.always gets me nice and chill.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
    • theseeker

      I beg to differ. Any weed I've ever smoked calmed me way down. Most of the time, it makes me zoned out and tired. Maybe there are strains that increase your energy, but I'm just saying weed has never made me feel energetic.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
        -
      • VSpnklvr

        Do you happen to live in a legal or medical state? If so talk to your bud tender about getting set up with some sativa strains which tends to give you a more energized uplifting high. if you constantly end up in couch lock and are tired all the time your probably smoking an Indica strain. If you don't have a choice in what you get......well then your just plain out of luck.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Motorhippy

    lol whatever, being addicted to weed is like being addicted to TV or snack cakes. Weed is not itself addictive.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Ellenna

    If you really want to stop it's going to be almost impossible by yourself. Is there an NA (Narcotics Anonymous) group you can get to? Or even AA wd be better than nothing

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Motorhippy

    Youre not addicted to weed, maybe youre like me when I'm depressed, I'll smoke a lot of weed for the sweet melancholy escapism that just feels a little better than the weight of sober disillusionment.

    It's really not that hard to quit smoking, if you're addicted you're stuck to the habit of smoking it more than anything else.

    Ive been smoking for six years and never had a problem quitting for three months or so at a time for work, etc.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • Darkoil

      He sounds exactly like he has an addiction. Just because you can give it up whenever you want doesn't mean this person can.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
        -
      • dickwashington

        go through a real drug withdrawal and say that again!

        Comment Hidden ( show )
          -
        • CountessDouche

          I wouldn't say that the severity of withdrawals is what defines an addiction. That's like arguing that cigarettes are not addictive because cessation doesn't cause severe physical symptoms.

          Addiction has psychological components as well as physical. This is why things like gambling can constitute a very real addiction, although the "withdrawal" isn't necessarily physical (unless your debating the brain's chemical response to said behaviour)...anyway, I'd argue that once any behaviour becomes an unavoidable compulsion that interferes with someone's life, it could be classed as an addiction.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
            -
          • Darkoil

            That would be my exact definition as well.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
              -
            • Ellenna

              And mine

              Comment Hidden ( show )
          • dickwashington

            having gone through physical. I understand and respect mental addictions but they are nothing compared to the terror of physical withdrawal.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
              -
            • CountessDouche

              I understand what you are saying to certain extent. I actually suffered from a drug addiction quite a few years ago. It was stimulants however (basically a combination of whatever I could get my hands on, adderal, Ritalin, ephedrine back when it was avaibiable OTC, loads and loads of methamphetamine, and cocain in a pinch). My "withdrawal" didn't include any of the same physical symptoms as say opiate addiction, which my boyfriend suffered from, but there were some immediate symptoms and quite a few lingering ones as my brain chemistry basically readjusted itself, but it wasn't as dramatic in the beginning as coming off of opiates...

              Anyways, having said that, I prefer not to compare it to any one else's problem with drugs, alcohol, tobacco, etc. focusing on the fact that some people had/have it worse.

              Minimising things like this can discourage people from seeking help with their problem, and I don't think that's something you would want to do. You've experienced how much an addiction can fuck up your life, and I'm sure you wouldn't wish that on anyone else, even if their symptoms are not as bad as yours (they can still be problematic and devastating).

              My brother has some addictive behaviours when it comes to weed. I've seen him do incredibly stupid things just to have it available, like taking it on a plane when he was traveling and had nowhere to buy it. If he were to get caught, it could ruin his career, end up with a criminal record...I would be wrecked if that happened. Just because he's not wasting away shooting heroin doesn't make that type of behaviour any less destructive.

              Comment Hidden ( show )
        • Darkoil

          Are you implying cannabis use cannot lead to an addiction?

          Comment Hidden ( show )
  • JD777

    What you're describing is textbook marijuana addiction and withdrawal. It's not common, but it is real. The best treatment is counseling. Anti-depressants might help, but they don't act on all the same receptors affected by THC.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • Textbook addiction behavior really.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
    • thegypsysailor

      Since the only thing thc does to the human body is to remove sugar from the bloodstream, it is physically impossible to get "addicted" to pot. It is exactly the same as not eating for a period of time. What this op described is not even a psychological addiction, it's
      just a troll post, period.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
        -
      • JD777

        Wrong. That's what people thought long ago. New research proves otherwise. My work involves assessing diseases and conditions and their treatments. Marijuana dependence treatments are being worked on, but are proving difficult because the neural receptors involved are different than the better understood receptors in other addictions. Here is one of many current articles on the subject:

        http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive

        Comment Hidden ( show )
          -
        • thegypsysailor

          In the first place, this is government hype. There is nothing new in this study, as far as I can see. I read the same tripe in the 60's. It was found to be biased and ultimately misleading then, and it will be found to be so now.
          I find it absolutely impossible to believe that anyone in his/her right mind would even allow a legalization vote, let alone allow it to pass, if this was a reality.
          Several thousand friends and acquaintances over the last 5 decades have never mentioned this so called physical withdrawal from pot. Never, not once.
          Of course, the apparent prevalence of social anxiety, depression and all the other mental problems that seem so rampant in those who frequent this site might have a lot more to do with these symptoms, than the physical effects of pot. Also, we have no way of knowing what additives these kids are getting (adding?) in their weed, either.
          In most science, especially government sponsored science, it is all too easy to get the conclusion to fit the study's intent.
          I am in no way advocating the use of pot for anyone, but I cannot just let some guy blame pot for something that might have a much more serious cause.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
            -
          • JD777

            I agree on a couple of your points. The pot today has a far higher THC content than the good stuff we knew of back in the day, way more than tai stick, fuzzy bud and Hawaiian that we thought was top grade. And some of the stuff has been found to be laced with other chemicals. And people who are bothered by mental disorders has skyrocketed. Demand for anti depressants is just amazingly high compared to 20 years ago.

            But, I really don't mean to come off as a know it all, but this is in my area of work and can honestly say, the work in marijuana dependence is real, and so are the perplexing challenges of coming up with a treatment.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
              -
            • thegypsysailor

              I'll have to take your word for that as it is your profession, but if this is fact, how did they allow legalization? It seems counter to everything our babysitting society (protect us from ourselves at all costs) believes in.

              Comment Hidden ( show )
          • Ellenna

            So you don't think the governments which have legalized weed did it so they could control and tax it?

            I don't think anyone's blaming pot for anything: OP merely described what happens when he doesn't use it

            Comment Hidden ( show )
      • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk

        horseshit

        theres mental addiction and physical addiction and op is describing mental addiction which is obsession over gittin high

        how come peoples git addicted to gamblin or sex or cheap thrills? wheres the blood sugar level goin then?

        just cause it aint heroin or tobacco dont mean it can git a grip onya

        dopamines a more powerful drug than anythin else

        and yes we all know how fuckin wonderful yall are and how yallve never experienced somethin similar so it caint be true so dont bother replyin with yalls airy attitudes

        Comment Hidden ( show )
          -
        • JD777

          Nope, see my response above.........

          Comment Hidden ( show )
        • JD777

          Ooops, now it's my response below. heheh

          Comment Hidden ( show )
      • Ellenna

        Well the brain is part of the body last I heard and if weed didn't affect our brains why would we bother using it?

        Comment Hidden ( show )
      • This is not a troll post. I am being very sincere. I don't really have anyone to turn to about this so I asked about it on here.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
          -
        • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk

          i doesnt wanna be a put down but yallre gonna experience that short temperedness and them strong craving for months

          more at first and less as time goes on but when they do hit theys gonna come outta nowhere and kick yalls ass

          git rida any paraphernalia and stoner friends very first fuckin thing and avoid that shit

          keep in yalls mind that if yall slip yallre goin right back into the abyss cause yall can never be a casual user again

          good luck friend

          Comment Hidden ( show )
        • thegypsysailor

          You can NOT have a physical dependency on pot. It just is not possible. It is all in your head, and even that is extremely rare. It is ALL about blood sugar levels, nothing more.
          Addiction to alcohol and tobacco are scientific fact, common and easily determined, but in over 50 years of being a serious pot head, I have not once heard of anyone who has had an actual addiction to pot.
          Look otherwhere for your problem.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
            -
          • Well everything I described in my post is real. I'm even downplaying it a bit. I'm going to see what some other people have to say. Instead of looking elsewhere I just won't look to you for anything helpful.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
          • Ellenna

            If the only physical effect of pot is to alter blood sugar levels, how come it has positive effects on glaucoma, juvenile epilepsy and my bronchial tubes (eaten not smoked)?

            Are you seriously suggesting it has no medical uses at all? If not, then it does have physical effects: whether or not it's addictive is a separate issue

            Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Bebzy85

    I find the smell of weed absolutely revolting I could be sick when I smell it and it does nothing for me most overhyped and overused drug ever. Yes it has medical benefits but not from smoking it

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • armenator

    it really makes a difference wether your smoking blunts or anything else. if your smoking blunts, your not addicted to the weed, your addicted to the blunts. try to slowly wein yourself off of them if you are.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • gofotit

    Read the first paragraph & stopped. Work out your mental issues first before you blame weed & stop ruining it for the rest of us. Weed quietins the mind & helps you think. Maybe you should think why you feel the need to do that before you make the stupid statement of how it's addictive. Clearly you don't enjoy your life. Have a rethink about what you truly want & work towards a change.Weed helps us in many ways & in yours it helps you cope with how misrable you are. You are the only one who can change your reality for the better, i suggest you start now. I love to smoke weed & have also felt this way but educated myself and am better for it.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Alyss

    For the last 3 years i've been smoking weed on almost an hourly basis, and only in the last 6 months have I been able to start "managing" it (i.e. only have a joint once i've finished college, or on days off past 5pm)Weed really did become my life, even when I was smoking a joint I was thinking about the next one, but I wouldn't put that down to the weed, it's just how I am as a person. All i can say is try to find a balance :)

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • theseeker

    Not very often you hear someone addicted to weed, but when I do it's usually because of the high they get from it. People can react to it differently than others. I've seen people who won't touch the stuff, and others who can't get away from it.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Ellenna

    One question hasn't been raised here so far: if you were smoking weed presumably it was mixed with tobacco? If so and you've stopped smoking altogether, you're probably in nicotine withdrawal. Try some nicotine chewing gum and see if the symptoms recede - worth a try

    Comment Hidden ( show )