The chemical compound THC is responsible for marijuana’s psychological impact. It is also typically considered the reason for most marijuana addictions. Depending upon the route of administration, a marijuana “high” can take effect either immediately (if smoked) or up to an hour later (if eaten). The effects of being high on marijuana are distinct and noticeable. A person who has recently used marijuana will likely display:

The smell of marijuana is unmistakable. Once you’ve smelled it, you will easily be able to detect it on the clothes of your loved one or another addict. Like cigarettes, the smoke will cling to the area in which it was smoke and also to the clothing of the user.

Recently passed laws in the United States have created large fluctuations in marijuana pricing. For instance, in an area where marijuana is legal, a user can often purchase their daily supply for around $20. If marijuana is illegal, prices can be inflated up to 5 times that amount due to the complexities and fluctuations of the illegal drug market. However, because marijuana is such an omnipresent substance, prices are rarely prohibitive, and many users will have surrounded themselves with fellow users with whom they can share the financial burdens of their shared habit.

Marijuana is similar to other drugs of abuse in that it has a profound impact on the user’s ability to make decisions. While most of the correlation between marijuana use and crime is accounted for by drug-related offenses like possession, there is also a connection between marijuana and unrelated offenses. That is, studies show that in the case of violent crime, there is a significant connection between marijuana use and arrests.

Marijuana may not quite destroy a person’s life overnight, but its impact is certainly noticeable, particularly with teenagers. When combining the risks of prohibition-related offenses and the proclivity towards violent crime, marijuana addicts are quite likely to suffer legal consequences. While many moderate users can maintain homes, families, and jobs, at a certain point, the costs will begin to add up. For young adults and teenagers, even minor criminal offenses can have long-lasting ramifications which can spiral into catastrophic consequences.

Marijuana has long been an understudied and misunderstood drug. Due to its history of illegality, there are also very few long-term studies on its impact on users.

The human body has receptors that respond to THC-like chemicals produced naturally in the body. The THC in marijuana acts upon these receptors, over-stimulating them fairly quickly. When these areas are activated, people experience the “high” of the drug, which includes alteration of the senses, changes in mood, impaired motor skills, difficulty with thinking, problem-solving, and memory.

Most of the known issues with marijuana concern long-term brain development, especially as concerns young adults and teenagers. Many of the short-term effects, studies have concluded, seem to extend into the long-term and may even become irreversible. A study in New Zealand showed that users who smoked heavily in their teens lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 18-38. This hampered brain functioning did not recover when they eventually overcame their addiction.

While these issues are bad enough, prolonged use of marijuana can have severe psychosomatic implications, as well. These issues include hallucinations, paranoia, and exacerbating the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Marijuana also harms the physical wellbeing of the user. Marijuana smoke causes lung irritation which can lead to many of the same respiratory complications as smoking cigarettes, including frequent lung illness, chronic cough, and a higher risk for a lung infection. Since marijuana also increases the heart rate, it can be particularly threatening to older people and those with pre-existing heart conditions.

As a result, it’s hard to determine a general course of recovery for marijuana users. It does seem to be a fact, however, that relapse is primarily linked to the difficulty of withdrawal. Because withdrawal can be a lengthy and uncomfortable process, most addicts who attempt to detox themselves without support will give in to the craving to use. To complicate this process, most marijuana addicts have extensive connections throughout the illicit drug community in their area, which allows them to easily acquire more of the substance if they should choose to give up and relapse.

As with other substances, it’s vital that a recovering marijuana user is supported by those close to them. A recovery group can become an invaluable tool, as well. Other people with recovery experience can uniquely relate to the newly sober addict and share their experience. Their support will often be necessary for guiding the addict through the discomfort associated with withdrawal.

Fortunately, marijuana withdrawal is extremely minimal. Typical symptoms will include negative mood, irritability, anxiety, muscle pain, chills, loss of appetite, insomnia, and craving. Many of these symptoms are common to withdrawal from basically any addictive substance and, while uncomfortable, will very likely not require medical attention.

However, most marijuana users report that cravings can often become nearly intolerable in the early stages of recovery. For this reason, placing an addict in a safe space with watchful people is important. This can include being at home with supportive friends or family or may require a more strictly controlled setting like at a rehab or hospital.

Marijuana can be extremely addictive, especially if a person has used it for years. In addition to its addictive properties, marijuana is rapidly becoming more available, through legalization campaigns throughout the country. The combination of craving and easy access make marijuana recovery quite difficult, even though the physical hook is not quite as strong as drugs like heroin or alcohol.

While addiction support groups are helpful, many recovering marijuana users find additional support through behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement (MET) interventions are the most widely utilized strategies. The goal of these therapies is to change the way an addict thinks and behaves. These recoveries have also been shown to increase in effectiveness if combined with family support and a community-based support group. Many religious groups or 12-step programs offer these sorts of support services.

Marijuana is far from a harmless drug – it negatively impacts just about every element of an addict’s life. Therefore, the broader and more inclusive the recovery plan, the greater the likelihood of success in recovery from marijuana addiction.

Light House Women’s Recovery Center has everything you or your loved one needs to experience long-term recovery and live a new life with hope, purpose and meaning.