Marijuana Myths
Ah, marijuana. Such a devious substance. Everyone seems to be using it, it is totally non-addictive and, unlike other drugs, it causes little harm. Hey, it’s basically a health food. Right?! Wrong!
Let me preface this by saying that my goal is not to demonize marijuana. Plenty of people are able to use it recreationally, without a problem (just like there are plenty of people who drink in moderation). BUT – there is a significant minority of people who do develop an addiction to cannabis, and in my experience this problem is not talked about or acknowledged nearly enough (if anything, it seems to be minimized!).
In this post, we will take a look at some common myths surrounding marijuana. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard these from clients and acquaintances. The worst thing is when a client tells me that they are trying to quit only to be informed by their “friends” that marijuana is a harmless substance that can’t possibly cause any significant problems. Talk about a motivation killer!
6 Common Myths About Marijuana
Myth #1. Marijuana is not addictive.
Fact: Studies show that between 10-30% of cannabis users have some degree of marijuana use disorder i.e. addiction to cannabis (Hasin, Saha & Kerridge, 2015; Lopez-Quintero et al., 2011). So the next time someone tells you that you can’t be addicted to weed, you can show them these stats.
Myth #2. Marijuana is harmless.
Fact: Regular use of marijuana has been associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression, although at this point it isn't clear whether anxiety and/or depression puts one at risk of developing cannabis addiction or vice versa (Volkow et al., 2014). Cannabis is also linked with an increased risk of developing psychosis, especially among individuals with a genetic vulnerability (Volkow et al., 2014). Additionally, healthy cannabis users, regardless of age, have been found to have impaired cognition relative to non users, as well as functional brain alterations (Duperrouzel et al., 2019). Research shows that youth are especially vulnerable to the effects of cannabis on brain development and function, as the brain is not fully developed until around age 25. The good news is that at least some of the effects can be reversible, even if use begins in adolescence (Meier et al., 20120).
Myth #3. You can’t overdose on marijuana.
Fact: Okay, this one is somewhat accurate. Perhaps “self-poisoning”, rather than “overdose” is a more accurate term. Here is what I mean - while there have not been any reported deaths resulting directly from cannabis use, you can experience severe side effects from taking marijuana, especially at high doses. Symptoms include: extreme anxiety and panic, vomiting, paranoia and psychosis (Hudak at al., 2015; Cone et al., 1988; Noble et al., 2019). One lesser-known condition that is associated with long term cannabis use is Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), which results in severe cyclical vomiting and frequent visits to the ER (Galli, Sawaya & Friedenberg, 2011). I have seen it in my clinical practice more than once and let me tell you…it is as horrible as it sounds.
Myth #4. Marijuana withdrawal isn’t real.
Fact: Marijuana withdrawal is very, very real. Symptoms include: irritability, nervousness/anxiety, sleep difficulty, decreased appetite or weight loss, depressed mood and various physical symptoms (Bonnet & Preuss, 2017). These symptoms tend to last for about 3 weeks (Bonnet & Preuss, 2017), gradually decreasing in intensity over time (clients often describe the first 3 days as the most challenging, but timelines vary).
Myth #5. Marijuana is helpful for anxiety, sleep, chronic pain…you name it.
Fact: A 2017 review (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, 2017) concluded that the only conditions for which there is sufficient evidence of marijuana's therapeutic effects are:
- Chronic pain
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Spasticity, pain and sleep issues associated with Multiple Sclerosis
Yep, that’s it. Turns out those BuzzFeed articles may not be accurate, after all. Who knew.
And hey, if you are using weed in moderation and you’re finding that it’s helping you and is not causing you any problems, then who am I to judge? However, I do believe that for the purposes of informed decision-making, it is helpful to be aware of what research has to say about marijuana’s purported benefits.
Myth #6. And finally…Everyone uses marijuana.
Fact: In 2021, 25% of Canadians reported using cannabis in the past 12 months, with 17% reporting use in the past 30 days. While these numbers may seem high, if we look at it from a different perspective, the vast majority of people (75%) have not used marijuana in the last year (Government of Canada Survey, 2021). That is all for today. Let me know what you think in the comments. Have you heard or perhaps believed in any of these myths?
Think you might be struggling with addiction? Please feel free to contact me for a free consultation.
Or learn more about Addiction Treatment in Ontario.
References
Bonnet, U., & Preuss, U. W. (2017). The cannabis withdrawal syndrome: current insights. Substance abuse and rehabilitation, 8, 9–37. https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S109576
Duperrouzel, J. C., Granja, K., Pacheco-Colón, I., & Gonzalez, R. (2020). Adverse Effects of Cannabis Use on Neurocognitive Functioning: A Systematic Review of Meta- Analytic Studies. Journal of dual diagnosis, 16(1), 43–57.
Canadian Cannabis Survey (2021): https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/research-data/canadian-cannabis-survey-2021-summary.html
Cone, E.J., Johnson, R.E., Paul, B.D., Mell, L.D., Mitchell, J., 1988. Marijuana-laced brownies: behavioral effects, physiologic effects, and urinalysis in humans following ingestion. J. Anal. Toxicol. 12, 169-175
Galli, J. A., Sawaya, R. A., & Friedenberg, F. K. (2011). Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Current drug abuse reviews, 4(4), 241–249. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874473711104040241
Hartman, R. L., & Huestis, M. A. (2013). Cannabis effects on driving skills. Clinical chemistry, 59(3), 478–492. https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2012.194381
Hasin DS, Saha TD, Kerridge BT, et al. Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United States Between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(12):1235-1242. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.1858
Hudak, M., Severn, D., & Nordstrom, K. (2015). Edible cannabis-induced psychosis: intoxication and beyond. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172(9), 911-912.
Lopez-Quintero C, de los Cobos JP, Hasin DS, et al. Probability and predictors of transition from first use to dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine: Results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2011;115(1-2):120-130.
Meier, M. H., Caspi, A., Ambler, A., Harrington, H., Houts, R., Keefe, R. S., McDonald, K., Ward, A., Poulton, R., & Moffitt, T. E. (2012). Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(40), E2657–E2664. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1206820109
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on the Health Effects of Marijuana: An Evidence Review and Research Agenda. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2017 Jan . 4, Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
Noble MJ, Hedberg K, Hendrickson RG (2019). Acute cannabis toxicity. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2019 Jan 24:1-8. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2018.1548708. [Epub ahead of print]
Volkow, N. D., Baler, R. D., Compton, W. M., & Weiss, S. R. (2014). Adverse health effects of marijuana use. The New England journal of medicine, 370(23), 2219–2227. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1402309