quote:
Withdrawal is only one criteria for physical dependence. Increased tolerance is the other. While discontinued use of cannabinoids does not lead to sever physical withdrawal, it does lead to cravings, irritability, and trouble concentrating in some users. While these symptoms are not as dangerous or overtly "physical" as other (i.e. sweats, nausea, delirium, seizures, lethargy), they are the result of changes in the brain. This will be surprising, but the brain is a physical organ which not only regulates the parts of the body that are easily visible but also our affect and behavior. Do people generally smoke more cannabis over time to get the same high? Yes. There is the other part to physical dependence. Tolerance occurs in response to changes in the physical structure and/or chemical function in the brain, specifically in areas with primary or secondary effects on the dopamine reward pathway. Alcohol withdrawal differs from opiate withdrawal differs from cocaine withdrawal differs from THC withdrawal, but they are all withdrawal. Using "psychological" versus "physical" is really semantic, and it is often used as a way to minimize the addictive potential of cannabis. Obviously, addiction to THC is different and usually less severe than addiction to other psychotropic chemicals, but it is still addiction. I don't expect that information to change your beliefs. It seems like you are pretty dug in. There it is, though.

Long about 1974/75, when Playboy magazine was really thick and was filled with interesting & useful stuff over and above the photos, there was a full page cartoon that showed 2 cops slowly walking their “beat” along a street in anywhere USA. Hands behind their backs, clasped in a relaxed fashion as no criminals out that night.

One cop states to the other: “...yeah, I smoked Marijuana once....It made me want to rape and kill”!!!

I don’t know where you got your information and I haven’t partook in “the deadly weed” but on the rarest occasion over the last 35 years. But 95% of the stuff cited in your post as pertains to THC is absolute falsehood. Even discussing it in the same article as one that deals with withdrawal from opiates and Benzodiazepines or similar creates a comparison that does more harm, much more harm than just speaking from reality. It’s just wrong-plain and simple.

Spend a couple of months taking Ocycodone every day then stop;
Do the same with Xanax or a similar benzodiazepine once you’ve recovered from the opiate withdrawals.
Smoke weed daily in any amount you deem appropriate for as long as you need for this little experiment.

After you’ve done that, come back and repeat this hogwash with any degree of conviction.

Most folks unfortunately find out the hard way. But they damn sure don’t need any encouragement to go into situations misinformed. That’s probably the best way to characterize the substance of your post without being overly vulgar- misinformation.

“Semantics” my arse!!!

This post was edited on 8/30/19 at 11:18 pm