According to a recent study, 8.4 million people smoke weed everyday.

In America, there is a large debate surrounding the use of marijuana and its potential side effects. On one side of the debate, weed is made out to be the villain. The other side of the debate believes that weed is completely harmless and is a cure-all for many ailments and conditions.

So, who’s right? While it’s up to everyone individually to decide for themselves their political views on weed, from a health standpoint, there are concerns related to smoking weed on a daily basis. 

Most of the health community isn’t concerned with the moral value of weed as a drug, but rather the effects on their patients.

Is it helping them to manage symptoms? Is it interfering with their daily life?

When it comes to drug and alcohol use, there’s a saying that can help you determine if your weed use is nearing or actively an addiction. That saying is “if it’s causing problems in your life then it’s most likely a problem.”

Read on to discover how and when marijuana use becomes a problem. 

Smoke Weed Everyday: From Recreational Use to Dependence 

Marijuana as a substance isn’t physically addictive. However, marijuana can produce what’s called “psychological dependence.” This is when a weed smoker needs weed to complete daily tasks, feel better and has cravings for the drug.

If they don’t get the drug then they may experience stress and anxiety. They may also obsess over obtaining the drug.

If any of these symptoms are present, then marijuana use may have turned into an addiction. Explore the following signs that your marijuana use may have become a problem and potentially addiction.

1. Problems with Mental Health

Maintaining mental health is an important part of our lives. Some people who smoke marijuana, however, may experience mental health issues as a result of smoking weed. They may also be using marijuana to manage symptoms related to an underlying mental health problem. 

Some mental health problems that can develop include cannabis-induced psychotic disorder and cannabis-induced anxiety disorder. These disorders, however, are usually a result of smoking weed with high amounts of THC or smoking large amounts in a short period of time. Both disorders require treatment from mental health professionals as they can be serious conditions.

2. Financial Stress

Experiencing financial stress may indicate that your marijuana use has become a problem. This is especially true if you decide to spend money on weed instead of paying the bills. 

Marijuana use may also lower your motivation causing you to lose your job. If you lose your job, then financial stress is likely to follow. 

Financial stress may also be more covert. For example, if your long-term goal is to purchase a home, but you continue purchasing weed then this may cause stress. It may also lower your self-esteem.

3. Problems at Work and School  

Working and going to school are important aspects of our lives. They provide us with meaningful lives, focus and purpose, and social interaction. If your work life is suffering because of your drug use, then this may cause additional stress down the road.

Your weed use may also be a problem for getting a job. Many companies require you to pass a drug test before giving you a job. If you find that you aren’t able to get a job because of your drug use, then this may be a sign that your marijuana use is problematic.

People who use marijuana reported that they have less career and academic success. They’re also more likely to drop out of school, lose their jobs, or miss days at work. People who smoke weed are also more likely to have accidents or get injured which could affect school and/or work performance.

4. Relationship Issues

Relationships are a key component of a healthy life. Relationships are important to our happiness, physical health, and mental health. Relationships can be romantic in nature, friendships, or familial connections. 

Being able to connect fully with another individual is one component of a healthy relationship. Marijuana use may make it difficult to connect with others because of its side effects like poor concentration and memory impairment. This is especially true if your loved one doesn’t smoke weed. 

If the important people in your life have expressed concern about your marijuana use, then you may want to consider if it’s a problem in your life. Especially, if the person asking you to quit your marijuana use is your spouse, someone you live with, or a family member. 

Ask yourself if your marijuana use is worth risking these important connections in your life. While it’s understandable that this may cause you to be defensive because of differing opinions and the controversial nature of marijuana use, your loved one may actually have a loving concern. They may be genuinely worried about your marijuana usage instead of trying to control you or judging you.

Try to listen to their concerns in a calm manner.

5. Withdrawal Symptoms

If you experience withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit smoking weed, then you’ve likely become addicted. 

Withdrawal may cause you to experience the opposite effects of why you may have started using in the first place. For example, if you use marijuana to help you sleep then you may experience sleeplessness or nightmares during withdrawal. If weed helps you to have an appetite, then withdrawal may cause a decrease in appetite.

Quitting marijuana may also cause you to experience anxiety, depression, and mood swings. This is due to the role dopamine plays when interacting with marijuana. Marijuana depletes the dopamine receptors over time which causes higher tolerance and more pronounced withdrawal symptoms for long-time users.

Withdrawal may cause you to have a lower mood because your dopamine receptors are trying to return to normal levels.

Someone may also experience headaches, stomach cramps, chills/sweating, and/or tremors during withdrawal. 

Smoke Weed Everyday: Evaluating Your Usage

If you smoke weed everyday, then it’s a good idea to evaluate your usage and its effects. Try to be as realistic as possible when evaluating your marijuana usage. Even if you aren’t formally addicted, weed may be causing you to not reach your goals or engage in other activities you may enjoy. 

If you do think you have a marijuana addiction, then treatment is available. Treatment can help you learn how to cope without weed and how to rebuild your life so that you can live a more fulfilling and healthy life.

Want to seek treatment for your marijuana addiction? Check our treatment programs in Athens, Georgia to get the help you need.