Is Weed More Addictive Than We’ve Been Led to Believe?
Turns out cannabis dependence is real — and recovery doesn’t follow the usual script
As a millennial, I’ve seen the reputation of potheads elevate from burnouts buying incense and Grateful Dead shirts at the mall to successful adults who don’t drink but enjoy unwinding and having a good time. The legalized cannabis era has even cultivated a surprising conversational common ground. That family member you’re hoping doesn’t bring up politics at dinner? They’d love to talk gummies instead.
At the same time, ever since I was a teenager (buying incense at the mall), I’ve heard the same refrain over and over again: weed is not addictive. To be honest, that never felt entirely true. I mean, just because my high school friends could make gravity bongs did not make them experts on this topic. Admittedly, we had no clue what we were talking about. As for the weed-smoking community outside my circle of friends, there are over 360,000 users in the subreddit r/leaves, an online group for people trying to quit or seeking support in their recovery, who would beg to differ with the assessment that cannabis is not addictive.