Memes

I've always explained it like: if porn and gambling can be addictive, how can weed possibly not be?

As a guy with ADHD and had a medical license before getting diagnosed.. yup. Pretty much.

Prolonged use of use of weed can reduce you brains motivation system which is something that people with ADHD already have a problem with. Long term use of weed may be risky idea for someone with ADHD. source: my doctor who gave me my medical card and my psychiatrist

Thing is, caffeine is physically addictive. Weed is not.

But you can make a habit out of anything.

Cheers! I'd like to pass on this info though, for anyone who enjoys both like myself:

Caffeine drinking potentiates cannabinoid transmission: interaction with stress effects - Neuropharmacology 2009

Our data suggest that the cannabinoid system is implicated in the psychoactive properties of caffeine and in the ability of caffeine to reduce the pathological consequences of stress. Chronic caffeine assumption sensitized GABAergic synapses to the presynaptic effect of cannabinoid CB1 receptor stimulation by exo- and endocannabinoids. The synaptic effects of caffeine were slowly reversible after its removal from the drinking solution. Furthermore, although exposure to caffeine for only 24h did not produce measurable changes of the sensitivity of cannabinoid CB1 receptors, it was able to contrast the down-regulation of CB1 receptor-mediated responses after social defeat stress.

I copied the rest from bloommedicinals.com, just the relevant bits. Also added the links to the studies and the pages with additional descriptions.

TL;DR:

• Low levels of caffeine can help to maximize the effects of THC, but too much caffeine can lessen the impact of your cannabis
• Caffeine and THC can both increase dopamine levels, but too much at once can trigger anxiety, agitation, and paranoia

What Happens When You Smoke Weed and Drink Coffee?

Since coffee and cannabis may offer so many health benefits on their own, you might think it’s safe to assume that enjoying a little bit of weed with your coffee would be okay. The reality is … it might be safe for most, but not for all. Here’s why.

THC and coffee can boost the amount of dopamine in our systems. Although dopamine can promote feelings of happiness and euphoria, too much of it at once can trigger anxiety, agitation, and paranoia. In addition, both caffeine and THC can both increase your blood pressure and heart rate.

This is why many doctors advise that those with heart conditions and those at risk of heart arrhythmia or stroke, should not mix caffeine and THC. So, if you’re new to mixing coffee and cannabis, it’s important to consult your doctor to make sure it makes sense for you. If it does, begin with lower amounts of coffee and cannabis than you would normally consume on their own. Then if needed, you can increase your dosage slowly.

Back in 2014, a study was conducted to measure the effects of mixing caffeine and cannabis on squirrel monkeys. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Neuroscience. (also described here)

The monkeys were given the ability to self administer cannabis whenever they wanted. All they had to do was to pull on a lever. When the monkeys were given low doses of a substance similar to caffeine, they seemed less likely to reach for the THC. But, when they received high doses of caffeine, they seemed to reach for that lever more often.

Then in 2018, a study led by Marilyn Cornelis at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine seemed to back up these findings. This time, the study examined the effects of mixing cannabis and coffee on humans. It found that the more caffeine people consumed, the less cannabis their body was able to metabolize. (also described here)

So, although small amounts of caffeine can help your THC go a long way – too much caffeine can lessen its effects.

Marijuana is absolutely physically addictive as much as people want to say it isnt.

I mean it scientifically isn't though. Physical addictions don't just give you psychological withdrawals, they are physical. Your body becomes dependent on them to maintain homeostasis.

Cold turkeying drugs like opioids and benzos can kill you.

I was hopelessly addicted to cigarettes. It took torturous willpower to quit.

I can smoke weed now and then and never crave it.

But sure, my experience is anecdotal.

Dude those “withdrawal symptoms” are a joke compared to any other drug.

That said, I don’t know a single person who identifies as a stoner that isn’t completely and utterly mentally addicted. And the drug is so subtle, stoners rarely try to stop.

Cocaine, even a 2 day bender is incredibly hard on your body. If you’re a person with any kind of responsibilities in your life, you’ll be strongly incentivized to reconsider the habit in no time.

But weed, it’s meh. Most users can restrict their use to when they’re not at work, so it’s fine.

Which makes it more dangerous.

I’ve watched so many promising futures flushed down the toilet by weed. Motivation? gone. Real hobbies? Indoors in front of a screen only. At its worst, I’ve seen friends totally withdraw from socializing almost entirely. Social anxiety combined with the escape of being high was enough to dampen and deny the very real human need to connect with others.

Every single one of these individuals went through some form of depression that was was extended and exacerbated by escapism and addiction in the form of excessive marijuana usage.

I know that’s not everyone. There are people who use it in a healthy, balanced way.

But there are also a ton of people who get heavily addicted because it dampens the pain of something they’re going through. And that pattern can make it a lot harder to make progress and work through whatever that person is dealing with.

Anyone who’s spent any time around stoners knows this is true. And yeah, for a lot of people, it’s a gateway drug. I’ve seen plenty of buddies in college jump from weed to xans to oxy. It’s ruined lives. It made my best friend drop out.

And yeah, these people clearly already had issues. But that’s how drug addiction works. It preys on people who are going through something and it makes a bad situation way worse.

Weed can do the exact same thing. Doesn’t matter if it’s not physically addicting.

I don’t like smoking.

People react differently to all substances, the real test for addiction is if you can stop doing it for say, 3 weeks in a row, not how often you do it... You can do it once a month and still be addicted but as long as you can stop for 3-4x longer than you usually would, you're probably not

I'd say that's the correct take on drug use. Are you trying to argue that you're not addicted?

Pray, it'll give you the strength you need

What does Weed with ADHD feel like?

If you can't ignore the want, that's an addiction

Alcohol 🤢🤮

Personally I thought weed was very addictive, but not in the traditional sense.

Take coffee for instance. When I stopped drinking coffee I had headaches, was a dick for a few days, but that's it. Which is pretty easy compared to, say, heroin (so I hear).

With weed, I didn't have any of that, but I craved the relaxation it brought. The feeling of not giving a fuck about anything for a few hours was great, and I longed for it. I still long for it sometimes. And I think that's the dangerous thing about weed being labeled as "non-addictive."

Just because you don't have a physical reaction to abstaining, doesn't mean the emotional reliance is nothing.