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Can people become addicted to marijuana?

Updated: 2/1/2006

Yes. Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction in some people. That is, they cannot control their urges to seek out and use marijuana, even though it negatively affects their family relationships, school performance, and recreational activities. According to one study, marijuana use by teenagers who have prior antisocial problems can quickly lead to addiction. In addition, some frequent, heavy marijuana users develop “tolerance” to its effects. This means they need larger and larger amounts of marijuana to get the same desired effects as they used to get from smaller amounts.

Marijuana addiction is a strong psychological addiction. The psychological addiction of marijuana is the most difficult to overcome because the addiction comes on slowly and subtly.

Keywords: marijuana drug addiction teenagers tolerance long term