Myth: Marijuana is Highly Addictive. Long term marijuana users experience physical dependence and withdrawal, and often need professional drug treatment to break their marijuana habits.
Fact: Most people who smoke marijuana smoke it only occasionally. A small minority of Americans - less than 1 percent - smoke marijuana on a daily basis. An even smaller minority develop a dependence on marijuana. Some people who smoke marijuana heavily and frequently stop without difficulty. Others seek help from drug treatment professionals. Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If people experience withdrawal symptoms at all, they are remarkably mild.
http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/
As explained above marijuana is not an addictive substance. In fact it is ranked as less addicting than caffiene, a substance used by millions of people legally everyday. While marijauna is constantly used without any consequences regarding addiction, two of the most addicting substances are legal and accessible by the public. In the United States about one in five adults smokes tobacco. Out of all tobacco smokers 70% of them want to quit and about 40% try to quit every year. Out of those who try to quit, about 7% are successfull while vast majority are not able to quit for more than a week. According to the CDC about 64% of American drink alcohol while 50% are regular drinkers. Roughly 13.8 million Americans have drinking problems, including the 8.1 million who fit the criterea for alcoholism. In fact, two-thirds of the population drink alcohol while only 10% of drinkers drink half of all alcohol consumed. These two legal substances have been found to be as addicting as cocaine and heroin, while marijuana remains one of the least addicting substances known. This relatively harmless substance also remains illegal.
Yes, smoking marijuana may be habit forming, however this does not imply that it is addictive. Marijuana is only ever addictive if used frequently and over a prolonged period of time. However, this does not necessarily stem from a physical dependence but a social one. Smoking marijuana is a lifestyle choice. As with any other activity performed on regular basis, it is going to become a habit. When one becomes a habitual marijauna smoker their body does not crave the drug and they function fine with or without it but when one abuses alcohol or tobacco, thier body becomes dependent on thier usage of that drug and they suffer withdrawl symptoms when they try to quit using. It is simply thier drug of choice, like one might choose to smoke cigars or drink scotch. In this sense marijuana is no more addicting than doing pilates before bed or chewing on one's fingernails.
So, is marijuana addictive? Not to the point that is could ever interfere anyone's life, so I'm gonna go with no.
Myth debunked.
http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/
http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/
http://www.alcoholism-statistics.com/facts.php
http://www.myaddiction.com/education/articles/tobacco_statistics.html
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