The Cannabis Plant: What is Marijuana?
Marijuana is a mind-altering drug that comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. THC is the primary ingredient that causes the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
The cannabis plant has separate male and female plants. Female plants are short and darker and have bracteole pods with short hairs protruding from them. Male plants are taller and thinner and have flower-like pods that have pollen-generating anthers.
Products that can be made from cannabis include marijuana, hashish, and various oils. Marijuana is a dried, shredded mix of flowers, leaves, seeds, and stems and may resemble tobacco.
A Brief History: Where Does Marijuana Come From?
Marijuana grows easily in many parts of the world, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. People grow marijuana both indoors and outdoors.
The first mention of cannabis use was in 2800 BC in China, where it was described as a medicine that could treat a wide array of illnesses. Other uses of medical cannabis are mentioned in the texts of the Romans, Greeks, and Assyrians.
Cannabis in the U.S. dates back to the 1600s when a cannabis plant material known as hemp was used for paper, clothes, rope, and ship’s sails. By 1840, the use of medical cannabis was mainstream in the United States, and hashish candy was advertised in 1862 as being able to cure nervousness and melancholy.
In the early 1900s, Mexican immigrants to the United States introduced the recreational use of marijuana as a drug. By 1925, 26 U.S. states had outlawed marijuana, and by the end of the Great Depression, all states regulated marijuana use in some way. In the 1940s, doctors began to distance themselves from medical marijuana use, and in 1952, the Boggs Act created strict punishments for the use of marijuana and several other drugs.
Since then, there have been arguments on both sides regarding the dangers and usefulness of cannabis use. As of 2025, 38 states, D.C., and three territories allow the medical use of cannabis with moderate to high THC. 24 states, D.C., and two territories allow adults to use non-medical marijuana. At a federal level, for example, in federal airports and properties and for immigration purposes, marijuana is still illegal.
How Is Marijuana Used? Medical Marijuana and More
Most people who use cannabis do it by smoking marijuana in a cigarette, bong, or pipe. Some people consume cannabis products by mixing it into foods and eating it or brewing it as tea. Individuals can also smoke oils from the plant or use THC vapes.
Medical marijuana usually comes in the same forms as recreational cannabis, although some forms are purified and made in a lab to treat specific medical conditions. Cannabis products can be used to treat nausea, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions. To legally carry medical marijuana, you’ll need a medical marijuana card in most states. You’ll also need to have an appropriately small amount of marijuana in medical packaging.
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved marijuana for medical use, but many states have their own laws allowing medicinal uses, especially to treat pain.
More research is needed to understand the benefits and risks of cannabis use as medicine, and the American Psychiatric Association recently reported that the loosening of regulations will make that research possible.
What Are the Effects of Marijuana Use?
The reason people develop cannabis use disorder is that they enjoy the short-term effects of using marijuana, as the drug affects the endocannabinoid system. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), these effects of cannabis use include:
- Feeling “high,” or happy and relaxed
- Altered perceptions of time
- Impaired thinking and memory
- Slower body movements
- Increased appetite
- Elevated heart rates
If the cannabis has a lot of THC or a large amount is taken, people can experience:
- Anxiety or fear
- Distrust of others
- Panic
- Hallucinations
The National Institute also notes that the long-term impacts of cannabis use can be significant, including:
- Significant damage to the lungs, similar to what tobacco smokers experience
- Mental health conditions such as psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia
- Low moods that impact mental health, including depression and suicidal thoughts
- Increased blood pressure and risk of heart problems, although more research is needed in this area
- Gastrointestinal problems like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
- Increased risk of cancer
Because marijuana is typically smoked, it can have similar long-term impacts on the mouth, throat, and lungs that are often seen in tobacco users.
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Why is Marijuana Addictive?
Marijuana use can turn into a cannabis use disorder for a variety of reasons. One of the top risk factors is if someone uses marijuana as a teen. Those who use marijuana at a young age are as much as seven times more likely to develop marijuana addiction.
Marijuana use can also result in cannabis dependence, which happens when the brain adapts to the presence of the drug, and stopping or reducing use results in cannabis withdrawal symptoms like decreased appetite, irritability, and more. Research suggests that 1 in 11 adults who use cannabis will develop cannabis use disorder, and that number is 1 in 6 for those who start using marijuana as a teenager.
Another factor that impacts marijuana addiction is how potent the drug is. Over time, the amount of THC in marijuana has increased dramatically. This can cause more adaptation in the brain’s cannabinoid receptors and a higher level of psychological dependence, resulting in cannabis use disorder.
Signs of Marijuana Abuse and Addiction
Marijuana addiction is diagnosed based on the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). There are several signs that you might have a cannabis addiction or cannabis use disorder:
- Using marijuana in larger amounts over time or more often than intended
- Spending a lot of time getting, using, and recovering from cannabis use
- Cravings or a strong desire to use cannabis
- Persistent but unsuccessful attempts to cut down on cannabis use
- Continued cannabis use even though it’s causing physical or psychological problems
- Continuing with cannabis use even though it causes negative consequences socially, at work, at school, or is causing relationship problems
- Cannabis withdrawal symptoms when you stop use
The good news is that cannabis use disorder can be effectively treated. At Woburn Addiction Treatment, we offer a range of outpatient treatment programs that can help you overcome cannabis dependence, cannabis use disorder, and any related mental health problems. Contact us to get started today.
What Are the Risk Factors for Cannabis Substance Use Disorder?
The risk factors for cannabis use disorder are similar to those of other substance use disorders. The largest factor is cannabis use before the age of 18. Others include:
- Genetics: Addiction can run in families, and if you have people in your family who smoke or use cannabis, you’re more likely to develop a substance use disorder yourself.
- Mental Health: Mental disorders, such as anxiety or mood disorders, can increase your chances of developing cannabis use disorder.
- Other Drug Use: Struggling with substance abuse related to other drugs can increase your risk of developing cannabis use disorder.
- Isolation and High Doses: If you use a lot of marijuana or use it alone, you may be more likely to develop a drug addiction.
What Is the Difference Between Cannabis and Synthetic Cannabinoids?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that synthetic cannabinoids are lab-made chemical compounds that are similar to those found in cannabis plants. However, they don’t always produce the same effects on the endocannabinoid system.
Illicit synthetic cannabinoids don’t always use the right related compounds, and the health impacts can be severe. These illegal substances are often referred to as K2 or Spice and can be life-threatening.
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
One way to know if you are struggling with cannabis use disorder is whether or not you get withdrawal symptoms when you cut down or stop use. These symptoms include anger, irritability, and anxiety. You might also experience:
- Decreased appetite
- Restlessness and nervousness
- Depressed mood
- Insomnia and disturbing dreams
- Headaches, nausea, and vomiting
Fortunately, most substance abuse programs include treatment options to ease withdrawal symptoms during the detox process. They also offer counseling to improve mental health concerns that might co-occur with addiction. Withdrawal symptoms last a few weeks.
What Are the Treatment Options for Cannabis Use Disorder?
There are a variety of behavioral interventions that can be used to treat cannabis use disorder and any co-occurring mental illness. Treatment options include residential care for severe addiction or outpatient treatment for less severe cases. There may be special programs specifically for young adults.
Some of the common evidence-based approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and contingency management. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common and well-known approach.
The goal of treatment is to help you not only overcome the physical and psychological aspects of addiction but also to work on social or relationship problems that may have occurred due to cannabis use disorder. If necessary, you will also learn to treat pain without cannabis use.
The use of cannabis by young people can impact brain development, but there are strategies that can help you improve your mental health as you overcome substance abuse.
Help For Marijuana Addiction
The effects of cannabis use disorder can be significant in a person’s life, especially for young people. Whether you’re looking to break free from marijuana addiction and move into productive young adulthood, or you’re older and need help with how cannabis use disorder is impacting your career, Woburn Addiction Treatment can help. Our team provides evidence-based treatment for addiction and any co-occurring mental health conditions you may face.
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Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “State Medical Cannabis Laws.” CDC, 24 Oct. 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/about/state-medical-cannabis-laws.html.
American Psychological Association. “What the DEA’s Cannabis Reclassification Means for Researchers.” APA, 2 Nov. 2023, https://www.apa.org/topics/substance-use-abuse-addiction/cannabis-reclassification-researchers.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “What Are the Long-Term Effects of Cannabis?” NIDA, 2023, https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/cannabis-marijuana#long-term-health-cannabis.
Bonn-Miller, Marcel O., et al. “The Impact of Cannabinoids on Physical and Mental Health: A Review of Clinical Evidence.” Biological Psychiatry, vol. 70, no. 6, 2011, pp. 555–562. PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21145178/.
Florida Board of Medicine. Is Marijuana Addictive? Florida Department of Health, https://flboardofmedicine.gov/forms/is-marijuana-addictive.pdf.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2/Spice).” NIDA, 2021, https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/synthetic-cannabinoids.
