Is there anything in Marijuana that is known to be addictive? Or is smoking marijuana more of a mental addiction?

Marijuana is generally considered to be psychologically addictive, not physically addictive. Users frequently report minor withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia, and headaches.

Even the NIH, which takes an anti-marijuana stance, describes only minor physical withdrawal symptoms:

"Addictive Potential
Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit. These withdrawal symptoms begin within about 1 day following abstinence, peak at 2–3 days, and subside within 1 or 2 weeks following drug cessation.5"

I think that the more compelling question is, "What are the long-term health effects of smoking marijuana?" Because it is an illegal drug, there has been very little research published in this area. Many pot smokers like to think that they are engaging in some type of all natural ritual that is good for them, but it seems pretty naive to think that smoke inhalation will not hurt you over time.

It's barely a drug let alone an addiction. Most ex-addicts I know still smoke pot with no issues. It's like drinking a few glasses of red wine. You can be compulsive and get crabby if you are used to smoking pot often and you don't but addicted is a far stretch. If anyone says otherwise it makes me think they have absolutely NO experience with drugs.

Get a heroin or tobacco addiction and then try calling pot an addiction. (i.e. There is no physical withdraw.)

it is possible to become addictided to pot if there is a history of any kind of addiction in the family.

I tried telling myself a million times ok il just slow down, do it once in a while and I could not control myself. It had to be everyday all day smoking. For me its very addicting, which is a mental addiction. I used to smoke cigarettes by the way and for me quitting pot has been the real challenge. I smoked cigs everyday for 10 years and quit. I still haven't quit pot lol, this is day 1 for me..

It's definitely possible to become addicted to marijuana, but I don't think there's much research out there about mental versus physical addiction. That's a really interesting question.

The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, and it does affect brain chemistry. Researchers have found that abusing marijuana for a long time results in brain changes that are similar to those caused by other drugs that people abuse--it affects dopamine neurons. Also, some people experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using marijuana. To me this suggests that a physical component to marijuana addiction is possible.

Do you think a mental addiction is less serious than a physical addiction?