Marijuana addiction is possible, despite popular opinion

Many criminal cases in North Carolina stem from drug charges, including marijuana. People often think that marijuana is a safe drug, but this nowhere close to the truth.

Marijuana is associated with addiction, but a lot of people think that this isn’t the case. For people addicted to marijuana, the last thing they need is to sidestep help for the addiction because they have to contend with the harsh penalties of the criminal justice system. In some cases, it is possible to work out a deal that will enable the defendant to get help and deal with the criminal case.

Here are some important points about marijuana addiction.

Dependency and withdrawal

Marijuana can lead to a person becoming dependent on the drug. This means that when he or she tries to stop using it, they begin to suffer from withdrawal.

While marijuana withdrawal isn’t as harsh as that from other drugs like heroin, it can be incredibly difficult to cope with. The withdrawal symptoms are usually at the worst within the first week after the drug is stopped. These symptoms can last up to two weeks.

Possible withdrawal symptoms include restlessness and trouble sleeping. Other possible effects include irritability, physical discomfort and cravings for the drug.

Additives can increase the effects

A lot of the marijuana sold these days include additives. Some of these additives can make withdrawal symptoms even worse. This is because the person is dealing with withdrawal from the marijuana, as well as withdrawal symptoms from harsh additives.

Breaking the addiction to the additives is just as important as breaking the addiction to the marijuana.

Prevalence of marijuana addiction

Marijuana addiction is a problem that affects around 30 percent of users. The age at which people first use the drug has some bearing on whether they are going to suffer from addiction. People who are under 18 years old when they first use the drug are somewhere between four and seven times more likely to become addicted.

Ultimately, it is imperative that you take time to work through your addiction since you are likely going to face criminal charges in the future that stem from the addiction. By dealing with the addiction and taking care of the criminal case you face now, you might be able to move on with your life without worrying about the criminal justice system in the future.