Yes, Marijuana is Addictive. A user may feel the urge to smoke marijuana again and again to re-create the “high.” Repeated use could lead to addiction—which means the person has trouble controlling their drug use and often cannot stop even though they want to.
An estimated nine percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent; people who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are 4-7 times more likely to become addicted than adults.
It is estimated that about 1 in 6 people who start using as a teen, and 25% to 50% percent of those who use it every day, become addicted to marijuana. What causes one person to become addicted to marijuana and another not to depends on many factors—including their family history (genetics), the age they start using, whether they also use other drugs, their family and friend relationships, and whether they take part in positive activities like school or sports (environment).
Drug Facts
NIDA:
- Commonly Abused Drugs Chart
- DrugFacts: Marijuana
- Marijuana: Facts for Teens
- Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know
- Mind Over Matter Teaching Guide and Series: Marijuana
- NIDA Notes Articles: Marijuana
- Research Report Series: Marijuana
Statistics and Trends
NIDA: