America’s Invisible Pot Addicts

(The Atlantic, August 20) As marijuana laws across the country change, health officials are getting more and more concerned that the public may not be aware of all of the risks.

Even today, many users admit to struggling with addiction.

“In large national surveys, about one in 10 people who smoke it say they have a lot of problems. They say things like, ‘I have trouble quitting. I think a lot about quitting and I can’t do it. I smoked more than I intended to. I neglect responsibilities,’” Stanford University professor Keith Humphrey’s told The Atlantic.  “There are plenty of people who have problems with it, in terms of things like concentration, short-term memory, and motivation.”

And addiction to the drug could become a bigger problem in years to come as marijuana products become more and more potent.

“The mantra about how this is a harmless, natural, and non-addictive substance—it’s now known by everybody. And it’s a lie.” Read more.