Individuals addicted to marijuana or who have been abusing the drug for long periods of time may experience cravings and other withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit. These withdrawal symptoms may include difficulty sleeping, irritability, anxiety and an increase in any feelings of aggression.

Treatment

There is no medication that is used to treat Marijuana addiction. When a person is experiencing withdrawal from marijuana they will usually experience mood swings, insomnia, agitation, aggressiveness, as well as, a craving for the drug. Medication can be prescribed to reduce these symptoms, but rest and talk therapy is usually the best treatment. After about 3 to 5 days the actual cravings for the Marijuana will diminish, although the person will still experience thoughts about using the Marijuana. Generally speaking, a person should enroll themselves in an outpatient program to assist them in developing more effective coping skills rather than turning to marijuana use. If the individual continues to return to the use of marijuana or other drugs, they should seek admission to an inpatient addiction program.

Research has shown that infants exposed to marijuana in uterus display altered responses to visual stimuli and increased tremulousness, which may indicate problems with neurological development. Other studies have shown that during infancy and preschool years, marijuana-exposed children have more behavioral problems than non-exposed children. Research also shows that marijuana-exposed children perform visual perception, sustained attention, language comprehension, and memory tasks more poorly when compared with unexposed children.

Acute (present during intoxication)

• Impairs short-term memory.
• Impairs attention, judgment, and other cognitive functions.
• Impairs coordination, balance, and reaction time.
• Increases heart rate.

Persistent (lasting longer than intoxication, but may not be permanent)

• Impairs memory.
• Impairs learning skills.
• Increases risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, and emphysema.
• Long-term (cumulative, potentially permanent effects of chronic abuse)
• Can lead to addiction.
• Increases risk of cancer of the head, neck, and lungs.