Gemma Speck

That is why the munchies

It's usually not physical hunger, but it's because the sensory experience of eating is so much better.

The flavors feel richer, more satisfying.

That's why food seems so irresistible.

People who feel less reaction to THC, though, may not have that same drive.

And what we're really getting at here is that there are basically dozens of different psychological reaction profiles that you can have from consuming cannabis based on how many CB1 or CB2 receptors you have, based on how much weed you're consuming, based on how much weed you've consumed in the past, based on your emotional state, based on your genetics, etc.

Again, you could have a completely different experience from somebody sitting across from you and a completely different experience every single time you smoke.

The common thread here is that weed doesn't create one fixed effect on people, but that it changes the intensity and meaning of the experience.

Let's talk about the next big cannabis debate.

Any guesses what it could be?

Okay, it's the question of whether weed is addictive.

There is a big myth that I've seen online and heard in person that it's impossible to have a problem with weed because it's not addictive.

Is that true or false?

Let's break it down.

It is true that cannabis is not addictive in exactly the same way as every other drug or alcohol or nicotine, but it's also absolutely true that it has its own unique pattern of dependency and

A useful way to talk about this is to separate biological dependence from psychological dependence.

Biological dependence is what happens when the brain and body adapt to regular use of a substance over time.

That means that they build up tolerance.

It means that they need more of the substance for the same effect.

And it also means that if they stop, they may experience physical withdrawal symptoms like irritability, recklessness, sleep problems, low mood, reduced appetite, anxiety.