Can I smoke weed without being addicted?

About one in eight American adults smoke marijuana, and almost half have tried it once. [1]

Up to 30 percent of people who use marijuana at least once a year may be either physically dependent on it (they get withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it) or have what is called a marijuana use disorder (an addiction). [2]

So yes, you can smoke weed without being addicted. A lot of people experiment with marijuana—especially in their teens or young adult years—and then stop as they grow up. Some people will recreationally use marijuana their whole lives without being addicted. There are regular pot users over the age of 65.

But for others, marijuana use can become problematic. Some research shows that using marijuana can set off psychosis early in people who are already at risk. [3] People who develop an addiction may see problems in school, work, or relationships. And the habit can be expensive.

Marijuana is increasingly legal or decriminalized all over the country, so it may be legal for adults to use where you live. And it is possible to experiment without becoming addicted. You just have to be prepared for the consequences that come with that, which could include everything from losing scholarships at school to having to pay fines, or even going to jail.

  1. McCarthy. (2016). One in Eight U.S. Adults Say They Smoke Marijuana. Gallup News. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/194195/adults-say-smoke-marijuana.aspx
  2. Hasin et al. (2015). Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United States Between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. JAMA Psychiatry 72(12), pp. 1235-1242. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2464591
  3. Memedovich et al. (2018). The adverse health effects and harms related to marijuana use: an overview review. CMAJ Open 6(3), pp. E339-E346. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20180023

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