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Addiction: Cannabis

Is it addictive?

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It's possible to become psychologically dependent on cannabis over time but there's no evidence the drug is physiologically addictive in the way that alcohol or heroin is. However, experts agree that some kind of tolerance does develop over time and a person may start to smoke more or upgrade to a stronger version. Despite this, medics say there's no neurological adaptation and withdrawal symptoms are mild compared to other drugs – generally headaches and irritability. Disturbed sleep may be the biggest problem, as many people self-medicate to aid sleep. No one has been known to die of an overdose of cannabis.

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Download Jon Snow's podcast about the dangers of cannabis use: From Mellow to Mental
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