1) Pot is addictive no matter what anyone says. People are blowing thousands of dollars per year and risking prison to get the intoxication. They’re ruining their financial and professional futures for the sake of it. The term “addictive” does not mean 100% of people who try it will become addicts, just as most people who’ve tried tobacco or alcohol don’t become chain smokers or alcoholics, but if you are one of the unlucky ones like the OP, it is a habit that could grow and fuck up a lot of things in your life. This would be true if pot were legal.
The bolded claim tells me you don't know what you're talking about with regards to addiction. It is an accurate statement, but anyone who knows anything about drug addiction would realize it goes without saying.
When people make the claim that pot is not addictive, what they're generally referring to is physical addiction. Even this isn't entirely accurate as RyanAtTanagra mentioned above, but it's true that the physical addiction and withdrawal symptoms only effect a small portion of users and are far less serious than the physical addiction one can have with drugs like alcohol, tobacco, opiates, and caffeine. Pot "addiction" is more comparable to the excess use of junk food, television, or anything else that would be more often referred to as a bad habit or a mental addiction.
If your stance is, you'd be better off not smoking pot, that's fair. Especially for someone who's prone to excess and bad habits. But it's not that different than saying you'd be better off not eating junk food or watching TV. Lot's of people consume chocolate, television, and pot occasionally and it doesn't fuck up their life. A few develop bad habits and overuse these pleasurable things and it does negatively affect them.
And I'm not saying all of this to defend pot use, really my concern is that when people take the stance that you're taking, it's counterproductive to your goal. If you're giving that kind of advice to the uninitiated, like say your kids, they might believe you and stay away from the stuff... until they realize you're full of crap. Then they're going to question other advice you've given with regard to drugs as well. I think it's best to give honest and accurate information.
Also, I suspect you unfairly judge pot users based on your tone. I hope you'll reconsider your position.
Here’s a good definition of addiction from the NIH:
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. It is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness. Addiction is the most severe form of a full spectrum of substance use disorders, and is a medical illness caused by repeated misuse of a substance or substances.
Note the emphasis on behavior and consequences. It’s not a pharmaceutical thing.
Chronic, relapsing, compulsive - check. OP is using every day and can’t stop.
Harmful consequences- check, even if we limit our scope to the $4k per year up in smoke, and don’t factor in legal risks, professional risks, physical health risks, etc.
Long-lasting changes in the brain - OP suffers withdrawal symptoms and cannot stop using.
Am I “judging” addiction as a problem people ought to immediately address? Absolutely!
I feel the same about the people with brown teeth spending $1k per year on caffeine at Starbucks, who would suffer debilitating headaches and insomnia if they ever skipped a dose.
Nicotine addicts need to make quitting priority #1 or they will die.
Similarly the best thing an alcoholic can do is accept their diagnosis and get help.
The worst possible way to deal with the topic of addiction is to present it as a valid lifestyle option. It ruins lives and ends lives.
I know an alcoholic who thinks he’s living the good life on his own terms, when I’m fact all his disposable income goes to the liquor store, he’s marginally employable, he’ll need a transplant some day, and his entire family is estranged. He’ll swear he’s not addicted, and can make excuses all day. I “judge” him differently: as a person who needs to prioritize getting help before he can succeed in any aspect of his life. To tell him it’s OK to live that way would be beyond wrong.
