Replying to a Major Publications Article on Weed

An individual holding a written report next to a laptop

Written by, Param D.

Today an article called “Review of Medical Cannabis Use Finds Little Evidence of Benefit” that was published by a major news outlet. I started to read the comments, many of which denied  that weed could be addictive or harmful. It prompted me to write a comment of my own.

“I’m a weed addict. It’s not a joke, but I don’t mind if you laugh. I appreciate this article.

It took a few years of trying to quit unsuccessfully before I realized that I needed help to do so. I’m grateful that my psychiatrist took my inability to quit seriously, and encouraged me to seek help for addiction. Chronic bronchitis and driving my child around stoned were my reasons to quit.

Like many other addicts, I find that attending 12-step meetings through Marijuana Anonymous is crucial to maintaining my abstinence from weed. I have found that the condition that I was trying to treat with weed (anxiety) only improved after quitting and detoxing from heavy marijuana use. Surveys report alcohol use is down. I suspect that many drinkers are switching to weed. As marijuana use increases, we will see more incidences of people trying to quit who cannot do so. We will see more instances of CHS (cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome). As with other substances and addictive behaviors, marijuana use can be fine and healthy for some folks, but for others it crosses over into compulsive and obsessive use.”

Published in A New Leaf – April 2026

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