Q: My husband and I recently found out that our 40–year–old son is a daily pot smoker. Should we be concerned?
A: Yes, concern is appropriate. Almost all marijuana varieties found these days are powerful hybrids that easily outgun the killer weed of the past. The Small Sack of Shitty Shake has truly been replaced by the Big Bag of Bodacious Buds. Also, marijuana is, in fact, addictive.
Some people are able to use marijuana on an occasional basis without obvious detriment. And there are people who use daily and still manage lives and jobs with great responsibility. However, daily use is likely to have significant consequences on health and motivation. Weed suppresses immune function, making a person more likely to catch common illnesses and stay sick longer. I’ve heard a naturopath say that marijuana strips the myelin sheath from around nerve cells, slowing the nerve’s bandwidth. Whether this is true or just poetry, fuzzy “lows” follow highs.
More significantly, chronic marijuana use affects motivation. My colleagues in chemical dependency counseling see many clients who incrementally give up on activities, friendships and ambitions for a progressively smaller life. This diminishing world can be deeply painful. Underneath a mellow, easy-going exterior, chronic use hides the real person and their pain over lost dreams and diminished achievements.
Pot use frequently coincides with other problems. Anxiety disorders, trauma and other untreated issues often precede becoming a serious pot-head. Depression can drive use or develop because of it.
If you want to help your son, I suggest you start with an open-minded discussion with him about his use; try and get him to talk about both the pros and the cons of weed, so he can articulate for himself what he likes and what he doesn’t like. If the disadvantages are significant enough, maybe he’ll be open to talking to a counselor about his use and addressing whatever issues led to the habit. If he decides to make changes, there are groups, including Marijuana Anonymous, who will take him seriously and can support his journey.
