7 myths about cannabis and addiction you should know

Few substances generate as much debate and as much confusion as cannabis. Around marijuana and hashish a narrative has been built that is full of half-truths, exaggerations in both directions and beliefs that are repeated until they are taken as fact. Separating rigorous information from propaganda, whichever side it comes from, is essential in order to make informed decisions. That is why we are going to go over seven myths about cannabis and addiction that are worth knowing, drawing on what we know today from a calm perspective and without alarmism.

The aim is neither to demonise cannabis nor to whitewash it, but to offer honest information. Because the "it's an extremely hard drug that destroys lives" line is just as unhelpful as the "it's completely harmless, it's natural" one. Reality, as almost always, is more nuanced, and it is worth understanding.

Myth 1: "Cannabis is not addictive"

This is probably the most widespread myth and also one of the most mistaken. The idea that cannabis does not create dependence has been repeated for decades, but the scientific evidence is clear: cannabis can generate addiction, both psychological and physical.

It is estimated that a significant proportion of those who use it regularly develop some degree of dependence, and that percentage rises when use begins in adolescence. Dependence shows itself in the difficulty of giving it up despite wanting to, in the need to use in order to feel good and in the appearance of symptoms on stopping use. It is not true, therefore, that "it isn't addictive": it is addictive, even if its pattern of addiction is different from that of other substances.

Myth 2: "Since it's natural, it does no harm"

The idea that what is natural is harmless is a fundamental error. Tobacco is natural, and so are many toxic plants. That a substance comes from a plant says nothing about its safety. Cannabis contains compounds, mainly THC, that act powerfully on the central nervous system and that can have harmful effects, especially in heavy use or in developing brains.

Moreover, the cannabis in circulation today has little to do with that of a few decades ago. The concentration of THC has increased markedly, which raises both its effects and its risks. "Natural" is not a synonym for "safe".

Myth 3: "Cannabis withdrawal syndrome does not exist"

For a long time it was denied that giving up cannabis produced withdrawal symptoms. Today we know that a withdrawal syndrome does exist in people with regular use, even if it is less dramatic than that of other substances. Among its most frequent symptoms are:

• Irritability, nervousness and restlessness.
• Anxiety.
• Insomnia and vivid or unpleasant dreams.
• Loss of appetite.
• Low mood.
• Physical restlessness and general malaise.

These symptoms usually appear in the first days after stopping use and can last for one or two weeks. Precisely because of their discomfort, many people use again to relieve them, which reinforces the dependence and makes giving up harder.

Myth 4: "Cannabis does not affect performance or memory"

Cannabis use affects cognitive functions such as attention, short-term memory, the ability to concentrate and processing speed. These effects are obvious during intoxication, but in regular users they can persist beyond the moment of use.

In young people, whose brains are still maturing, the impact can be greater. Frequent use during adolescence has been associated with poorer academic performance and cognitive difficulties that are not always fully recovered. The idea that cannabis "doesn't affect the mind" does not hold up against the available evidence.

Myth 5: "Smoking joints is much less harmful than smoking tobacco"

Although cannabis does not contain nicotine, the smoke from combustion does contain substances that are irritating and toxic to the airways. Moreover, the usual way of smoking cannabis, with deeper inhalations and holding the smoke in, exposes the lungs intensely. On top of this, in many cases it is mixed with tobacco, adding the risks of both.

Regular use of smoked cannabis is associated with chronic bronchitis, cough, expectoration and other respiratory problems. Considering it harmless to the lungs is another simplification worth dismantling.

Myth 6: "Cannabis has nothing to do with mental health problems"

This is perhaps one of the most delicate beliefs to clarify without falling into alarmism. It is not true that cannabis "drives anyone mad", but nor is it true that it is neutral for mental health. The evidence shows a relationship between cannabis use, especially heavy, early and high-THC use, and a greater risk of problems such as anxiety and, in vulnerable people, psychotic episodes.

Cannabis does not by itself cause a mental disorder in just anyone, but it can act as a risk factor that precipitates or worsens problems in those who have a predisposition. Ignoring this relationship, especially in adolescence, is a mistake. In another article we look in depth specifically at the connection between cannabis and mental health.

Myth 7: "I can stop whenever I want, I just don't want to"

This phrase is almost a classic and usually hides precisely the opposite of what it claims. When someone can genuinely stop something whenever they want, they do not need to keep saying so. The reality is that many people discover, when they try to give up cannabis, that it is far harder than they thought: the withdrawal symptoms appear, along with boredom, anxiety and the feeling that "something is missing".

Daily cannabis use tends to become so integrated into the routine that it becomes hard to imagine life without it: to relax, to sleep, to socialise, to switch off. That dependence, even if it is mainly psychological, is very real, and the best proof of it is the failed attempts to give it up. If it really could be given up whenever one wanted, it would already have been given up.

Moreover, this phrase usually works as a way of indefinitely postponing the decision. As long as one convinces oneself that it could be given up at any moment, one does not need to do it now, so "whenever I want" never arrives. The most honest test is not what one believes one could do, but what one actually does when one tries. And that test, for many people, is revealing: they discover that the control they took for granted was, to a large extent, an illusion.

Neither devil nor harmless: a balanced view

Dismantling these myths does not mean falling into the opposite extreme and presenting cannabis as a devastating drug. Most people who try it do not develop an addiction, and the risk depends on many factors: frequency, amount, age of onset, THC concentration and individual vulnerability. The key is to replace beliefs with information and to look honestly at one's own relationship with the substance.

The problem appears when use stops being occasional and becomes a daily habit that is hard to do without, when it interferes with studies, work or relationships, or when it is used to cover up emotions or underlying problems. In those cases, talking about addiction is not an exaggeration: it is naming reality.

When it is worth asking for help

Certain signs indicate that the relationship with cannabis has become unbalanced: using every day or almost every day, needing it to sleep or to relax, having tried to give it up without succeeding, noticing that it interferes with your life or realising that you think about it frequently. Recognising these signs is not a reason for guilt, but an invitation to look at the matter honestly.

Why these myths persist

It is worth asking why these beliefs are held so strongly despite the evidence. In part, because cannabis has become an ideological issue, in which information is usually contaminated by each person's stance on its legalisation. Those who defend its regulation tend to minimise the risks, and those who oppose it tend to exaggerate them. In that crossfire of interests, the person who only wants honest information ends up disoriented.

Another reason is personal experience itself. Someone who has used for years without perceiving obvious consequences concludes that "nothing happens", without considering that the effects may be subtle, cumulative or dependent on a vulnerability that not everyone shares. The absence of visible, immediate harm reinforces the sense of safety, just as happened for decades with tobacco.

Finally, many of these myths serve a psychological function: they justify use and relieve the dissonance of someone who, deep down, senses that something is not good for them. Believing that "it isn't addictive" or that "I'll give it up whenever I want" allows one to keep using without questioning oneself. Recognising this function is not about blaming anyone, but about inviting people to look at their own beliefs with a little more distance and honesty.

If you have recognised yourself in any of these points and feel that giving up cannabis is harder than you expected, at Reconectar we accompany this process with outpatient, individual and personalised treatment, in a confidential, non-judgmental setting in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Consulting a professional involves no obligation, but it can help you see more clearly what place cannabis occupies in your life and what options you have if you decide to change that relationship. We are here to support you when you need it.