Drug War Myth #726,002: Marijuana Is More Addictive Than Caffeine

Posted on September 21, 2009 
Filed Under marijuana, media bias

Marijuana Is Not More Addictive Than Caffeine

In covering the marijuana legalization debate the mainstream media is prone to comparing marijuana addictiveness to alcohol, cocaine, and heroin. A much more appropriate comparison would be to caffeine. This would provide a better perspective to the media’s dramatic portrayals of marijuana “addicts.” (See New York Times portrayal of “Joyce” here.)

The health professional survey mentioned above that ranked the inherent addictive potential of numerous drugs on a 100-point scale (nicotine 99, alcohol 81, caffeine 70, and marijuana 22) was taken from Perrine. (p. 7)

The statement that marijuana withdrawal symptoms are as mild as caffeine’s and their occurrence is rarer is taken from Gahlinger. (pp. 180, 333)

Most marijuana users – even those with long-term, heavy use – experience no withdrawal when they stop. Some people have reported generally mild symptoms …. (Gahlinger, p. 333)

Thanks to Pete Guither at Drug WarRant for the following posts which alerted me to this issue: “Times Article Buys into Marijuana Addiction Based on Anecdotal Evidence from Idiots” and “ABC News Goes Reefer Madness.”

Sources:

1. Paul Gahlinger, Illegal Drugs (2001).
2. Daniel Perrine, Chemistry of Mind-Altering Drugs (1996).

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One Response to “Drug War Myth #726,002: Marijuana Is More Addictive Than Caffeine”

  1. Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms on January 28th, 2010 11:54 am

    Marijuana is mild and has the withdrawal symptom compared as caffeine. So there is legalization debate. But the marijuana might make us take the higher level of drug. So it is dangerous to legalize it to let them consume more.

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