Breaking Bad: Habitual Cannabis Usage

In Breaking Bad, a new series, I explore some of our most problematic unhealthy habits, how they impact us, and how we can break the persistent negative patterns in our lives. In this post, I examine cannabis usage.

In 2012, Colorado became the first jurisdiction in North America to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. Since that time, the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes has expanded significantly. Currently, in the United States, 24 states have legalized cannabis usage. In Canada, recreational use has been legal nationwide since October 2018.

For recreational users, these changes have been widely celebrated, and with good reason. Most recreational cannabis users experience pleasant side-effects of usage, including feeling relaxed, and an enhanced sense of perception. But, as is the case with alcohol, cannabis is also associated with serious and harmful side effects and symptoms that can—each in its own way—leave users vulnerable to potential dependence and usage disorder.

Concerning Postlegalization Impacts

"Assessing the Impact of Recreational Cannabis Legalization on Cannabis Use Disorder and Admissions to Treatment in the United States," a study published in April of 2023, reported “increasing negative physical, social, and mental health outcomes associated with cannabis use.” These outcomes include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, impaired cognitive functioning, and risk of developing a substance use disorder.

An October 2023 study published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that national survey data monitoring cannabis usage before and after legalization revealed “an increase in the prevalence of cannabis use from 22% in 2017 to 27% in 2022.” Studies have also indicated “increased cannabis-related emergency department presentations and admissions to hospitals over the course of legalization.”

Not Your Grandmother’s Cannabis

Habit formation is all about how an individual’s choices—often unintentionally—can become part of their daily life. Many people quickly fall into patterns of using cannabis to take the edge off, relax, and unwind after a long, stressful day, and ease symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most common and untreated mental health conditions in America, due to stigmas around mental health and access to mental health treatment. Thus, many people are at risk of developing a dependence on cannabis to manage their symptoms.

"Not Your Grandmother’s Marijuana: Rising THC Concentrations in Cannabis Can Pose Devastating Health Risks," an August 2023 article published by the Yale School of Medicine, examines the link between rising THC levels in cannabis and cannabis use disorder.

The Importance of Paying Attention

Add to these factors the fact that cannabis consumption can cause damage to the lungs, lower the immune response in some users, and—after chronic, long-term use—result in cyclic vomiting syndrome (known also as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome), and paying attention to our habits around the consumption of cannabis becomes highly important.

If you are concerned that your habitual use of cannabis or the usage of someone close to you has become problematic, it is important to take action. As with any problem in life, it is critical to build awareness and pay attention to the daily choices that lead to habits and take steps to conquer problematic habits.

7 Steps to Dealing With Problematic Habitual Cannabis Usage

If you are concerned about your habitual use of cannabis:

1. Pay attention to how much you are using: Take an honest look at how much cannabis you are using, how much it is costing you, why and when you use it, and whether your usage has increased over the past six months.
2. List the reasons you want to consider cutting back and how your usage is negatively impacting your activities and relationships.
3. Create incremental goals: Rather than a vague intention to cut back, creating a goal around how often per day or per week you will use over the coming month helps define achievable steps. A month in, reassess and set a new goal. Communicate these goals with the people in your life, and ask that they respect your goals and boundaries.
4. Challenge yourself to sit with uncomfortable emotions, like anxiety, rather than reach for cannabis as a quick fix. Pause, reflect, and breathe deeply. Remind yourself that what comes up must go down. Just as anxiety rises, it will decrease.
5. Identify alternative ways to relax, unwind, and engage with people who do not use cannabis regularly. Strive to set yourself up for success and avoid triggering people and settings.
6. Celebrate your incremental achievements: Consider setting aside the funds you typically spend on cannabis and rewarding yourself with something you want or would like to do.
7. If you’re struggling to take control of your recreational cannabis usage, ask for help. Talk to your general practitioner, who will be able to connect you with resources to help you break habitual problematic usage.