General Discussion

My personal experience started at age 17, in 1968 in Paris. I smoked regularly from then until 1983, when I moved cities and my sources dried up. In between I grew some real killah on the back of my dad's farm - then turned him on with the product for his 50th b'day. He was quite proud of himself. I smoked irregularly from 1983 until 2000 with never a hint of anxiety about starting or stopping.

OTOH I smoked cigarettes for about 4 years - I got up to 60 a day - and quitting those was a whole different kettle of carp. It took me four tries, and then I had cravings for a number of years afterward. So I know what a "real" addiction feels like - and pot ain't that.

Now it's legal up here in North Canuckistan. In fact I just got back from a run to the local emporium to replenish my supply of edibles after 6 months dry.

In 60 years I've never had a speck of trouble stopping (or saying no thank you), and the practice never interfered with my work or social life unless I was actively high. So I'm inclined to discount the addiction hysteria by about 99%.

YMMV