Quick answer
Cannabis addiction, clinically called cannabis use disorder (CUD), is not defined by how much you use or how often. It is defined by whether your use causes problems and whether you keep going despite them. If you meet two or more of 11 recognized criteria within a 12-month period, a clinician would consider it a diagnosable condition. About 3 in 10 people who use cannabis develop some form of the disorder, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
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Before you start
- Be honest. Downplaying use is common, even in a private self-check.
- Do not stop abruptly if a doctor prescribed cannabis for a medical condition. Ask your prescriber about tapering.
Signs to watch for
Look for patterns, not one rough night. The clearest red flags cluster around control, consequences, and physical dependence.
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- You use more cannabis, or for longer, than you planned.
- You want to cut back or stop and cannot.
- You spend a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from cannabis.
- You crave it when you are not using.
- Use interferes with work, school, or home duties.
- You keep using even when it causes fights with family or friends.
- You give up hobbies, sports, or social plans to use.
- You use in situations where it is physically risky, such as driving.
- You keep using despite knowing it worsens a physical or mental health problem.
- You need more to get the same effect (tolerance).
- You have withdrawal symptoms when you stop: irritability, insomnia, low appetite, restlessness, or cravings.
Self-check procedure
Work through these steps in order. The goal is information, not judgment.
- Track your use for seven days. Note the time, amount, product type (flower, vape, edible), and what you felt before and after.
- Count how many of the 11 criteria above apply to you in the past 12 months.
- Write down any consequences you noticed, such as missed deadlines, canceled plans, money spent, or comments from people who care about you.
- Take a two-week tolerance break. Stop completely unless a doctor told you to taper for medical reasons.
- Record what happens. Withdrawal symptoms in the first week, plus an inability to stay stopped, point toward dependence.
- Compare your notes against the criteria. Two or three criteria suggests mild CUD, four or five suggests moderate, and six or more suggests severe.
- Book an appointment with a doctor or licensed addiction counselor if you hit two or more criteria or if your use worries you.
What it is not
Daily use alone does not mean addiction. Many people use cannabis for medical reasons under a doctor's care, and some use occasionally without problems. Physical dependence, meaning withdrawal when you stop, can happen without full addiction. Addiction adds the loss of control and continued use despite harm.
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When to get help
Seek professional support if you cannot cut back on your own, if withdrawal makes daily life hard, or if cannabis use is worsening anxiety, depression, or sleep. Behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy have the strongest evidence. SAMHSA's national helpline, 1-800-662-HELP, offers free and confidential referrals 24 hours a day. If you use cannabis for a medical condition, talk to your prescriber before stopping so you can manage symptoms safely.