A Chronic Deficiency (Your Brain on Pot)

I used to be convinced that I had a natural deficiency that required marijuana to medicate away my boredom, restlessness and anxiety. I was sure that weed was the solution – not the problem – until my experiment in smoking all day every day led me down a rabbit hole from which I couldn't escape. Timmen Cermak, M.D., is the author of several books on marijuana, and a leading expert on how our natural endocannabinoid system (ECS) is affected by heavy marijuana use.

Remember the old "This is your brain on drugs" ad? While an exaggeration, there's an element of truth in the frying pan analogy.

In this episode, I weave Dr. Cermak's observations about the psychology and physiology of cannabis addiction with my own subjective experience both during my addiction and after I quit smoking. Find out how long it takes for your neurotransmitters and receptors to settle back to normal after you quit smoking, and regain the natural healthy functioning of your ECS, that will allow you to experience novelty and spiritual awe again, even when you're not high.