Many preindustrial cultures traditionally use certain psychedelic plants to enhance a procedure that resembles psychotherapy--an idea that was also tested in Western psychiatry in the 1950s and 1960s. LSD and related drugs were used to facilitate the production of memories, fantasies and insights and to enhance the therapeutic alliance. The results were inconclusive, and research was largely abandoned after the drugs became difficult to obtain. It may now be possible to revive this research, using new drugs that do not have some of the disadvantages of the old ones. The drug now of most interest is MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) a relatively mild and short-acting substance that is said to give a heightened capacity for introspection and intimacy without the perceptual changes, emotional unpredictability, and occasional adverse reactions associated with LSD. Therapists who have used the drug claim that it can enhance the therapeutic alliance by inviting self-disclosure and promoting trust. Whether MDMA fulfills this promise or not, other drugs may eventually prove useful in psychotherapy. Research on their potential should not be curtailed because of fear that they will be subject to illicit abuse.

The authors present case histories indicating that a number of patients find cannabis (marihuana) useful in the treatment of their bipolar disorder. Some used it to treat mania, depression, or both. They stated that it was more effective than conventional drugs, or helped relieve the side effects of those drugs. One woman found that cannabis curbed her manic rages; she and her husband have worked to make it legally available as a medicine. Others described the use of cannabis as a supplement to lithium (allowing reduced consumption) or for relief of lithium's side effects. Another case illustrates the fact that medical cannabis users are in danger of arrest, especially when children are encouraged to inform on parents by some drug prevention programs. An analogy is drawn between the status of cannabis today and that of lithium in the early 1950s, when its effect on mania had been discovered but there were no controlled studies. In the case of cannabis, the law has made such studies almost impossible, and the only available evidence is anecdotal. The potential for cannabis as a treatment for bipolar disorder unfortunately can not be fully explored in the present social circumstances.

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Dear Weed wacker, In a nutshell, both ? maybe. In other words, there?s currently no clear diagnosis for marijuana addiction [2], but dependence from excessive use can manifest in both physiological and psychological symptoms. Check out Drinking addiction: Psychological or physical? [3] for more info on the differences between psychological dependence and physical dependence. However, keep in mind that dependence to marijuana is actually fairly rare. In fact, there is a nine percent chance that a user will become dependent on marijuana at some point in their lifetime. This makes it pretty unlikely that marijuana use would cause dependence compared to most other drugs, even though it?s one of the most widely used in the world. That being said, the risk of dependence increases with the frequency of use in and other factors like age and genetics (more on that later). Whether the symptoms of dependence are more physiological or psychological can vary between individuals. Alcohol & Other Drugs [7] Marijuana, Hash, & Other Cannabis [8] Related questions Marijuana long-term effects? [9] Is it possible to die from a pot overdose? [10] Marijuana: Does it cause cancer? [11] Moderate marijuana use and health effects? [12] Resources Medical Services (Morningside) [13] Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) (Morningside) [14] Columbia Health BASICS program (Morningside) [15] Medical Services (CUMC) [16] Mental Health Service (CUMC) [17] Addiction Information & Management Strategies (AIMS) (CUMC) [18]