A new study finds that heavy marijuana use by adults could have long-term effects on the brain. What kinds of effects? WSJ's Jason Bellini has #TheShortAnswer.

THERE’S a secret addiction sweeping across Australia and we aren’t hearing about it.

We all know the damaging effects of the monster drug ice and other hard narcotics, but what about the substances that are a little easier to get and widely spread?

Marijuana is not something you often associate with the word “addiction” or consider it to be dangerous, but many people are hooked on the drug and it’s a problem experts say we need to take more seriously.

A National Epidemiological Study of Alcohol Use and Related Disorders found adults who smoked marijuana were more likely than non-users to also abuse alcohol.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana use is also linked to other addictions like nicotine.

In 2010 National Cannabis Prevention Information Centre director, Professor Jan Copeland, said about 750,000 Australians were smoking cannabis every week and about 70 per cent of people aged between 20 and 29 had at least tried it.

Sydney’s Jason Hameister had this secret addiction and nobody knew — not even he realised how dependent he was on the drug.

He had smoked cannabis for more than 20 years and at the height of his addiction, he could smoke up to 50 cones a day.

Despite hiding it from those closest to him, he never really thought it was a problem.

“I’d become dependent on it and it quickly became overused to a point where I would manipulate my day so I could smoke as much as I could,” he said.

Mr Hameister would wake up early in the morning before his family so he could smoke marijuana and would stay up late to get a cone in before bed.

“If I could sway things in a way that allowed me a moment of time by myself I would do it,” he said.

“I was smoking before taking my kids to school and I could easily have a dozen cones.”

“I had this perception if nobody saw it, nobody would know.

“I thought I wasn’t doing any harm but meanwhile I was basically killing myself slowly.”

Mr Hameister, who started smoking when he was 14, had a rough upbringing and wanted to numb his anxiety.

He never realised how much marijuana was controlling his life until he was looking at family photos and noticed he was stoned in every single one.

Mr Hameister would buy up to two ounces of marijuana every month, which could cost up to $600, and he realised he was smoking away a family holiday every year.

Research by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre found more than half of those smoking marijuana struggled to control their use, with many becoming dependent on the drug.

More than 200,000 Australians are struggling with cannabis addiction everyday and according to the research, there is a widespread misconception that cannabis isn’t addictive.

Professor Copeland, said stories like Mr Hameister’s were more common than people realised.

“Our survey reinforced the fact that heavy cannabis use and addiction are very real issues in Australia, and they currently don’t get the recognition they deserve in the community,” she said.

Almost half of the people surveyed for the research admitted to smoking at least five grams of marijuana each week.

Almost half also believed cannabis wasn’t an addictive drug.

“Of course, the majority of experimental and occasional cannabis users don’t go on to become dependent, just as we see with alcohol. But the misconception cannabis is a harmless, non-addictive drug means many people who need help are not getting it,” Prof Copeland said.

The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre said addiction to marijuana impacted people physically and mentally.

Those who rely on the drug are at higher risk of short-term memory impairment, mental health problems and respiratory disease.

It can also lead to employment problems, financial stress and family conflict.

Those addicted to cannabis find it very difficult to quit and when they try to stop using they get anxious and nervous and suffer from mood swings, cravings, sleep difficulties and a reduced appetite.

Mr Hameister had been trying to quit for months.

“I thought I’d be able to quit at the drop of a hat and that it would be easy but it was more difficult than I thought,” he said.

“I improved for a little while but found myself very easily slipping back into those habits.”

But Mr Hameister said he’s finally beaten his addiction and has not smoked marijuana for more than two weeks, something he hasn’t done in two decades.

“It’s great to see people like Jason coming forward and sharing their experiences, it gives a real voice to those Australians who are still struggling with addiction, and lets them know there is support available,” Professor Copeland said.

Mr Hameister is now training to run the New York Marathon to raise money for the Touched By Olivia Foundation and has created a GoFundMe page to get himself there.

He said giving up the drug changed his life and he encouraged other cannabis smokers to consider quitting.

“You’ve got to try and look at yourself from an outside perspective,” he said.

“Reflect on the amount of time you spend doing it.”

Now to deal with his anxiety, Mr Hameister will talk to his partner about his issues rather than numbing the problem with drugs.

He is also blogging about his journey on Facebook, which he says helps.

“For a long time I thought ‘tough men don’t talk about their emotions, I should be a tough, masculine bloke who doesn’t cry or feel those emotions’, but you need to speak about it and let it out,” he said.

Those who are dependent on cannabis often prioritise their weed budget ahead of household expenses.

“Try thinking about what you would be doing if you weren’t spending a portion of everyday stoned or chopping up weed. You’ve got more potential than that,” the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre said

Individuals who currently have concerns or problems related to their cannabis use can access the free National Cannabis Information and Helpline on 1800 30 40 50.