As cannabis becomes increasingly accessible across New York, NYC rehab centers are sounding the alarm over a troubling rise in marijuana addiction. Following the legalization of recreational marijuana, treatment providers across the city, including Camelot Counseling of Staten Island, report a growing number of patients struggling with cannabis dependency.
Luke Nasta, president and CEO of Camelot Counseling, called the legalization of cannabis during the ongoing opioid crisis “one of the stupidest things our society has done.” He noted that approximately 20% of Camelot’s patients are now dealing with marijuana-related addiction. Since legalization, the NYC rehab center has seen a marked uptick in individuals seeking treatment for marijuana abuse, particularly among young adults.
The New York Post recently interviewed three Camelot patients who are in residential treatment due to marijuana addiction. Their stories paint a grim picture of the impact legal cannabis can have when access is easy, and support is limited. One patient, 23-year-old Dillet Delancey from Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, began smoking marijuana at age 11 and is now in his fourth rehab attempt. “It’s very hard to stop once you start,” he said, pointing to dispensaries and even local delis selling potent cannabis products.
These stories underscore the real-life consequences of increased marijuana availability. Delancey, along with other patients, believes legalization has de-stigmatized marijuana use, particularly among teens. “The peer pressure is thick out there,” he added.
NYC rehab professionals also warn about the escalating potency of cannabis products on the market. Shaquan Shannon, 19, shared how his use escalated from casual to compulsive. “I forgot who I was,” he said. His addiction began at age 12 and quickly consumed his daily life. He is now in rehab, hoping to rebuild.
Another patient, Chance Buckner, 20, linked his marijuana use to deeper psychological issues. What started as a coping mechanism turned into mixing weed with opioids in search of a stronger high. Buckner called legalization a “double-edged sword,” adding, “It clouds the brain.”
Tamara Levin, Camelot’s clinical director, emphasized the growing disconnect between public perception and clinical reality. “Because it’s legal, people think it’s okay. But for some, it destroys their lives,” she said.
As NYC rehab centers grapple with this new wave of marijuana addiction, experts are urging lawmakers to invest more in treatment and education. According to federal data, cannabis use nationwide has jumped by 11 million users since legalization began spreading, with New York seeing some of the highest rates.
The NYC rehab community now faces the dual challenge of treating addiction and shifting public attitudes about the risks of marijuana in the post-legalization era.
