Pot can certainly be addictive. Ask a daily smoker how much it sucks to be out.

I used to smoke several times a day. I was never addicted. Only reason why I smoked that much was because people kept offering it to me. I don't turn down gifts :D Actually honestly nowadays I don't even find it fun anymore, it got boring. You don't get bored of things you are addicted to. I would know, with the whole being a cigarette smoker thing.

I typed in "marijuana rehab" into Google and a whole mess of rehabs showed up, so yup you can go to rehab for pot addiction. It's still psychologically addictive, as is anything, plus it's a drug, so it's natural you'd be able to get help for it.

It's not a matter of screwing people over either. These are handouts and the government has a right to make sure it's going to the types of people using it for it's purpose. If you want to to go further, I also think it's fine for them to keep tabs on you spending it on TVs, and other trivial things along with drugs. We're in a time where the government does not have endless money and is going to cut back on shit like this. The application process is probably going to get stricter and the rules to stay in harsher. This is to budget cut welfare by disqualifying the fuck ups. Sad? Sure. However if I had to give welfare to a drug addict with no job and someone that didn't have an addiction with no job, I would choose the latter.

 It is impossible to actually become addicted to marijuana. You need a physical cause to have a true addiction and there is no such chemical in marijuana. You can be psychologically addicted to anything, so its hard to use it against any specific drug.

They just extended and increased unemployment benefits. It was part of this money the govt just spent that everyone is complaining about now. I don't think its exactly drying up. Its been accounted for.

frankly, I know a lot of normal perfectly productive and motivated human beings who would fail a drug test.

I fail to understand. No one said they were spending said "handouts" on the drugs. On several occasions I've had people randomly give weed. And people always smoke me up if I'm feeling down... like if I had just lost my job. It also can stay in your body for up to 30 days.

Addictions can be physical, mental, or a combination of both.

Gnizmo is pointing out that marijuana itself is not addictive. The psychological addiction one has for marijuana comes from yourself, not the plant. It's the same thing as a video game or televesion addiction or anything else on this beautiful planet.

 Well, few things that we consider addictive are physicaly addictive. Gambling isn't physicaly addictive, and I don't think nicotine is either.

Gambling is not, but I believe nicotine is actually physically addictive. Don't quote me on that though.

Drug testing for those on welfare, i just don't know. Are we alcohol and nicotine testing too? Are we making sure they don't buy McDonald's, go skying diving or engage in other risky behaviours with the money they are given.

I might think that if you are struggling to make ends meet, you shouldn't be wasting money on cigarettes, but if that's what gets you through the week and stops you going postal, who am i to police that?

On the other hand i can see the argument for it. Perhaps providing necessities directly rather than giving financial aid is the answer but it's likely that this is going to cost more in the short term, even though it's likely to save alot of money in the long term, and therefore is unlikely to ever happen. Governments rarely think long term.

Tough question and i don't really have an answer.

p.s. nicotine has a clear cut physical withdrawal syndrome and is hence usually considered physically addictive.