Weed Withdrawal Symptoms

Many people believe that quitting weed is a walk in the park, but the reality is often different. Although marijuana does not cause the kind of physical dependency that alcohol and opioids do, trying to stop after chronic use can cause weed withdrawal symptoms. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse says that people who start using marijuana before the age of 18 have a much higher chance of developing a marijuana use disorder than any other demographic. 

Pride Detox is an LGBTQ-affirming addiction treatment center in Long Beach, California, that offers a comprehensive cannabis use disorder treatment program. If you or someone you love is trying to stop using weed, feel free to reach out to us at any time. We are keen on helping LGBTQ people overcome all forms of addiction. 

What  Do Weed Withdrawal Symptoms Feel Like?

Cannabis withdrawal is rarely talked about, but for people who have been using it heavily, it can be a very real and uncomfortable experience. Suddenly, stopping weed use after a long time of being on the drug forces the brain into a difficult period of adjustment. This is because it has gotten used to receiving large amounts of cannabinoids from outside the body. Amounts that are far more than it naturally produces on its own (endocannabinoids). When this excess supply is cut off, it needs time to find its balance again.

Withdrawal symptoms feel different for everyone. Some people become irritable or experience a low mood or mood swings. Others have trouble sleeping, feel restless, or lose their appetite. There can also be nausea, headaches, sweating, stomach pain, and even vivid or unsettling dreams. Besides these symptoms, psychological dependence shows up as intense cravings that do not necessarily reflect a desire to use but reflect that a habit has been formed.

While weed withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening, they can be hard to sit with, and that contributes to many people finding themselves using again. If this sounds familiar, know that Pride Detox can help ease this transition from weed use to sobriety.

Weed Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline

Weed withdrawal symptoms can appear quickly once you cut back or stop if you are a heavy user. The symptoms tend to follow this timeline:

• 1–2 days – Irritability, restlessness, anxiety, and sleep difficulties start to occur.
• 2–6 days – Symptoms usually peak during this window and can be so bad that people feel compelled to go back to using marijuana.
• Within 3 weeks – Many of the acute symptoms start to ease and, in some cases, completely resolve.
• Up to 5 weeks – Some psychological symptoms, like mood swings or low motivation, can linger for several weeks.

Sleep problems, especially insomnia and unusual or vivid dreams, are often the most persistent issue. These can last between 30 and 45 days and are a common reason people return to marijuana use during withdrawal.

How Common Is Cannabis Withdrawal?

Weed withdrawal symptoms are more common than many people realize. In a two-year study by the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, of 527 people using medical marijuana for chronic pain, 59% experienced moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms. The most reported issues were trouble sleeping, irritability, and anxiety.

Certain groups felt like younger people, those with mental health conditions, people with longer histories of cannabis use, and those who used more often or in larger amounts had more intense weed withdrawal symptoms. The study also found that smoking cannabis, rather than eating it or using it topically, was linked to more intense withdrawal symptoms.

Over time, most people continued to experience the same level of withdrawal whenever they stopped using. But for about 1 in 10, mostly younger users, symptoms actually got worse.

Cutting back on frequency or quantity can help ease the discomfort. But for many, that is easier said than done, especially when withdrawal starts to feel like a barrier to stopping. Medical detoxification helps people get through this phase of recovery from cannabis use disorder more achievable.

Struggling to Quit Cannabis? Pride Detox Can Help You Through Weed Withdrawal

As a society, we must be honest about what cannabis can and can’t do. Although it is not the villain it was once made out to be (“Reefer Madness”), it’s also not free of consequences. As more LGBTQ people turn to it for relief, especially in states where it is now legal, we must come to terms with the full picture of its effects. This includes the potential for dependence and difficulty quitting even when it is affecting your health, relationships, and motivation.

If weed is negatively affecting your day-to-day life and you are ready for a change, Pride Detox is here for you. Our marijuana detox and rehabilitation programs are LGBTQ-specific. Call us today at 1-866-465-6889 for care that meets you where you are.