Is weed withdrawal real?
Yes. The American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5 added cannabis withdrawal as a new condition in 2013, alongside cannabis use disorder. Health Canada says stopping after prolonged use can produce withdrawal symptoms, especially after frequent use, meaning daily or almost daily.
Withdrawal is also one of the criteria for cannabis use disorder, the DSM-5 term for addiction to cannabis. Health Canada estimates that roughly 1 in 10 people who use cannabis develop an addiction, rising to as many as 1 in 2 among people who use it daily or near-daily.
Researchers have also measured how the brain adapts to regular THC. A brain-imaging study in Molecular Psychiatry found lower levels of CB1 cannabinoid receptors in people who smoked cannabis daily, a change the authors suggest may promote dependence. Receptor levels returned to normal after about 4 weeks of monitored abstinence.
Common weed withdrawal symptoms
Health Canada lists these symptoms, which can be both mental and physical:
- Craving
- Irritability, anger or aggression
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Sleep difficulty, such as insomnia or disturbing dreams
- Decreased appetite or weight loss
- Restlessness
- Depressed mood
- Physical symptoms such as stomach pain, shakiness or tremors, sweating, fever, chills or headache
Why mood and sleep deserve a plan
Not everyone gets every symptom. Health Canada notes that the intensity of withdrawal, especially mood and sleep disruption, raises the risk of going back to cannabis, so those two are worth planning for in particular.
If anxiety or low mood is a big part of the picture, weed and mental health and cannabis and anxiety cover those links in more depth.
How long weed withdrawal lasts
Timelines vary with how much and how long someone used. Based on guidance from CAMH and Health Canada, a typical pattern looks like this:
- Days 1 to 2: symptoms usually begin.
- First few days: symptoms peak.
- 1 to 2 weeks: most symptoms ease.
- Several weeks: possible after heavy, frequent, long-term use, and sleep problems may continue even longer.
Practical ways to get through it
These are general wellness steps, not treatments. They target four common symptoms: poor sleep, low appetite, low mood and cravings.
- Protect your sleep. Keep the same bedtime and wake time, keep the bedroom dark and cool, and keep caffeine to the morning. Expect a few rough nights.
- Eat and drink regularly. If your appetite drops, eat small meals at set times and keep water within reach.
- Fill the usual times. Plan something for the hours you would normally use, such as a walk, a call or a task.
- Clear your space. Move cannabis and gear out of the house so they are not within reach on a hard evening.
- Tell someone. A friend or family member who knows what you are doing can check in during the first week.
- Decide how to stop with help. CAMH notes withdrawal can happen whether you cut down or stop suddenly, so ask a doctor which approach suits you.
Taking a break rather than quitting?
If your goal is to lower your tolerance rather than stop for good, the tolerance break guide explains how long a break takes and what to expect.
When to get support
Talk to a doctor if symptoms are severe, if low mood does not lift after a couple of weeks, or if you have tried to stop and could not. Cannabis use disorder is a recognized condition, and CAMH says treatment includes talk therapy to help cope with cravings and prevent relapse.
Free support, including services from Health Canada's list of support services:
- ConnexOntario (Ontario, 24/7): call 1-866-531-2600, text CONNEX to 247247, or use live chat.
- Kids Help Phone, for young people (24/7): 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868.
- Hope for Wellness Help Line, for Indigenous peoples across Canada (24/7): 1-855-242-3310.
- 988 Crisis Line, which CAMH lists for anyone thinking of suicide or worried about someone they know.
- In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
A note on medical advice
For medical questions, including how stopping cannabis might affect a mental health condition or medication you take, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
