Are you trying to quit and going through Marijuana withdrawal?
You are not alone. Many heavy weed smokers go through some form of withdrawal when they haven’t smoked recently. This page describes the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal from marijuana. I should know – I smoked weed for close to 10 years before I learned how to kick my addiction to marijuana. Knowing what to expect will help you succeed!
How Long Does Marijuana Withdrawal Take?
Most people who experience marijuana withdrawal symptoms get them between the second and tenth day of quitting weed. Symptoms can last for up to a month in some people. The most intense withdrawal period will be the first week to ten days after you quit smoking marijuana. Different symptoms will resolve themselves at different rates.
Remember that each day the negative symptoms will decrease until you are physically and mentally free from THC! When you know what to expect, you will be well equipped to deal with it!
Marijuana Withdrawal Anxiety
The most common symptom of withdrawal is a low grade anxiety. Although not severe, this feeling is not easily remedied by through distraction or just thinking happy thoughts. In my opinion, the anxiety felt when detoxing from weed is a combination of fear of being sober, and desire to return to a stoned state of mind. It’s almost like your mind is saying “Things aren’t normal, I don’t like this new state”. As you become accustomed to not smoking and the new state of mind, the anxiety will fade.\
Insomnia, Sleeping, and Dreaming
Whenever I quit smoking weed, I would always have disturbances in my sleep. In the beginning the insomnia can be quite severe. The worst for me was about 4 hours sleep in 60 hours. I have heard of some people sleeping less than 5 hours every night, but the worst of the insomnia symptoms tend to disappear about a week after quitting.
The dreams that you experience during marijuana withdrawal can be very intense and vivid, and many people (myself included) have had crazy end-of-the-world nightmares. When you smoke a lot of pot, you tend not to dream as much, or at least not remember them, so getting used to dreaming and interpreting dreams takes some time. I have found that my dreams stabilize after about a month, and the bad dreams subside within the first couple weeks.
Change of Appetite and Weight Loss
Another common marijuana detox symptom is the lack of an appetite. I have met a couple people who need to smoke before they eat. When they quit smoking, they don’t have the desire to eat. It’s almost like they needed the munchies to eat food.Let’s face it, marijuana withdrawal stresses the body out, and when you get stressed, you can lose your appetite and lose weight. The weight loss has got to be the best benefit of detox!
Cures for Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
The best cure for Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms is time and patience. Having a plan to get through the withdrawal and avoid relapse is also one the keys in learning how to quit smoking marijuana. One thing that really helped me get through the withdrawal and cravings was the Cannabis Coach Easy Quit Audio series by Gary Evans. It guided me through first couple of weeks and gave me exercises to remove some of the stress from quitting.
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smoketomuch I hope you can just make it through 30 days that was the hardest for me. You might still have some withdrawl problems but it does get easier. what doesn’t kill ya makes you stronger. I had 21 years smoking still dealing with withdrawl symptom, but I just roll with them 61 days later. If you read what the morons have to say about it not being addictive they are still smoking. F..K THOSE IDIOTS. Good luck to all those that are trying to change their habits because that is what we are trying to do.
When you know what to expect such as the negative symptoms, you will be well equipped to deal with it! … At least you prepare about your mind, not worry too much.
weight loss is the best oart of Detox?? what the hell is that? if i lost any weight id be extremely unhealthy and to tell you the truth since ive quit smoking pot ive been eating alot more and alot healthier bags of chips arent as appealing as a chicken ceasear salad now ive tried b4 and it was hard and i experienced SOME of the symptoms you described up top but they were very mild i was still unsucesful though its all in your head if you want to do it itll be easier and everyday youll feel better anxiety and withdrawl from pot is all in your head your fighting with yourself wether you want to quit or not anyways Mind over Matter Be Strong!!
Wow…..I cannot thank this site and everyone for their comments! It is going on day 12 and I am still “sober”!!!! I have had the worst symptoms as people had prepared me for on this site and if it weren’t for all of you I might not have been able to do this, BUT I knew from you guys that it is “normal” to have insomnia, no appetite, ferocious mood swings, upset stomach to the MAXIUM, and did I mention not being able to sleep, haha, sarcasm there….OMG it is crazy the way your body is so wired and won’t sleep. IT KNOWS it is craving that pot to calm the brain down because of being so used to it. I still have insomnia most nights. For the first week I would dream every single night of scoring weed or being in a room with people smoking it and being excited to have it……but it was just a dream : ) And yeah, some other crazier then normal ones too! I feel like I have been given a new life though! The energy and feeling like I am clear headed for first time in 20 plus years is incredible. I am really sad about the “missed” years with my kids, but I can at least make here on out the best years ever for all of us. The idea that I will be able to eventually now pass a drug test and not be limited only to places that don’t test opens so many more opportunities for me
I am hoping some of this extra weight I have carried and gained over the years comes off and am a bit worried about it still being in my system however more then the usual 1 month period you always here it takes to leave. (because of how it stores the thc in your fat cells) I figured I could grab one of the over the counter tests and try it out in a month or so, just to see what shows up. Again, a bit worried about that! But hang in there everyone, if I can do it, you can too!!!! I WILL CHECK IN AGAIN SOON! Again, THANK YOU ALL, I know the journey is not over and I still have my moments of craving, but the clarity I feel is soooo worth it!
XOXO! Andrea
This is a great site, good luck to all who are quiting, it’s been 3 month for me and I fill much happier, when I look back at the days of being high, I say to myself what a mistake.
Hey Everyone,
Just found this site today and it has been helpful. Thanks admin! I am/was a 20yr everyday pot smoker. Plus a pack a day of cigs. Well, I’ve got 8 days under my belt today and it has been quite hard. I feel like I keep going now because I’ve come this far, and to screw it up and have to start over again would suck. It’s so strange quitting cigs and pot at the same time. Sometimes I crave the cigs and sometimes I crave the weed. Too very different cravings. I’ve had some sleep issues but mine are in the morning. I wake up a lot earlier than I used to. My alarm doesn’t even go off yet and I’m awake. This is something that never happened to me when I was “on the pot”. Am I a morning person now? I find I’m in a great mood in the mornings now. Then as the day wares on I get more and more distressed and pissy. The hardest part for me is when I get home from work. I used to come home and “fire up” then workout. Though I have continued to workout to try to keep my mind occupied. I know I’ve had some strange dreams lately but, I can’t really remember them much past my eating breakfast. I find that I am eating much more than I used to but only at night. During the day I’m not overeating at all. I’m guessing that is because whenever I feel like smoking (at least at night) I fill the craving with food. I’ve been doing pretty good with the cigs though. Not many craving there anymore. The weed cravings seem to be intensifying though. I probably should throw the rest of my weed away but just can’t bring myself to do so. I have about a Z left just sitting there. Can’t even bring myself to look at it cause if I do I feel like I’ll just go ahead and have a couple puffs. I think I’ll just let it sit where it is for now. Oh, the whole reason for me quitting was that I got bronchitis and kept getting it like 3 or 4 times a year. I am so tired of coughing and coughing. I’m starting to get better now after this most resent bout of it. I’m a little worried also that when I do fully recover from it that I will want to smoke again. It’s kinda easier to quit when you can’t breathe anyway. I’m really hoping that this gets eaisier soon.
hey i smoke for 10 yrs every day and never thought i could quit i got into my bibbble an pray to my God and the next day i was free of my addiction it didint happen over night but u will feel it when it do .im so much more happier now i eat more now i notice i was affraid i wouldnt have an appetite but luckly i do im really skinny and afford to loose weight..i have headaches,i get 4hrs of sleep each nite.and nausea.im on day 5 i keep an journal so i can some day look back and laugh at this Thank you God or breaking my addiction.
I don’t even know if the writer of this will even see this post, but is there a typical time frame for the appetite loss? I’m pretty sure it’s the only one you didn’t mention, and it’s the one I’m most worried about.
I’ve been smoking pot 4-5 times a day for the last 4 years to treat Crohn’s Disease. I’ve recently quit, and am on day 2. When I was younger I was a recreational user, and I quit smoking marijuana for almost 7 years, so I know what to expect. Anxiety, loss of appetite, constant short lived mood swings, and the feeling that time is moving very slowly from one day to the next. I’m finding that the best thing is a balance between exercise and video games. Anxiety causes excess energy to build up, and it’s good to burn some of it off. I’ve just been going for walks, but it makes a big difference, and a good game can really take your mind off of how completely shitty you feel. So far no insomnia, so at least things could be worse.
you people are weird. Any idiot can stop smoking pot, it’s not addictive at all. You just stop smoking it, that’s all. I smoked every day for 10 years. I still ate right, lots of fruits and veggies, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, vitamins, herbs, carrot celery juice, little fowl and fish, maybe a burger once a month. Never ate junk food. Slept well. Decided to quit for one year, so I just stopped buying it. No prob. I’ll start again in 2011.
why do you insist on constantly plugging that audio book? it makes me doubt your motives. and the way you incessantly strive to establish your credibility… every post i’ve read mentions somewhere that you’ve been smoking for 10 years. suspicious..
but the point of this post is that i’ve found no real help from your website. the only problem that i have with my “marijuana addiction” is the withdrawal symptoms that i can’t seem to escape within 8-12 hours of my last smoke. i’ve never had a problem moderating myself; i can smoke as often or as seldom as i feel i need to, it’s just the withdrawal symptoms get to me and nudge me to smoke to make them go away. i’ve never experienced any “cravings”, not like cigarettes. but cigarette cravings are funny, i mostly just laugh at them.
i guess what i’m really wondering is if i haven’t smoked in three days, and i smoke tomorrow night at my pal’s party, will i experience the same intensity in withdrawal symptoms the next day?
Jack the Jack ASS!! Obviously everyone goes through different symptoms.. and you saying we are all weird idiots just shows how naive you really are.. I used 2 smoke 8 cones a day for 9 years and headaches are my worst withdrawals.. just coz I’m not having all the other symptoms does’nt mean they don’t exist.. Good luck 2 every1 and keep up the hard work..
I want to try it once.. will I get addicted from using it the first time? and will my withdrawal symptoms be bad?
So I’ve been smokin weed for about 15 years now, all day everyday. My reason for quitting is because I changed my line of profession and to get ah good job I must take a drug test. I’ve always referred to myself as a functioning pothead because I find smoking weed to be a very positive, motivating substance. I have been clean for about four days now and I have to admit, this sucks!! I personally don’t see anything wrong with using marijuana, not only does it motivate me but it brings out my creative side when in the kitchen. I definitely have been experiencing symptoms of mood swings and lack of ah appetite, but I think the worst part is that I really don’t wanna quit and it feels like I’m being forced to do this. I LOVE smoking weed, it calms me down and levels me out especially after a long day in the kitchen. I do plan on smokin again if and when it does become legal, but until then I MUST kick this habit. Although it is proving to be one of the biggest challenges I have faced thus far. Best wishes to all who are struggling with this, I just hope that laws change sooner then later and people open there eyes to the advantages of legalization instead of being ignorant and not seeing the bigger picture. The bigger picture being that weed is not a drug, and if used responsibly, can be a good thing. Thanks for letting me vent, I needed to get that out.
Jack is sooooooooo cool. He just does things.
Today is day 1. I love mary jane. But this year Ive lost alot due to this love affair. I almost couldn`t pay my rent this month due to my daily habit and I decided yesterday that Im done. Im depressed and keep having bouts of crying. Due to being broke I have no option but to quit. It hurts really bad almost like Ive lost the love of my life. It will get better I know this.
Yes, I will admit (no matter how much I cringe when I do) that their is an extremely mild withdrawal associated with quitting cannabis. It’s much more of a stress and anxiety issue than physical. A couple of years ago I was extremely addicted to heroin for some time. I won’t go into details but I’m sure you’ve all heard the horror stories of heroin withdrawal. For me, the withdrawal symptoms tied to smoking weed are like an annoying mosquito bite, just a mild nuisance.
I can’t thank this site enough
Such a great deal of information all in the one place
I’ve been smoking for about 3 years, ever since I was seventeen and my parents split. Looking back, it’s pretty easy to pinpoint where my cycle of addiction started. I subconsciously (and maybe more than a little consciously) decided that it would be one hell of a way to get back at my parents, and to stuff away the hurt that came from their divorce. I did it because I felt great doing it. Now, at age 20, I have no car, no job, no house, and have flunked out of college twice. I can’t afford to make any more mistakes. What needs to happen in my life is that I need to be happy with who I am, and without something foreign in my body to make me able to pretend I feel that way. I am definitely experiencing all of those nasty ass withdrawal symptoms, and the stomach pain, loss of appetite and insomnia are the worst ones of the bunch for me. Absolutely horrid feeling. If that is what my body does when I get sober after smoking nonstop for three years, then I would have to be an incredibly weak individual to let that addiction take a hold of my life and my choices again. As my body clears itself of the toxins, I feel clearheaded, happier overall, and like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, because now I have nothing to hide from my family or society anymore. I am my own man. My own SOBER man. at 11 days sober, I am only getting better and better. Anybody can quit, but anyone who says that it isn’t possible to develop an addiction to marijuana is a fool. I used to think the same way, and now I realize that was just me trying to justify my addiction. Never going back, never looking back.
So.. I am 22 years old. I have been smoking pretty much everyday sense I was 18 years old. I never thought weed was addictive in fact my grandparents would always beg me to not smoke and explain WHY it was so bad and what it would do to me in the long run. I would always just laugh about it. When I would smoke I felt better, calm and happier. It made it easier to hang out with my friends and family. Life seemed better. I started smoking so much over the past few years I did nothing without being high, and when I would think about being sober I had no idea what it was even like to feel sober. I always said I could quit anytime no problem. But that wasn’t true. Each time I would run out of weed I would get ancey and cranky. Finally about two weeks ago I decided to quit, I had already quit smoking cigs on my own so I thought it wouldn’t be a problem to quit weed. I haven’t smoked in two weeks, the first few days I wanted to smoke then I started sleeping TERRIBLE and having terrible dreams. I would wake up all night long and just lay there. I have terrible anxiety. Somedays I have been really good, other days I feel like I am freaking out. Like this morning, I got up for work I drive about an hour and a half to my job on my way here I felt like my heart was beating really fast, like I was going to loose my mind. I have headaches. and when the end of the day comes I feel like I am full of anxiety and panic. So I have been told these things will wear off so I will wait. I am trying to have self control but seems like I cant help it when I start having these little panic attacks. But I don’t want to go back to smoking even though I LOVE weed. I might as well get through it now. I feel like I have already went through the hardest part. Anyway, hope everyone sticks to quitting too! I know it will be worth it in the long run
I´m a addict to skunk, and i can say that the withdrawal lasts many weeks. If someone smoked a lot for a long time the withdrawal symptoms last for a long time. I´m talking about more than 3 month sometimes much more.
About the physical effects they are similar to heroin (chills, cold sweats, feeling cold/freezing,insomia, hotflashes, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, high blood pressure, etc) with some differences: heroin gives intense physical symptoms that lasts 3 days and than you have more 12 days of mild symptoms. In the case of skunk, is like a rollercoaster: the symptoms come and go, come and go and lasts many weeks how i said. One more difference is the loss of appetite in skunk withdrawal, you can´t eat properly for a week and this is very dangerous.
The worse symptoms are the emotional… psycosis, depression, anxiety that makes you nuts, nightmares when you can sleep (the insomia is very strong), memory problems.
Finally, cannabis is a bronchodilator so if you used daily for a long time you can have some shortness of breath when you stop using because of the bronchoconstriction (opposite effect).
THC is a hard drug, the addiction and the consequences can be worse than heroin or cocaine. Skunk has high THC level so, if you don´t want to live in hell, don´t touch this stuff. Never.
First of all weight loss and loss of the desire to eat is NOT pleasant. I am skinny as it is and quiting made me skinner! But I leveled out.
Quiting pot IS NOT all in the head. New studies have shown that you go through physical detox from pot and happy thoughts alone don’t cut it! Mind you mental preparation and educating yourself for the detox road ahead will help. Just take suppliments, be kind to yourself and be proud of what you are doing.
I purchased Gary Evans course – it helped me with the mental preparation and excellent info, but still I did not quit until a year after I puchased it; but that was up to me and not Mr. Evans. It was only when I was sick and tired of being sick and tired that I stopped. When I made a decision that was solid that I really wanted to quit – then yes it was easier and the withdrawls were welcome to a degree that it told me I was on the right path. Then Gary’s advice kicked in and helped.
I like this articles comment on the low grade anxiety – I totally felt weird with my clear head and uncomfortable. It was surreal and I was even paranoid a bit – but it passed thankfully quickly compared to other drugs for sure.
I am a parent; and since being clean I see my child is happier too – she sits with me more; is calm and happy – my negative behaviour with pot was reflecting on her. If I had seen that sooner then later I would of quit years ago.
GOOD LUCK and God Bless – yes, if you try you can be ‘high on life’ – sorry for the cliche but you can.
Hugs everyone!
hey everyone. im in the same boat as everyone here and i am really struggling!! all of my friends and my girlfriend all smoke cannabis so im constantly finding myself surrounded by temptation! the anxiety i have been experiencing is extremely evident throughout my day to day life and i have found it very difficult to say the least!! doing things as simple as going to town is now impossible without some kind of inconvenience weighing me down mentally. i keep trying to prepare myself for the day that i quit but then when it comes i fail hands down within the first few days because of how much of an influence it has had on my life over the last 6 years. i feel like i cant live without it! although i know this isn’t true my mind still tells me it is! im going to try again and as hard as i can because this addiction is ruining my life. hopefully with the help of websites such as this and some motivation (and a bit of patience) from my girlfriend i will get through this in one piece and get my life back on track once and for all. thanks again for all the comments and information on this website it has proved extremely useful!!!
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