Daily smokers experienced the most cannabis withdrawal symptoms.
But even those who reported using marijuana less than once a week experienced weed withdrawal symptoms of moderate intensity.
Symptoms
One person’s experience with marijuana withdrawal can be quite different from another’s.
Michela Buttignol for Verywell Mind / Stocksy
Cravings
Many former users report having drug cravings in theearly days of quitting cannabis.
In one study, 75.7% of participants reported an intense craving for marijuana when trying to quit.
These cravings can vary from person to person but tend to include a persistent desire to use the substance.
Verywell / JR Bee
Irritability
Feeling irritableis another common symptom of marijuana withdrawal.
More than half of those trying to stop cannabis use report experiencing mood swings, irritability, or anxiety.
Others report feelings of aggression, nervousness, restlessness, and a loss of concentration.
If you continue to feel anxious after a week of discontinuing use, seek professional help.
Cannabis use can sometimes cause asubstance-induced anxiety disorder.
Another consideration is that there may have been an existing anxiety issue before you started using cannabis.
Depression
Depressionis another marijuana withdrawal symptom.
These feelings can often be used to bring about the positive changes you want to make in your life.
They can also be signs that additional help may be needed to ease or resolve yourdepressive symptoms.
As with other mood changes, depression can be substance-induced or pre-existing to cannabis use.
Either way, it is treatable.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Sleep Problems
An estimated 46.9% of former pot smokers report sleep disruption issues during cannabis withdrawal.
Some who’ve quit smoking report having “using dreams” in which they dream that they smoke marijuana.
Although some former users report having these types of dreams years after they stop smoking pot.
Insomnia symptoms after you stop using weed can last a few days or a couple of weeks.
Some people find that they can experience occasional sleeplessness for a few months after quitting.
Headaches
Not everyone who stops smoking marijuana experiencesheadaches.
Some people compare it to the feeling you get when trying to quit caffeine.
Although, some users experience them a bit longer, feeling symptoms for one to two weeks.
If any of your symptoms are bothersome or seem to be lingering, seek professional treatment.
There are also no life-or-death dangers in quitting marijuana cold turkey or detoxing on your own.
In some cases, marijuana users have experienced several weeks or months of withdrawal symptoms.
This is known aspost-acute withdrawal syndrome(PAWS) and can also be effectively treated with professional intervention.
Be sure to tell them that marijuana withdrawal is playing a role in how you are feeling.
But you don’t have to do it on your own.
Keep in Mind
Experiencing weed withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant.
While withdrawing from marijuana use can present challenges, remember that what you are going through will pass.
Making life changes is always challenging, but with the right support, they can be transformative.
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