Quitting Weed: Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, and When to Get Help

Cannabis withdrawal was once dismissed because it looks mild next to alcohol or opioid withdrawal. That comparison misses the point. A symptom does not need to be dangerous to send someone back to using, and withdrawal symptoms can lead to relapse because using again relieves them. Knowing what to expect, and roughly when, makes it easier to get through.

Is cannabis withdrawal real?

Yes. Cannabis withdrawal is a recognized diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR, the manual clinicians use to diagnose mental health and substance use conditions. It is most likely in people who use daily or near-daily, especially over months or years. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that regular use can lead to dependence, and that people who stop may experience withdrawal symptoms that make quitting harder.

Not every frequent user has noticeable withdrawal. Frequency of use, product potency, length of use, other health conditions, and individual differences all appear to matter. Someone who uses occasionally may notice little or nothing when they stop.

What are the symptoms of weed withdrawal?

Reported symptoms vary from person to person. The more common ones include:

• Irritability, anger, or restlessness
• Anxiety or nervousness
• Sleep problems, including trouble falling asleep and vivid or unpleasant dreams
• Decreased appetite, sometimes with weight loss
• Low or depressed mood
• Strong cravings for cannabis
• Physical discomfort, such as headache, sweating, chills, stomach discomfort, or shakiness

Many of these symptoms look like anxiety or depression. That overlap cuts both ways. Withdrawal can be mistaken for a returning mental health problem, and a real mental health problem can be hiding underneath the cannabis use; our guide to cannabis and anxiety covers how the two feed each other. A clinician can help sort out which is which, especially if symptoms are severe or do not improve over time.

How long does cannabis withdrawal last?

The timeline varies, and no schedule fits everyone. In general, symptoms often begin within the first day or two after stopping, tend to be strongest in the first week, and ease over the following weeks, according to a 2022 review in the journal Addiction. A 2020 meta-analysis in JAMA Network Open estimated that about 47% of people with regular or dependent cannabis use have withdrawal symptoms. That figure pools very different groups: about 17% in population-based samples and about 87% among people in inpatient treatment. Sleep problems and cravings can last longer than the other symptoms. Some people report weeks of poor sleep or vivid dreams after everything else has settled.

THC is stored in body fat and leaves the body slowly, which may be one reason symptoms fade gradually rather than all at once. But if symptoms are severe, getting worse, or lasting well beyond what is described here, do not assume it is still withdrawal. Talk to a clinician.

Before you quit: when to talk to a clinician first

For most people, cannabis withdrawal can be managed without a medical facility. The exceptions are about what else is going on. Talk to a clinician before quitting if you are also stopping alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids, whose withdrawal can be dangerous (see our guides to alcohol, benzodiazepine, and opioid withdrawal); if you have a serious mental health condition; or if you are pregnant. Cannabis withdrawal is more likely to be complicated alongside other substance use or mental illness. If someone stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines has a seizure, severe confusion, or hallucinations, call 911.

What helps at home

None of this removes the symptoms. It makes them more tolerable.

• Pick a start date and tell someone. Support and accountability can help, and isolation works against them.
• Sleep: keep a consistent schedule, limit caffeine after midday, and avoid using alcohol or sleep aids to force sleep. Trading one substance for another is a common trap.
• Irritability is coming, so plan around it. Warn the people close to you, and lower your load for the first week or two if you can.
• Eat and hydrate even without appetite. Small regular meals are enough. Appetite generally returns.
• Exercise will not erase withdrawal, but many people find it helps mood, sleep, and cravings.
• Get cannabis out of the house before you start. Cravings are strongest when it is within reach.

When professional help makes sense

Consider talking to a clinician or a treatment program if any of the following apply:

• Previous quit attempts have failed, especially because of withdrawal symptoms
• Cannabis is being used to manage anxiety, depression, or sleep, and those problems surge when use stops
• Thoughts of self-harm appear: call or text 988 right away rather than waiting
• Use continues despite health, family, work, or school problems
• Use began in the teenage years or has gone on for many years

Treatment for cannabis use disorder does not usually mean a residential facility. For many people it means outpatient counseling; our guide to levels of care explains the range. Approaches with research support include cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement, and contingency management. There is currently no medication approved by the FDA specifically for cannabis use disorder, so be cautious of any program or product that claims otherwise. A clinician may still treat the conditions underneath, such as anxiety, depression, or insomnia, and that often matters as much.

Our treatment options guide explains common levels of care, and SAMHSA's free confidential helpline (1-800-662-4357) can connect you to licensed programs 24/7. SAMHSA's official locator is at FindTreatment.gov.