Creative logo illustrating Withdrawal by the Drugs and Me team

Withdrawal

{What to expect when you stop taking certain drugs}

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Cannabis withdrawal

Top tips

  • Gradually reduce your dose → try smoking smaller joints or bongs, smoking fewer joints and bongs, or delaying use until later in the day
  • Change route of administration → vaping is more economical and can give less withdrawal symptoms
  • Know your drugs → watch out for Spice

When regular or heavy cannabis users suddenly stop using cannabis, rather than slowly reducing their intake, they can experience mild to moderate physical and mental symptoms. This is because when you stop using cannabis, the reduced stimulation of your cannabinoid receptors can result in physical cravings or a psychological desire to use cannabis again. The associated symptoms of cannabis withdrawal tend to be unpleasant but not dangerous.

Synthetic cannabinoids like Spice are much more potent than cannabis. They fully activate cannabinoid receptors whereas THC, the main active substance in cannabis, is only a partial agonist. Not only is the high totally different, being potentially hallucinogenic and disorientating, but it's associated withdrawal is much worse and can also cause seizures, overdose and death.

Symptoms of cannabis withdrawal

Physical symptoms

  • stomach pains
  • shakes/tremors
  • sweating
  • fever
  • chills
  • headaches
  • restlessness

Psychological symptoms

  • irritability
  • anger
  • depression
  • sometimes vivid and unpleasant dreams

These may all last longer than a week but you should notice them getting more manageable with time.

References: Cannabis Withdrawal & Detox Guide; How Long Does Withdrawal From Marijuana Last?; Cannabis withdrawal symptoms; What to expect from cannabis withdrawal; Leafly; Bahji et al. 2020; What is spice

References

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