If you have stopped, or sharply cut back, heavy or long-term cannabis use and feel irritable, anxious or unable to sleep, you may be going through cannabis withdrawal. Published reviews describe a recognizable pattern: symptoms typically begin 24 to 48 hours after stopping, most peak around days 2 to 6, and in heavy users some last three weeks or more. The most common ones are anxiety, irritability, anger or aggression, disturbed sleep, low mood and loss of appetite. If symptoms are hard to manage, an addiction-qualified clinician is the right person to talk them through with you.
What symptoms may occur after stopping cannabis?
A 2022 Addiction review on managing cannabis withdrawal says withdrawal occurs in approximately half of regular and dependent cannabis users after abrupt cessation or significant reductions in THC-containing products. Its most common features are anxiety, irritability, anger or aggression, disturbed sleep or dreaming, depressed mood and loss of appetite. Less common physical symptoms include chills, headaches, physical tension, sweating and stomach pain.
| Symptom | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Anxiety, nervousness | Most common (2022 review) |
| Irritability, anger, aggression | Most common (2022 review) |
| Sleep trouble, vivid or strange dreams | Disturbed sleep or dreaming (2022 review) |
| Low mood or depression | Depressed mood (2022 review) |
| Reduced appetite or weight loss | Loss of appetite (2022 review) |
| Headaches, chills, physical tension | Less common (2022 review) |
| Sweating, stomach pain | Less common (2022 review) |
| Nausea | A 2017 review of the withdrawal syndrome reports that women had stronger withdrawal, including nausea and stomach pain |
| Diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness | The 2022 and 2017 reviews do not describe these as withdrawal symptoms; the evidence does not establish whether they occur |
The 2017 review says severity depends on how much cannabis was used before stopping, sex, inherited traits and environmental factors, so the pattern varies widely between people. If you have vomiting, raise it with your clinician.
How long do cannabis withdrawal symptoms last?
| When | What the reviews describe |
|---|---|
| Within 24 to 48 hours | Symptoms typically begin (2022 review) |
| Days 2 to 6 | Most symptoms generally peak (2022 review) |
| Up to 3 weeks or more | Some symptoms last this long in heavy users (2022 review) |
| First 2 days to 4 weeks | The 2017 review notes that brain CB1 receptors start to recover within the first 2 days of stopping and return to normal within 4 weeks. It proposes this as a possible time frame for withdrawal, while noting it does not account for longer-term brain changes. |
No one can give you a fixed end date. The timeline describes heavy users most directly, and the 2017 review says severity varies with how much was used and other factors. If symptoms last well beyond the typical window, or keep getting worse, that is a reason to book an appointment.
Does cannabis really cause withdrawal?
According to the reviews, yes. A 2006 review in Current Opinion in Psychiatry says laboratory studies have established the reliability, validity and time course of a cannabis withdrawal syndrome, and that it is common among people seeking treatment. A 2014 review explains that cannabis withdrawal was added as a diagnostic category in DSM-5, the manual psychiatrists and other clinicians use to diagnose these conditions.
The 2022 review puts it at about half of regular and dependent users. The 2014 review notes that the studies varied in sample size, design and methodology, which limits clear conclusions.
When is clinical support needed?
The 2022 review says the clinical significance of withdrawal is that its symptoms may lead to relapse to cannabis use. It also says complicated withdrawal may occur in people who have mental health conditions alongside cannabis use, or who use several substances.
The 2017 review gives a practical split. Mood and behavioral symptoms of light to moderate intensity can usually be treated in an outpatient setting. Comorbid mental or physical disorders, severe cannabis use disorder and low social functioning may call for inpatient treatment, preferably in a qualified detox setting, followed by post-acute rehabilitation. The 2022 review says inpatient admission may be clinically indicated for people with significant comorbid mental health disorders and polysubstance use, to avoid severe complications.
Consider getting an assessment soon if any of these fit you:
- Symptoms are strong enough that you are struggling to work, study, sleep or look after yourself.
- You have a mental health condition, or your mood is getting worse.
- You use other substances, including alcohol or other drugs.
- You have tried to cut back and keep returning to daily use.
- Symptoms last longer than the timeline above would suggest.
The 2017 review notes that withdrawal is a criterion of cannabis use disorders in DSM-5 and ICD-10. A clinician can tell you whether that applies to your situation. Our guide to cannabis dependence signs and help covers these criteria in more detail.
If someone collapses, has trouble breathing, has a seizure or cannot be woken, call 911 now. Poison Control can be reached at 1-800-222-1222 for suspected poisoning. For cannabis poisoning risks, the CDC’s cannabis health effects page describes unintentional poisoning from edibles. If you think a reaction is caused by THC itself rather than withdrawal, see Too Much THC: Emergency Symptoms and Next Steps.
What treatments are studied for cannabis withdrawal?
The 2022 review says supportive counselling and psychoeducation are the first-line approaches, although the empirical evidence for them is limited.
The 2022 review says there are no medications currently approved specifically for medically assisted withdrawal. It adds that some medicines are used to manage short-term symptoms such as anxiety, sleep and nausea, sometimes off-label. It also notes that promising agents tested in controlled trials have been underpowered, and their positive findings have not been reliably replicated.
The 2017 review reports early promising results with gabapentin and THC analogs, says mirtazapine may help withdrawal insomnia, and notes that small studies suggest venlafaxine may worsen withdrawal. These are study findings for a clinician to weigh against your full history. They are not guidance to start or stop any medicine on your own. The same review says further research is needed on aerobic exercise therapy and psychoeducation for withdrawal.
What helps while you wait for an appointment?
The published reviews do not describe a home remedy for cannabis withdrawal. The approaches they describe are professional: counselling, psychoeducation and behavioral therapies delivered with a clinician. Until you are seen, contact a clinician, and use the emergency steps above if symptoms become severe or unsafe.
Appointment checklist
Bring this list to an appointment with an addiction-qualified clinician, and discuss symptoms and support options together.
- When you last used, how often, and roughly how much. The 2017 review ties severity to the amount used before stopping.
- When symptoms started, what they are, and whether they are getting better or worse.
- Any mental health condition, mood changes, sleep problems or anxiety you have had before.
- Any other substances you use, including alcohol, and every medicine, supplement or product you take.
- Whether you have tried to cut back before, and what happened.
- Outpatient or inpatient options, and which counselling or behavioral therapies are available near you.
- What to do if symptoms become severe, and which number to call after hours.
What the research cannot tell us yet
The reviews agree on the broad picture but leave important gaps. Most are narrative reviews of mixed studies, and the trials of possible medicines are described as small and underpowered. No source gives an exact duration for every person. The evidence also does not show which treatment works best for which person, or how withdrawal affects long-term quit attempts. The 2006 review says that research still needs to be done on both questions.
Your next step: book a visit with an addiction-qualified clinician, bring the checklist above, and ask about the support options that fit your situation.
By TakeHempGummies.com Consumer Research Desk
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.