Quitting weed
What's normal, and when it eases.
In a 45 day study of 18 people quitting at home, withdrawal usually started on days 1 to 3, peaked on days 2 to 6, and most of it lasted 4 to 14 days. A 2022 clinical review describes the same shape, and adds that some symptoms can last 3 weeks or more in heavy users, with sleep sometimes taking longer. It affects about half of regular users, not everyone.
Sources: Budney et al., J Abnorm Psychol 2003; Connor et al., Addiction 2022
Days 1 to 3
When it usually starts
Days 2 to 6
When it usually peaks
4 to 14 days
How long most of it lasts
Symptom by symptom
Trouble sleeping
- Starts:
- First few nights
- Peaks:
- Weeks 1 to 2 in one study
- Eases:
- By week 3 in one study, longer for some
Your first few nights may be rough: in a sleep lab, daily users slept less during their first days off. In a study of young users, sleep got worse, then better, and by week 3 their sleep quality was no different from non-users, though for some people it takes longer.
Sleep lab: 20 daily users, 3 days off. Young users: 37 people aged 16 to 26, compared with 42 non-users.
Sources: Vandrey et al., Drug Alcohol Depend 2011; Sullivan et al., Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; Connor et al., Addiction 2022
Not feeling hungry
- Starts:
- Days 1 to 3
- Eases:
- From day 4 on a ward, about 12 days at home
You may not feel like eating at first. On a research ward, heavy, frequent smokers' appetite loss started easing on day 4. At home, in another study, it lasted about 12 days.
Ward: 29 men who smoked at least 5 days a week. At home: 18 people quitting as outpatients (12 days as reported by Lee et al.).
Sources: Lee et al., Am J Addict 2014; Budney et al., J Abnorm Psychol 2003
Anxiety or nervousness
- Starts:
- Days 1 to 3
- Peaks:
- Within 9 days
- Eases:
- Raised for 12 to 27 days at home
You may feel nervous or on edge. It is one of the most common symptoms and tends to hit early. In two studies of people quitting at home, it peaked within 9 days and stayed raised for 12 to 27 days.
Two outpatient studies of 18 and 30 people. One study of young users found their anxiety was no different from non-users.
Sources: Lee et al., Am J Addict 2014; Kouri & Pope, Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2000; Budney et al., J Abnorm Psychol 2003; Sullivan et al., Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022
Irritability or anger
- Starts:
- Days 1 to 3
- Peaks:
- Within 9 days
- Eases:
- Raised for 12 to 27 days at home
You may have a shorter fuse than usual, and it tends to start in the first days. In two studies of people quitting at home, irritability peaked within 9 days and stayed raised for 12 to 27 days.
Two outpatient studies of 18 and 30 people. On a research ward, anger did not change over time.
Sources: Lee et al., Am J Addict 2014; Kouri & Pope, Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2000; Budney et al., J Abnorm Psychol 2003
Strange or vivid dreams
- Starts:
- A few days in
- Peaks:
- Day 4 to day 9
- Eases:
- Can take weeks
If vivid or strange dreams show up, they tend to start a few days in, later than other symptoms, and can take a while to fade. In one 45 day study they had not settled by the end. The good news: in a study of 49 people, they caused relatively little distress.
Inpatient, outpatient and research ward studies of 18 to 49 people.
Sources: Bonnet & Preuss, Subst Abuse Rehabil 2017; Lee et al., Am J Addict 2014; Allsop et al., Drug Alcohol Depend 2011
Restlessness
- Starts:
- Days 1 to 3
- Peaks:
- Around day 4 in one study
You may feel fidgety or unable to settle over the first few days. In one inpatient study it rose until day 4 and then eased.
39 people in inpatient treatment, plus an outpatient study of 18.
Sources: Bonnet & Preuss, Subst Abuse Rehabil 2017; Budney et al., J Abnorm Psychol 2003
Craving
- Starts:
- First days
- Peaks:
- Day 2 in one study
- Eases:
- With time, at very different speeds
If cravings hit you, you are in good company: they are the most reported symptom and often the strongest, peaking on day 2 in one inpatient study. They tend to ease with time, though the pace varies a lot from person to person.
39 people in inpatient treatment, 29 men on a research ward, and 469 people describing their hardest quit.
Sources: Bonnet & Preuss, Subst Abuse Rehabil 2017; Lee et al., Am J Addict 2014; Levin et al., Drug Alcohol Depend 2010
Low mood
- Starts:
- Around the first week
- Peaks:
- Studies disagree
- Eases:
- Subtle symptoms can last past 3 weeks
You might feel flat or down for a while. Studies disagree on when it peaks, and in one study of young users, subtle mood symptoms could last past 3 weeks.
Outpatient and community studies of 30 to 37 people, plus a clinical review.
Sources: Connor et al., Addiction 2022; Kouri & Pope, Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2000; Sullivan et al., Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022
Shakiness, stomach pain, sweats, chills or headaches
- Starts:
- Early
- Peaks:
- Days 2 to 6
- Eases:
- Often within about a week
You might notice shakiness, a sore stomach, sweats, chills or headaches, though these are less common. When they happen they tend to come early and pass sooner than the mood and sleep symptoms.
A clinical review, an outpatient study of 18, and 469 people describing their hardest quit.
Sources: Connor et al., Addiction 2022; Budney et al., J Abnorm Psychol 2003; Levin et al., Drug Alcohol Depend 2010
The honest part
Not everyone gets withdrawal. Across 47 studies, about 47% of regular or dependent users did: 17% in general population samples, more in people seeking treatment. In a US survey of frequent users who did get it, the most common symptoms were anxiety (76%), hostility (72%), trouble sleeping (68%) and low mood (59%). Daily use went with higher rates, and heavier use with stronger withdrawal.
Sources: Bahji et al., JAMA Netw Open 2020; Livne et al., Drug Alcohol Depend 2019; Bonnet & Preuss, Subst Abuse Rehabil 2017
These timelines are group averages from fairly small studies, so yours may be shorter or longer, and sleep, dreams and low mood can run past 3 weeks for some people. On its own, weed withdrawal is usually not dangerous. Talk to a doctor if you are also cutting down alcohol or other drugs, if you live with a mental or physical health condition, or if low mood, anxiety or poor sleep is severe or not lifting. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US right away.
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