Cannabis
How long does weed withdrawal last?
Short answer
Weed withdrawal usually eases within about 2–3 weeks. Symptoms typically start 24–48 hours after stopping, and most peak around days 2–6, according to a clinical review in Addiction. Heavier users can have symptoms for 2–3 weeks or longer, and sleep problems may continue for several weeks. Withdrawal is uncomfortable, but the same review says it carries few direct risks; the greatest risk is relapse.
Key takeaways
- Onset: symptoms usually begin 24–48 hours after your last use.
- Peak: most symptoms peak around days 2–6.
- Most symptoms return to baseline within 2–3 weeks on average; sleep problems can last longer.
- Daily use and using tobacco or other substances are linked with more withdrawal.
- There are no FDA-approved medications for cannabis withdrawal; supportive counselling and education are first-line.
What is the weed withdrawal timeline?
Research describes a fairly consistent pattern after someone stops heavy, regular use:
- Days 1–2: symptoms typically begin 24–48 hours after the last use.
- Days 2–6: most symptoms reach their peak.
- Weeks 1–3: symptoms ease, and most return to baseline within 2–3 weeks on average.
- Week 2 and beyond: anger, aggression and low mood can peak later, typically after about two weeks, and sleep problems may continue for several weeks or longer.
Why does withdrawal last longer for some people?
How long withdrawal lasts, and how intense it is, is linked to how much cannabis someone was using before they stopped, but it varies considerably from person to person. In heavy users, symptoms can continue for 2–3 weeks or longer.
In a study of 30 male chronic cannabis smokers who abstained in a closed research unit, most effects, including irritability and anxiety, were greatest on days 0–3 and decreased afterwards. People who use tobacco as well as cannabis report more withdrawal symptoms than people who use cannabis without tobacco.
What are the symptoms of weed withdrawal?
According to the Addiction review, the most common features are anxiety, irritability, anger or aggression, disturbed sleep and dreaming, depressed mood and loss of appetite. NIDA's list also includes restlessness, weight loss, headaches, sweating, abdominal pain and tremor.
The formal DSM-5 withdrawal diagnosis applies after stopping cannabis use that has been heavy and prolonged, usually daily or almost daily for at least a few months.
How common is weed withdrawal?
Among regular users it is common, though estimates vary widely. A 2020 meta-analysis in JAMA Network Open, covering 47 studies and 23,518 people with regular or dependent cannabis use, found a pooled withdrawal prevalence of 47%. It was 17% in population-based samples, 54% in outpatient samples and 87% in inpatient samples. Daily cannabis use and concurrent tobacco or other substance use were linked with higher rates.
NIDA cites a different study that estimated 12.1% of people who frequently use cannabis experience withdrawal, which shows how much the numbers depend on who is studied and how withdrawal is measured.
Is weed withdrawal dangerous, and what helps?
The Addiction review says there are few risks related directly to cannabis withdrawal and that the greatest risk is relapse. Complicated withdrawal may occur in people who also have mental health conditions or use other substances, and for some of them inpatient care may be appropriate.
There are no FDA-approved medications for cannabis withdrawal. Supportive counselling and education about what to expect are the first-line approaches, although the evidence behind them is limited. Cutting down slowly over weeks, or switching to lower-THC products, may reduce the chance and severity of withdrawal, but these strategies are not well studied. Sleep is usually the slowest part to settle; see our answer on vivid dreams after quitting weed.
How Vow can help
Vow's free streak counter and daily check-in let you watch the first days add up, and a slip is logged without shame: your best streak is kept and a fresh run starts. When an urge hits, Premium's Craving Shield runs a guided three-minute urge-surfing timer with breathing modes, and the Calm tab offers soundscapes, breathing patterns and guided voice sessions.
Sources
Each source below was read when this answer was reviewed. Open a source to see the passages the answer relies on.
Connor et al., Addiction (2022) — Clinical management of cannabis withdrawalpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Symptom onset typically occurs 24–48 hours after cessation and most symptoms generally peak at days 2–6.
In heavy users withdrawal symptoms can occur for up to 2–3 weeks or longer.
Sleep disturbances may continue for several weeks or longer.
Anger and aggression and depressed mood may occur as early as 1 week into cannabis withdrawal but typically peak after 2 weeks of abstinence
The duration and severity of cannabis withdrawal is associated with the amount of cannabis consumed before cessation, but can vary considerably.
Patients who co‐use tobacco and cannabis report more withdrawal symptoms than those who use cannabis without tobacco
The most common features of cannabis withdrawal are anxiety, irritability, anger or aggression, disturbed sleep/dreaming, depressed mood and loss of appetite.
There are few risks related directly to cannabis withdrawal. The greatest risk is relapse
Complicated withdrawal may occur in people with concurrent mental health and polysubstance use.
Inpatient admission for MAW may be clinically indicated for patients who have significant comorbid mental health disorders and polysubstance use to avoid severe complications.
Despite limited empirical evidence, supportive counselling and psychoeducation are the first‐line approaches in the management of cannabis withdrawal.
an incremental and slow reduction in cannabis intake and/or use of lower THC products over an extended period (weeks) may reduce the probability and severity of withdrawal symptoms
Cannabis pre‐detoxification harm reduction strategies are not well studied and there is no standard practice.
Open the sourcePeer-reviewed review (PMC) — Cannabis Withdrawal: A Review of Neurobiological Mechanisms and Sex Differencespmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
begin to remit and return to baseline levels within 2–3 weeks on average
though sleep disturbances may persist longer
Cessation of cannabis use that has been heavy and prolonged (i.e., usually daily or almost daily use over a period of at least a few months).
Open the sourceLee et al., American Journal on Addictions (2014) — Cannabis Withdrawal in Chronic, Frequent Cannabis Smokers during Sustained Abstinence within a Closed Residential Environmentpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Thirty male chronic cannabis smokers resided on the closed research unit for 2–33 days.
Most abstinence effects, including irritability and anxiety were greatest on Days 0–3 and decreased thereafter.
Open the sourceNIDA — Cannabis (Marijuana)nida.nih.gov
Withdrawal symptoms may include anger, irritability, aggression, feeling nervous or anxious, restlessness, decreased appetite or weight, depression, insomnia, experiencing strange or unsettling dreams, headaches, sweating, abdominal pain, and tremor.
One study estimated that 12.1% of people who frequently use cannabis experience cannabis withdrawal.
There are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of cannabis use disorder or for medically assisted withdrawal
Please call or text 988 or chat www.988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.
For referrals to substance use and mental health treatment programs, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Open the sourceBahji et al., JAMA Network Open (2020) — Prevalence of Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms Among People With Regular or Dependent Use of Cannabinoidspmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
47 studies, representing 23 518 participants, met all inclusion criteria
The overall pooled prevalence of CWS was 47% (6469 of 23 518) (95% CI, 41%-52%)
the prevalence of CWS was 17% (95% CI, 13%-21%) in population-based samples, 54% in outpatient samples (95% CI, 48%-59%), and 87% in inpatient samples
Factors that were associated with higher cannabis withdrawal syndrome were clinical settings (particularly inpatient and outpatient vs population settings), concurrent tobacco or other substance use, and daily cannabis use.
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