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Is Cannabis Withdrawal Real? 

Yes.

A 2020 study(1) found that 47% of regular users experience withdrawal symptoms. A 2021 study(2) found 59% of people using cannabis for pain management experienced moderate to severe withdrawal. In rehab, 89% of in-patients and 54% of out-patients experience withdrawal. 

So if cannabis withdrawal is real, what is it? 

First, let's agree on what cannabis withdrawal is not.

Cannabis withdrawal is not heroin withdrawal. It is not as "severe".

 

But that does not mean cannabis withdrawal is pleasant. The discomfort and cravings experienced during cannabis withdrawal cause people who want to stop using cannabis relapse. We should try to reduce the suffering, and increase the probability of success, of those who decide, for themselves, that they want to stop using cannabis.

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When thinking about what cannabis withdrawal is, first think about what cannabis does.

 

What are the cliché effects of smoking weed? 

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  1. Calm

  2. Chill

  3. Sleepy

  4. Happy

  5. The Munchies

  6. Pain Free

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Now guess what happens when you take away a drug causing the above?

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Unsurprisingly, research shows cannabis withdrawal feels like the opposite of cannabis use.

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The Most Common Withdrawal Symptoms (% who experience):

  1. Anxiety (76.3%)

  2. Anger and aggression (71.9%)

  3. Sleep difficulty (68.2%)

  4. Depressed Mood (58.2%)

  5. Decreased appetite (26.2%)

  6. Headache (47.9%)

  7. Shaky/ Tremors (24.7%)

  8. Sweating (22%)

Is Cannabis Addiction Real? 

Yes.

Research shows 9% of people who try cannabis will become addicted. 

 

Addiction to cannabis is defined as cannabis use that causes problems in the users life. Importantly, it is the user saying that cannabis is a problem in their own life. Not the doctor telling them it is a problem.

 

 The questions doctors ask when diagnosing cannabis addiction are:

  1. Are you using cannabis in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended?

  2. Have you made unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control your cannabis use?

  3. Do you spend a lot of time using cannabis?

  4. Do you crave cannabis?

  5. Do you use cannabis even though it causes problems at work, school, or home?

  6. Do you continue to use cannabis despite social or relationship problems?

  7. Have you given up important hobbies, or activities to use cannabis?

  8. Do you use cannabis in situations that result in a risk of injury?

  9. Do you continue to use despite knowing that it causes ongoing physical or psychological problems?

  10. Do you have a tolerance to cannabis?

  11. If you stop using cannabis, do you experience withdrawal symptoms?


How severe a persons cannabis addiction is, is determined by how many of the above they say are true: 

  • Mild (two or three )

  • Moderate (four or five)

  • Severe (six or more).

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In the United States, 7% of the population qualify as having cannabis use disorder.

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Of American adults, 3.9% are clinically considered to have a mild addiction (10 million), 1.9% moderate (5 million), and 1.2% severe
(3 million)4. 

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5.8% of the population, or 15 million people, use cannabis 300+ days per year. 300 days per year is 82%, or 4 in 5, days, minimum. 

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References

1. Prevalence of Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms Among People With Regular or Dependent Use of Cannabinoids. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. 2020.

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2. Progression of cannabis withdrawal symptoms in people using medical cannabis for chronic pain. 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8363170/#:~:text=Research%20from%20cohorts%20of%20individuals,use%20cannabis%20for%20medical%20purposes.

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3. DSM-5 Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome: Demographic and clinical correlates in U.S. adults. 2018. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6359953/#:~:text=In%20frequent%20cannabis%20users%2C%20the,and%20depressed%20mood%20(58.9%25).

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4. Cannabis use disorder and substance use treatment among U.S. adults. 2024. Namkee Choi

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