Is CANNABIS Withdrawal Real?

Cannabis withdrawal is real and affects up to 30% of regular users – fact!

It may come as a surprise to you, but according to a recent report, cannabis withdrawal both exists and also affects a lot of users.

Now, this may come as a surprise, for one main reason.

Unlike many Class A drugs like heroin and crack cocaine, cannabis is not seen as addictive.

If a drug is not addictive, then surely there can’t be any withdrawal symptoms.

Well, not quite!

Let’s take cigarette smokers and nicotine, a highly addictive drug.

What makes stopping smoking so difficult?

Craving. That’s right, a craving for nicotine, which is a prime example of a withdrawal symptom.

Craving is also associated with other major Class A drugs, but not cannabis users.

However, withdrawal symptoms go beyond simple craving. There are physical as well as psychological effects experienced by regular cannabis users when they stop.

The April 2020 report by researchers in Canada collected data from 47 different studies of a total 23,500 cannabis users.

The results of their research revealed that over 30% of participants had experienced at least three recognised withdrawal symptoms after stopping using cannabis, having previously been a regular user.

This has led to what is now referred to Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome, or CWS as it is now called.

That list of withdrawal symptoms include: anger, anxiety, trouble falling asleep, appetite problems, restlessness, depression, or bodily reactions like headaches or vomiting.

These symptoms only needed to be temporary or moderate in form, as opposed to variations of withdrawal symptoms from Class A drug use, which can last a considerable period of time and which can be severe in the extreme!

The research also revealed that those who used cannabis on a daily basis alongside other drugs, or who also smoked tobacco, were more prone to developing CWS.

The research also revealed that those who take cannabis to help them cope with a mental illness such as anxiety or depression are more likely to experience a return of these symptoms when a regular use of cannabis is stopped, leading to a need to continue using cannabis.

So, for those of you who think taking cannabis is harmless and won’t cause any problems if you decide to stop using it, maybe now is a good time to have a rethink.

With that being said, we’d love to know your thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comment section below.