Cannabis---more commonly known as marijuana---is a plant with psychoactive properties. It is used largely for its recreational effects, which include altered perception and mood enhancement, though it is sometimes prescribed by doctors to treat symptoms of serious diseases like cancer. While no definitive symptoms exist for cannabis withdrawal, mild physical and psychological effects can occur when a person attempts to stop using the drug. Understanding what happens when you stop smoking cannabis allows users to better identify and treat symptoms as they arise.
Physical Effects
On a physical level, smoking cannabis primarily affects the lungs and respiratory system. As with other smoked substances, cannabis can increase the risk for airway irritation and chronic infections like bronchitis. Quitting cannabis may result in a slow reversal of damage and reduced frequency of symptoms like coughing, bronchitis and irritation of the throat and lungs.
Due to its ability to stimulate appetite, quitting cannabis sometimes leads to weight loss. Other potential effects include insomnia, increased muscle tension and slight changes in heart rate and blood pressure.
Psychological Effects
Because cannabis is primarily considered a psychologically addictive drug, the mental and emotional effects of withdrawal are usually the most noticeable. According to Harvard University Science Center, quitting marijuana may result in irritability, anxiety and changes in mood and appetite.
The desire to smoke cannabis is among the most common symptoms experienced by people quitting the drug. This may be due in part to its effects--which are considered extremely pleasurable by users--as well as difficulty in giving up the ritualistic behaviors involved in using the drug, like preparing and smoking it.
Return of Symptoms
When cannabis is used for medical purposes, quitting may result in a return of the symptoms it is prescribed to treat. According to the National Institutes of Health, compounds known as cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant may have positive effects on muscle spasticity, pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea in cancer patients.
While its medicinal use is not supported by the federal government, state laws may allow doctors to prescribe cannabis to treat certain conditions. As with all drugs used to manage symptoms of disease, quitting cannabis under these circumstances may lead to a temporary or long-term worsening of symptoms.
Considerations
The effects of quitting cannabis are different for everyone. Factors such as duration of use, dosage and individual differences in body chemistry may affect the severity of withdrawal symptoms. While smoking is the most common method of administration, cannabis may also be eaten or vaporized, slightly altering the physical effects of withdrawal such as respiratory changes.
Time Frame
There is no set time frame for the effects of quitting cannabis. Some users experience no noticeable effects at all, while others deal with symptoms like loss of appetite and insomnia for weeks after quitting. For most people, symptoms begin to resolve within five days to two weeks.
