How long till withdrawal effects are noticeable?

[Breukelen advocaat]

Definitely wasn't psychosis...It was just getting tangled in my thoughts.

I have never had any bout of paranoia or negative experience on weed that comes even close to comparing with my horrendously intense bad acid trip.

I've taken breaks many times. When you stop, just keep busy with things you enjoy and you'll be fine.

BTW:
Glad you put in that last point. There are occasional references here to marijuana experiences as "tripping" and sometimes even "bad trips". I don't think that the people that use these terms for pot would do this if they'd experienced the real thing big time.

[Nailhead]

"You call weed an addiction? I use to suck dick for coke, you ever suck dick for marijuana?"

Sorry, just had to Weed is about as addictive as starbucks, if you can't sleep after quiting, it isn't from the weed, it's a problem seperate that the weed was treating while you were using it, but that doesn't mean the insomnia is a withdrawal symptom from quitting.

At most you might be a little irritable for a few days, anything more excessive than that is just in your mind.

[Markass]

you just think you need some. Marijuana doesn't produce any withdrawal effects whatsoever

[Dalfir]

Day 2 and it's a lot easier than I thought. Didn't have problems sleeping and am not craving at all.

[anangrymailman]

I smoked a lot every day for the last year and stopped cold turkey when I got to France, since I didn't have any connects and wanted to stop for a while. No withdrawl effects at all, but I did notice cannabis in almost all of my dreams!

[birdgirl73]

You guys who're so sure there aren't any withdrawal symptoms haven't done enough reading. Even though it's not a traditional drug of addiction like a narrcotic, cannabis still binds to nerve receptors and causes a chain of cellular reactions that create a high and other responses. Any substance that changes our neurochemistry, especially when it's been taken regularly, can cause some withdrawal effects when people stop taking it. It's not the same violent, craving-filled withdrawal that happens with drugs like poppy-based narcotics or stimulants, but it's type of withdrawal just the same. You see the same effect with Paxil, other SSRI antidepressants, and various other heart and neurological drugs that work by changing neurochemistry or neurotransmitters in other parts of the body. While the cessation of those drugs won't cause withdrawal in the same way that would happen with traditional drugs of dependence, people certainly can have withdrawal effects when stopping them. Headaches, lack of appetite and trouble sleeping are classic cannabis withdrawal symptoms that people report all the time.

Erowid, one one of the best sources available for unbiased information about cannabis, has a heading on the page I'm linking below called "Withdrawal Symptoms."
Erowid Cannabis (Marijuana) Vault : Effects

[chantoke]

there's withdrawal, but it's nothing compared withdrawal from alcohol (which you can die from) and nicotine (which can put your life on hold).

you've been using for a few weeks. not a lifetime. you'll be fine.

if you are getting obsessive/compulsive thoughts, which is what it sounds like, maybe try adding a mild anti-depressant. see your doc, see what they say.

[M3nt0R]

They haven't done enough reading? I think they could read for hours straight and it won't alter their opinion, simply because they experienced it firsthand and reported their experiences. Hell, I've done it myself. I stop cold turkey all the time, usually 'to clean up' for a job interview or any situation that would require me to take a drug test that I knew about beforehand.

[birdgirl73]

This is precisely why I want people to read more, M3ntOR, especially people who have nothing whatsoever to do with medicine. Because at least by reading an objective source that has data showing that such symptoms can and do happen to others, they may stop issuing assurances that such symptoms are impossible when those assurances have simply been filtered through their own experience.

[M3nt0R]

Yeah, you're totally right birdgirl. I agree.