Geez, I call BS on this. I’ve smoked off and on for 35 years. NEVER have I had anything even remotely close to withdrawals. And these comments, I call BS-FAKE on them… Total BS! Never seen it in others either…. come on… always dreaming about it, risk burning my house down, nausea, spaced out, 5 weeks of wd’s. Complete and total BS! Just for the record I am a REAL Scientist with a degree and a state license to practice. This piece is too far from reality to be taken seriously.

I second TYC – TOTAL BS. I’ve been a smoker for over 10 years and have never experienced any type WD. And I’m in California’s Green triangle and get some of the most potent stuff out there. Funny thing, I’ve been busy and haven’t been able to pick up a MJ in over a week, and guess what? I feel the same as I always feel (except after a nice BT). And when I do have MJ (which is 95% of the time) I am defiantly a daily smoker. This is BS at it’s fullest.
“Two days in, I thought for sure I had some dreaded disease. One minute I would be freezing, the next sweating.”
HAHAHAHAAA, sounds like this guy got the Flu.

As a scientist you are certainly aware of the risks of metabolic chauvinism–the belief that the reaction to drugs in YOUR body is the same as everyone else’s. As an example, I doubt you would argue that the 10% or so of drinkers who become alcoholics are a bunch of BS artists faking their symptoms, using as your sole argument the fact that you and your friends are capable of drinking responsibly.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. Feel free to peruse the references and catch up on the growing literature of marijuana withdrawal.

Marijuana withdrawal is real but not nearly to the extent this study claimed.

“As an example, I doubt you would argue that the 10% or so of drinkers who become alcoholics are a bunch of BS artists faking their symptoms, using as your sole argument the fact that you and your friends are capable of drinking responsibly.” Dirk hanson

Maybe those alcoholics should switch to smoking weed. No one has ever died, its cheap, and you can quit smoking for a month long period at your discretion. Watch the movie “super high me”, its hilarious and educational.

Life is like a box of chocolates, and the withdrawal from chocolates is worse than marijuana.

I have friends who have been drinkers all their lives and never experience withdrawal when they stop. Is that supposed to lead me to call into question the existence of alcoholism?

I once took cocaine, and didn’t get addicted. I guess all those crack addicts are just con artists looking for sympathy.

What these two responses dramatically illustrate is the distance we still have to go in explaining what addiction is. Count yourselves lucky and have some sympathy for those less genetically fortunate than yourselves. For a minority of users, marijuana is an addictive drug. Deal with it.

How many of the long-term users reported such withdrawal symptoms? I won’t argue that the accounts you gave are faked, but I am curious about the percentage of users who experienced them.

I smoked full-time for about 4 years then quit because I started to have panic attacks when I got high. Ironic or otherwise, the panic attacks only began some time after I had stopped getting high every day. As far as withdrawal from pot, I didn’t really notice anything big, but I missed the act of smoking. I never smoked tobacco, but I found I missed smoking a joint once in a while. I would probably enjoy that even now, thirty years later.

Makes me realize how extra-difficult it must be to quit cigarettes. Whether it’s the oral fix or just the self-comfort of smoking, there’s something going on there.

No way to know what percentage of long-term smokers become clinically dependent on pot, any more than we know with exactitude what overall percentage of drinkers go on to have serious alcohol problems. But the more than 500 posts about the subject on my blog lead me to believe that the number is pretty low. Not counting nicotine, addiction researchers usually cite figures in the 10-15 per cent range for most drugs of abuse. I suspect with marijuana it’s in that range or lower.

Whether or not the reported results good science, the fact remains that we should legalize marijuana for adults who prefer to use pot as a healthier alternative to alcohol.

If you want marijuana to be legalized, taxed, and regulated for adults, YOU can make it happen. Tell your legislators to support California Assembly Bill 390. It’s easy. Visit yes390.org

I’ve worked at a rehabilitation clinic for 24 years and I have never, ever, heard of marijuana causing such violent withdrawals. From my experience, these withdrawals are closer to alcohol, meth, crack, and heroin (not even tobacco, yes people go into rehab for tobacco). These stories are leaving out the other substances that may have caused these withdrawals or, most likely, just propaganda. Why this author chooses to promote his own agenda is beyond me but it highlights either his poor journalism or his complete and utter ignorance on the subject.

I’d like to the author to explain himself, unless he realizes he is beat and would rather hide.

Absolute total BS. I have been smoking since age 12 and am now 42. I feel FINE when I go without smoking. The only difference is that I feel a bit more alert. But I really don’t have withdrawl symptoms ever. I feel very alive and healthy when I go without cannabis.

Recently I took a trip for a weekend and had to go without both cannabis and caffeine. Let me tell you, the caffeine withdrawals I could feel. There were no cannabis withdrawals. I would venture to say that caffiene is a much stronger drug.

And since cannabis is soooo much safer than tobacco and alcohol, less intoxicating than beer, why in the world are we all so up in arms about this great threat to society?

Study something else… like the effects of throwing folks in jail, taking away their children, subsidized housing, etc., just for smoking pot.

Yeah, this borders on embarrassing. There may be a 1/100 case where some jackass makes pot his only friend and loses sleep over it being gone, but no one of sane mind gets those sorts of reactions strictly from smoking grass.

I’d link to this blog for laughs, but no need to give this guy any pub, he’s just fabricating something looking for attention.

“I’d like to the author to explain himself, unless he realizes he is beat and would rather hide.”
——-
I’m a science journalist, I’m happy to explain myself, as I have been trying to do. Rather than hide, I have a blog, Addiction Inbox, where these matters are discussed quite openly. I have no agenda to promote. (I support the legalization of marijuana.)

One more time: The fact that somebodychas smoked pot for 30 years and can quit without symptoms is entirely irrelevant to my article. We KNOW that. The part that is not so well known–obviously–is the extent to which some people can become strongly dependent on pot and show all the classic determinants–tolerance, withdrawal, continued use despite adverse consequences, etc.

Again, don’t take me word for it, I can only invite skeptics once again to read my source material at the end of the article before accusing me of journalistic malfeasance. (Sort of like shooting the messenger.)

Here’s a more extensive bibliography of articles and peer-reviewed studies on the matter that should help get you up to speed on this topic:

http://addiction-dirkh.blogspot.com/2008/04/marijuana-withdrawal-syndrome.html

you have a funny way of supporting the legalization of marijuana. if those “comments” in your article are real testaments of people who have had such withdrawals after using marijuana then they are surely the same people who have withdrawals from everything, TV, food, that kind of stuff. we can’t remove Americans’ freedoms because a few weak individuals can’t come to terms with themselves. if you get night sweats or upset stomachs from not smoking weed (give me a break) then smoke weed or suck it up and get over it soldier, Jesus, how tough is it? those “heavy weed addicts” (hypochondriacs) have no chance in life in general if they can’t figure that one out. it’s like that part of Half Baked where Dave Chappelle has to get up in front of a bunch of junkies and tell them he’s addicted to marijuana, hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtqBHu2P0_E

if real medical science determines that marijuana use is found to cause real physical addiction in real humans, not just rats, then so be it, label it as being potentially addictive and let us make our own choices. our gov must stop forcing hypocritical morals on American citizens in the name of fear mongering speculations and decades old propaganda. anyone that is against marijuana use of any kind (medicinal or recreational) for any reason (social impact, message to kids, etc.) but then turns around and chooses to enjoy even one alcoholic beverage or cigarette, for any reason, ever, is the definition of a hypocrite, and if those hypocrites work in our gov they should be removed if they are not willing to change their hypocritical creation and application of laws that ultimately remove our freedoms.

legalize and regulate properly documented and accurately labeled marijuana, it is the only real way to reduce (maybe some day eliminate) the issues created and still being caused by marijuana’s prohibition. let people be people as long as their choices do not infringe on other people’s rights, freedoms, and/or property, as long as they understand and acknowledge the possible consequences, and as long as they understand the reasonably and fairly determined acceptable applications of the choices they make. and boo those weed addicts!

“If real medical science determines that marijuana use is found to cause real physical addiction in real humans, not just rats, then so be it, label it as being potentially addictive and let us make our own choices.”
—————–

I agree completely.

As for my “funny” way of supporting legalization: I support the legal and responsible use of alcoholic beverages, and I also have a great deal of sympathy for the minority of people who become addicted to booze. Is that supposed to be some kind of contradiction?

It’s amazing, the reaction some people have to the idea that a minority of heavy pot smokers can suffer significant withdrawal symptoms after the cessation of use. We had forty years of Anslinger-style “marijuana addiction” stories based on lurid rumor; then we had 40 years of “you can’t suffer withdrawal symptoms from smoking pot. Ever.” Now, I think maybe we’re reaching the point of understanding that, as with heroin/morphine, most people who use pot casually don’t get addicted. In fact, most people who use opiates intensely, as in a hospital for severe pain, don’t start scoring smack on the street after they leave the hospital. Similarly, the huge majority of pot smokers don’t suffer withdrawal when they quit. For a small fraction, it is a different story altogether.

I don’t see this as a terribly controversial proposition. At least it shouldn’t be.

As for severity of symptoms: the basic withdrawal effects of abstaining from nicotine are irritability, constipation, headache, excessive sweating, confusion, and craving. Gee, that doesn’t sound so bad. Why do smokers make such a fuss about quitting?

A study done by Elena M. Kouri and Harrison Pope at Harvard showed 60% of long time marijuana users had significant withdrawal symptoms. My teenage son had very bad withdrawal after two years of daily use –insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, rages, sweats, diarrhea, cravings. It lasted about a month. Withdrawal is a reason people don’t stop and an addiction continues. From all the studies and anecdotal information, Marijuana seems definitely physically addictive for a significant number of users. At first, I didn’t know my son was using, but his addiction became consuming and he couldn’t hide it any more. I’ve read that the younger the age of use, the more addictive marijuana can be. There’s also a lot of discussion of increased potency, so I wonder if that has any effect on addiction. In Britain it was one of the factors that caused cannabis to be reclassified back to B after being downgraded to C for a few years.

The reason why your article is so lame, is because you fail to address the facts you state in the comments section in the actual article. Just because some people can’t control themselves, doesn’t mean that moderate and responsible cannabis use is bad. You have created an article that the ‘potpragandists’ are going to use to demonize this herb once again. It’s that simple.

Anyone who uses cannabis recreationally all day, every day needs to take a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror and get a grip on some self-control. Too often we blame a scapegoat for a person’s lack of self-control, as is the case here. Cannabis is NOT addictive when used responsibly. Some people, though, are chronically ill and have no choice but to use cannabis constantly. These are chemo patients, AID sufferers, people with MS, Chrohn’s disease and cerebral palsy.

More research also needs to be done on the dramatic difference in benefits when cannabis is ingested or vaporized, rather than smoked. The method of ingestion is incredibly important, and is often ignored or assumed to be “smoked,” further sustaining the negative “pothead” stereotype that has existed for decades. People need to educate themselves on the risks of ANY drug, and the fact of the matter is, that cannabis is safer than the vast majority of synthetic drugs. In all fairness, cannabis is often much safer than many of the things we consume on a daily basis.

We need to legalize it as a medicine and research it’s beneficial properties as well as its potential negative ones, with my suspicion being that the former will far outweigh the latter. The Department of Health and Human Services even holds a patent on cannabinoids as known neuroprotectants and antioxidants. http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6630507.html

Knowledge is power and the truth will set us free. Well, you can’t have truth when it mixed with the hype and sensationalism that has been surrounding this topic for too long… And your article does nothing to quell that type of mentality. As a legalization advocate, you had a responsibility to mention both sides of the fence in the content you provided. I doubt NIDA would’ve approved of that though, eh? Shame on you Sir for not discussing all of the relevant issues that surround this hotly debated topic in your article.

“Just because some people can’t control themselves, doesn’t mean that moderate and responsible cannabis use is bad. ”

I never said or implied any such thing.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the moderate use of cannabis. In fact it has numerous advantages as a social drug over alcohol–but it is not a miracle drug, completely free of complications or negative side effects for everyone. That’s the fantasy people want to keep alive. I’m more interested in the truth, even when that truth is deemed inconvenient by legalization advocates.

America didn’t end Prohibition by arguing that alcohol can never be addictive.

Sticking to the issue of marijuana being addictive, rather than veering off into the legalization argument, I offer you some science you have obviously missed. The fact that cannabis is not habit-forming was discovered about 100 years ago, and was even used in treating drug addiction.

http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/marijuana-therapy-to-treat-drug-addiction/

As a scientific journalist, you seem to have completely overlooked science that does not conform to your obviously predetermined viewpoint. It is similarly alarming that of all of the supposed random samples listed in your article, none reflect the experiences of the (I assume random) comments.

Perhaps you could write a follow up which includes the science and experiences offered here in your comment section, or from further study that would include a true random sampling? That’s what great journalism is all about. Propaganda is not helpful when we are looking fr the truth.

Thank you.

“Perhaps you could write a follow up which includes the science and experiences offered here in your comment section, or from further study that would include a true random sampling?”
——–
This was not a random sampling, and was not intended to be. A closer reading of the article would have spared you this misperception. As I wrote in the article, the excerpts were “a sampling of comments from dependent marijuana smokers”

If you would like a more in-depth treatment of the subject than the roughly 1,000 words available to me for an article on this blog, you will find a chapter on marijuana and marijuana withdrawal in my recently published book, “The Chemical Carousel: What Science Tells Us About Beating Addiction.”

What then is your response to the science I offered for your journalistic endeavor?

I’m all for the medical use of marijuana when and where it is indicated; I agree that marijuana is safer than almost any drug you can take, because there is no danger of death by overdose; and I agree that it’s time to legalize it. Did I miss anything?

None of which changes the fact that a minority of users exhibit identifiable and verifiable withdrawal symptoms when they quit–unless one is prepared to argue that they are all delusional crazies, which I’m not.

Marijuana Anonymous, by the way, has a robust and growing membership.

http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/marijuana-therapy-to-treat-drug-addiction/

Yes, I was referring to the science in this article saying that cannabis is simply not habit forming, indicating that if you are finding samples as above, there might be something else at play, rather than a true chemical reaction to an addictive drug.

I would rather read science than hear personal testimonials any day, but that’s just me.

Included in the post I shared is a theory about cannabis users choosing to claim dependency and seeking treatment in order to avoid serving time in jail.

Most of the references in the article to which you refer are older cites, particular from the 1970s and 1980s. The most recent citation I saw was 1995.

The majority of the references in my bibliography represent scientific research conducted in the past 15 years:

http://addiction-dirkh.blogspot.com/2008/04/marijuana-withdrawal-syndrome.html

“It’s laughable that the Feds are pushing the concept of pot addiction when science shows that withdrawal symptoms from caffeine are far worse.”

There is much recent science in this article. http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/80408/

One other issue is that all research has to be done with government oversight, and they ONLY research looking for negatives …

To quote retired Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray:

“Currently, the DEA exclusively licenses the cultivation of medical-grade cannabis to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), which primarily investigates only the negative effects of cannabis”

(Source: http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/time-to-legalize-marijuana-judge-jim-gray/)

This could be one reason why it easier to find older science (still valid) that was not conducted by the government and proves my argument: cannabis is non habit forming.

Obviously there is science and there are personal testimonies on both sides of the issue.

Pretty over stated. I’ve smoked off and on for almost 40 years and the only thing I notice when I stop is increased anxiety and irritability. If I have been having trouble sleeking and smoke to sleep that insomnia may return. On the other hand I am a depressed type and began smoking again because of that a few years ago after a ten year break. Symptoms of depression can return when I stop. Oh yeah, the migraines. The only thing that helps is pot. The only thing I can take for any length of time with zero adverse effects. What side effects there are are familiar to us all: munchies, a very interesting outlook, then sleepyness.

I stopped smoking marijuana for ten years (well, less that once a month at MOST). Biggest mistake I ever made.
Marijuana is a profound drug with far reaching effects. The vast majority of those effects are POSITIVE.
There can be mild differences in your feelings after you stop, some of them may cause some discomfort. If you choose to call those changes withdrawals you may, but before you do I suggest you take say, Xanax and Prozac for 6 months and then stop cold turkey. Then, my friends, you will know the definition of ‘withdrawal’.

I call b.s. too. Of course, I’ve never “used” because it’s illegal , but one look at those “official comments” and it’s obvious from certain keywords (“use, dealer, etc.) they were all written by 12 stepper polydrug abusers, almost certainly alcoholics and the like. Use it, don’t abuse it, is what I always say, for EVERYTHING. Except alcohol, that stuff is poison.

I just get a bit depressed for a couple of days, then all goes back to normal and I feel great again.

I’m not for or against pot, and my apathy is not a result of my opinion about marijuana…I don’t think its my business what others do. I’ll tell you what I think though – that smoking it in excess puts me into a dream-like state in my own world, and it makes my brain numb. I lack motivation and can’t get anything done.

In small doses though, I think its ok.

Goodness. You did not say anything bad about pot in your article, you simply stated that these were these particular people’s reactions to trying to stop. Samantha can produce all of the “scientific” articles she wants that say that pot is not addictive, I’ve lived with the truth that it is indeed very highly addictive to at least a small number of people. In my experiences it seems to be that the people who most get addicted to it are also ADHD and any medication or chemical responds in the opposite way in them than the rest of the population. They all seemed to get extremely hyper when high and exhibited the opposite of what I’ve heard the effects of pot were supposed to be. Do you think this might be part of why they got addicted to it? Have there been any studies along this route?

Apple: It’s an open secret that many young people with ADHD attempt to use marijuana to self-medicate. ADHDers often say it helps them zero in and focus, which is pretty much the opposite of what most “normal” smokers report.

Is it possible that addiction and withdrawal in this case could be a personal problem, not a cannabis problem?

The low percentage of folks who have these complaints might be the same when looking at anything: TV watching, Hagen Daaz eating, doing yoga… whatever feels good to someone, given their phsychological and physiological disposition, might become the object of their addiction?

I remain unconvinced that cannabis causes withdrawal symptoms without other factors coming into play. Otherwise, the percentage would be much higher, and the comments on this blog would have more than a 2% agreement rate with your selected testimonials.

But I am certainly no scientist…

Dude, what is your deal?! For some people cannabis IS the problem. It may not be for all people, but for some people Advil is a problem. He is in no way saying that pot is a horrible thing or even addictive. He said that SOME people have a problem with withdraw symptoms. I am saying that for anyone to say that it is completely harmless and non addictive, they are not paying attention. Some people have problems with it. You will have to deal with that FACT. Some people get addicted to pot. Some people will have withdraw symptoms when they try to stop smoking. I have a friend who can pick up a pack of cigarettes and smoke for several months and just stop with no issue for years and then start again. I have been addicted pretty much since my first pack. People are different.

That was my whole point, it’s about people, not cannabis. the reason I have difficulty with the premise that pot is inherently addictive as is being put forth here, is that I have heard from scientists and doctors whom I trust fully that cannabis is non habit forming.

I’ve known too many people who were EXTREMELY addicted to it to ever believe that…

Unfortunately, its true. I’m on my fifth week, and its been a rough month. I was a heavy user; fat bong rip on my way out the door to work, Sometimes I’d come home and take one or two at lunch, and once I got home I’d smoke 3-10 bowls before I went to sleep. I was pretty hardcore for about 4 years.

But, I decided to quit cold turkey. This is probably where I went wrong- I should have weened myself off of it, but I’m not really the ‘lets take it slow’ type. Anyway, I was fine for the first two weeks, everything was fine- I’d think it would be nice to rip one, but this was easily resisted. At the start of the third week, I had nightmares like you wouldn’t believe- one after another, vivid ones, paranoid delusions in the middle of the night. After a the third week, these (kind of) faded and were replaced by the feeling that life is surreal. Halfway through week 3 the cravings kicked in. If I had a bag I’d have smoked the whole thing, but I could only get my hands on the legal stuff- booze. I drank 2 30 packs in a week- I just had to change something. I had been 90% sober for almost a year before that. I stopped that though, and now looking at week 5 I’m irritable & short tempered, and the insomnia is making work a bitch. I’m thinking this is the tail end of it though, things are starting to feel a bit more regular.

Physical withdrawal symptoms would have shown themselves right away… if weeks later you are having bad dreams, it might mean there are psychological problems that have been ’submerged and they began to release. It has to come out sometime, somehow. I know about using drugs and i know there are underlying reasons someone would smoke the amount you are describing. That stuff is the real issue. I had to deal with that stuff through years of psychotherapy, quitting what is covering those wounds is only the first step, it is not the cure. If the underlying cause isn’t dealt with, you will just turn to something else. Marijuana was a symptom, not the cause of your problems. Just my opinion, of course.

Legalize it and I’ll be the one of the first to try it out. If it’s addicting I don’t give a toot. I think the advantages of legalizing far out weigh keeping it illegal. When it is legalized(and I think it will be) I just hope that the gov. grades it like tobacco so we know what quality we’re getting. I don’t smoke it now, because I am to paranoid about the law and I don’t know how to go about getting the marijuana. I hate the hypocritical way that Alcohol and Tobacco are legal and marijuana is illegal when it is probably the least of the 3 when abused as far as health problems(not sure there are any with marijuana-though this author obviously disagrees). And, so what if there are some health issues with marijuana-seems everything causes cancer according to the “experts”, meaning one can’t enjoy anything much now days without someone saying it’s bad for you etc. Now light one up for me.

http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/study-finds-no-cancer-marijuana-connection/

Good news, no cancer – cannabis connection has been found after years of searching by an anti-drug scientist…

You’re right, nobody has managed to establish any kind of solid connection between cannabis and cancer, and boy, have they tried.

Conventional one-on-one psychotherapy, so useful in the areas where it has application, is of no use whatsoever in the treatment of addiction. Addiction isn’t a symptom of anything but itself. The root causes of addiction do not lie buried in your subconscious, waiting to be unearthed.

Dirk, could you cite the study which has proven that, or if it is your personal opinion, include that in your comment? Thanks!

Should have added, “in my opinion” to the final sentence, yes.

“Addiction isn’t a symptom of anything but itself. The root causes of addiction do not lie buried in your subconscious, waiting to be unearthed.”

Well, that just can’t be a fact. In the same way you have chosen to use personal testimonies in your research, I also see my own testimony as substantial. I had deep issues that as a teen, and I could not deal with them in a direct way. Until I could get real “re-mothering”, and a safe place to open up and look at things that were very painful, I chose to use sex, drugs, alcohol, and eating disorders to cope. The alternative was suicide, so I have always been grateful for drugs.

With years of therapy, I changed. And indeed, the “addictions”, the symptoms of my unhealed pain, were no longer needed. I now can drink no more than a 1/4 glass of wine with dinner. I can’t stand the feeling of being tipsy. That fact sufficiently disproves the “alcoholism is forever / it’s a disease” theory, at least for me. In the same way, the testimonies in your article prove to you that marijuana creates withdrawal symptoms. But this isn’t science, is it?

There were root causes for my drinking and drugging. They are 98% surfaced and healed, I would venture to say. I am happy today, and have forgiven folks who harmed me. Happiness repels addiction.

I am happy to hear that therapy proved to be an effective treatment alternative for you.

There are some thoughtful and some not-so-thoughtful comments here. The article itself is food-for-thought, but I’d like to have seen some more statistics and fewer personal testimonies.

Also, while the author has made his reasons for publishing this clear in the comments, it would have been nice to see them addressed within the article itself. The topic of legalization is such a touchy one right now that I understand why some posters are concerned that this article may be used as anti-marijuana propaganda.

…BTW, does any besides me find it hilarious that numerous people have used personal anecdotes as a way to challenge the scientific validity of the article?

Brush up on your scientific method, folks! Your personal stories are no more or less convincing than the ones at the end of the article. Your experiences don’t invalidate theirs or vice-versa. And frankly, without some cold hard data, I have no reason to believe any of them– yours or theirs!

I left the personal anecdotes for last in a 3-part series, intending them to serve as a coda. For anecdote-free science writing about this particular issue, see the 2nd part:

–Clearing the Haze: Is Marijuana Addictive?

The author is certainly taking a beating from those who seem a little defensive at the proposition that marijuana can induce addiction.

The issue that I think needs to be discerned is if marijuana causes the addiction itself, or is it simply being a placeholder for an individual’s genetic predisposition towards becoming addictive to some arbitrary substance (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, heroin, etc.)?

Further, the word “addiction” has a negative connotation, which leads to this defensive reaction. I can be “addicted” to running long distances (which I believe science has shown creates addictive-like responses in the brain), yet in what context is this a negative thing? Likewise, are the “withdrawals” experienced when I stop my running routine harmful? Is an addiction simply a closed-feedback brain mechanism to prevent it from experiencing any unpleasantness?

If true, then these studies are simply demonstrating that a minority of the population, most likely predisposed to some sort of arbitrary addiction, experience the effects of addiction after stopping marijuana usage, and provide an explanation for the effects experienced.

Its irrational to believe that any substance is infallible to addiction. Even the, yes, “divine” and “providential” cannabis.

Not BS!!!!! I’m 24 years old and I never smoked Marijuana more than twice a year since I was 18. I thought weed addiction was BS Too! Then last year I started smoking more often because I had just moved to a new city, didn’t have a job yet, or people to hang out with. I’ve never been against people who smoke all the time but I just couldn’t understand it before. I always thought that much smoking was a waste of time and money. I would smoke for a week straight multiple times a day- then go for days or weeks without smoking at all and feel like I hadn’t smoked a day in my life. But slowly I started to feel like I wanted more. The highs always had no repprecutions and I only smoked when I didn’t have anything planned. Nothing wrong with that right? Not for me.

*Note: my boyfriend was smoking the same amount or more the whole time!!!!

I became so stressed or restless when not smoking that I went from not smoking at all really, to smoking on a daily schedule. And when I finally noticed I had been smoking like a chimney- I tried to cut back.

That was my first surprise….. I couldn’t.

When not smoking I would have these psychotic fits of rage and act completely out of character. The more I smoked the more I began to need it to feel normal. And after these “episodes” I would feel so embarrassed and ashamed that I would just go smoke more weed to try to feel better. Every morning I was nauseous, and everyday- all day I had no appetite, I made sure to eat after I got high so that I could eat without forcing anything down. I thought I was sick, I thought I was pregnant, I thought I was going crazy! Because just seven months prior- I had never been happier. And the whole time- my boyfriend was fine.

It wasn’t until I looked at everything in my life that I found it was the Marijuana. I was so 100% sure pot couldn’t be making me feel this way that I ignored all the mental and physical changes it slowly brought on. I was always told pot was safe- that you couldn’t become addicted. I had smoked before and nothing like this developed- nothing at all, my boyfriend seemed to be proof too. But when my life became unmanageable without pot- I knew I had an addiction to it. For a very small few- Marijuana addiction is very real and very hard to overcome- especially when you know other pot smokers who smoke more than you ever did and are fine. Trust me.

I agree with Joseph’s comment and many of the points that Samantha makes as well. Addiction is possible with ANYTHING and for ANYONE. From food to exercise to the Internet, anything can be “addictive.” It seems as though you are attempting to scientifically calculate something that is simply not quantifiable. You are also profiteering off of those who are “addicted,” and there’s usually a whole lot of bias involved whenever profits come into play. Addiction is nothing more than a coping mechanism. As Samantha said, getting to the bottom of what you are coping with is the real issue. JMHO though.

Samantha, you’re in a ridiculous state of denial about marijuana addiction. I want it legalized too- but someday we may have to concede that people can get hooked on it. You must not know that guy who sits around obsessing about where the next bag is coming from- when he just got back from the dealer. I watched it evolve from a hobby into a necessity- for my friends and then to myself.

It sounds like your therapist has got you brainwashed pretty good. Your years of psychotherapy got you off substances… for now. But that does not change the fact that this world is a fucked up place- and I think our addictions (religion, drugs, running, food, gambling, etc…) are ways for the mind to cope with that stress. If you have no addictions, that stress will build until it is unbearable and something is bound to slip.

If “Addiction is nothing more than a coping mechanism”, I say ignorance is your only alternative.

The real trick is to find the addictions that either create the most good, or do the least harm.

Bryan,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. If you are equating food or exercise addiction with pot addiction, then i agree. I have said that in earlier comments. But the author of this article is not treating the term “addiction” as you are.
Food, religion and cannabis are not inherently habit-forming. It is what the mentality and chemistry of the person that causes different reactions. That is my whole point.

Please take a look at this article and see that we paranoid pro-pot-people have a real struggle on our hands:

http://www.motherjones.com/toc/2009/07/editors-note

Essentially, the government has prohibited any research regarding marijuana that would support it’s benefits and only funds research that would further the bad rep that it has…

I have been THC free for many years (after many years of daily use) and never experienced anything other than normal cravings – the I wants (because i like marijuana!) My first reaction to this blog is that its must be some sort of anti-marijuana propaganda.

I’ll continue to remain THC free until the day I can legally enjoy my drug of choice – even if that day is not until I am 100 years old. I am currently very healthy.

Please support the reform of marijuana laws. Visit Marijuana Policy Project @ mmp.org. Thank you.

“You are also profiteering off of those who are “addicted,” and there’s usually a whole lot of bias involved whenever profits come into play.”

To whom is this accusation directed?

I would imagine, to you.

How dare you tell me I experience no withdrawals? Who are you and what makes you qualified? I’ve had withdrawals from opiates, benzos, nicotine, caffeine and marijuana. With the exception of benzos, I personally would prefer the wds from the other drugs over marijuana. They are quite similar to that of other drugs, I found them physically and mentally harder then nicotine or caffeine, and there is no debate on whether they cause withdrawals. They are mentally much longer then anything that I’ve experienced, besides benzos and methadone. So, just because I don’t get episodes of depression, those people who do are lying? Or, the guy who developed a psychosis is just imagining it? Just because you don’t experience something doesn’t mean other people don’t. It’s not like we are identical copies of each other, everyone’s brain is different.

Dirk is just trying to inform people, you guys need to take a logic class before you argue, it’s actually quite pathetic. Just because he’s not going propagate and spread misinformation about a drug doesn’t mean he thinks it should be illegal. I think marijuana should be legal as well, I think all drugs for that matter, on principle. But, that doesn’t mean I’m going to lie to accomplish my task. What led to marijuana being illegal? LIES BY PEOPLE WHO WANTED IT THAT WAY. Personally I think you have to be high quite a bit of the time and on somewhat decent marijuana to get wds, it was until I started smoking a “Mr. Nice”, a potent indica that I got them. And, ya some of those stories are severe, but who are you people to discredit them? The nerve.

It was rather the author, not the individuals’ experiences that I had a problem with. He choose a minute percentage of people’s experiences and listed the worst of them, from what I can tell, without saying this was a very small group who had wd’s, or referring to the percentage at all… making it seem as if withdrawals of this magnitude were commonplace. I think you can see from the reader’s comments that they are NOT. Even you said they occurred only with a certain strain of cannabis.

It is this twisting, or omission, of facts relating to cannabis that I am reacting to. And it was THIS that caused it to be prohibited in the first place:
http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/history-of-marijuana-prohibition/

“Absolute total BS. I have been smoking since age 12 and am now 42. I feel FINE when I go without smoking. The only difference is that I feel a bit more alert. But I really don’t have withdrawal symptoms ever. I feel very alive and healthy when I go without cannabis.”

This is your first post. “Absolute total bs”, to me this means that you think the article is absolute total bs. The article is informing the public of marijuana withdrawal symptoms. Therefore withdrawal symptoms to you are absolute total bs. So, if withdrawal symptoms to you are total bs, then, people’s personal accounts of wds symptoms are as well total bs. So, yes, you are discrediting my experience. Then you give your personal account of how you feel no w/d symptoms. After the beginning statement I can only assume you added your personal story to back your original statement up or to state that not everyone gets wds. No where in the article was it ever mentioned that everyone gets wds, it would have made the article more informative but in no way is required for it be true and factual. And if your personal account was added to back up your original statement then are guilty of metabolic chauvinism. Either way it is flawed logic.

“Recently I took a trip for a weekend and had to go without both cannabis and caffeine. Let me tell you, the caffeine withdrawals I could feel. There were no cannabis withdrawals. I would venture to say that caffeine is a much stronger drug.”

WOW. You talk about science yet this statement is not really scientific at all. So, because you felt more wd effects from caffeine then marijuana you would venture to say that caffeine is a much stronger drug. So, based on your own account, it has become your opinion or assumption that caffeine is a stronger drug then marijuana. This isn’t scientific at all it is once again a manifestation of metabolic chauvinism.

This is the kicker.
“I would rather read science than hear personal testimonials any day, but that’s just me.” Yet you provide personal testimony, and use it to make completely illogical assumptions. It’s okay for you to use your personal testimony to make assumptions about the effects and strength of drugs as a whole. But, it’s not okay for people to provide personal testimony simply stating what they experienced upon discontinuation of withdrawals. I would think it be the exact opposite.

“But I am certainly no scientist…” I’d hope not.

Definition of propaganda. Propaganda: “the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person”. Since Dirk has already stated that he supports the legalization of marijuana in no way is this article propaganda, he offers no opinions on the matter in the article. It could possibly be used as propaganda by those who want to keep marijuana illegal. If there were an article stating that marijuana is one of the safest drugs out, it could possibly be used as propaganda for the pro-marijuana movement, but that in itself does not make the article propaganda.

In addition to taking a logic class, you should probably know what the words you are using mean.

“I remain unconvinced that cannabis causes withdrawal symptoms without other factors coming into play. Otherwise, the percentage would be much higher, and the comments on this blog would have more than a 2% agreement rate with your selected testimonials.”

LOL, you’re now using comments to validate your argument, I thought you wanted to science? Apparently the people posting on the website represent the entire population of marijuana smokers.

“It was rather the author, not the individuals’ experiences that I had a problem with. He choose a minute percentage of people’s experiences and listed the worst of them, from what I can tell, without saying this was a very small group who had wd’s, or referring to the percentage at all… making it seem as if withdrawals of this magnitude were commonplace.”

Of course he is going to choose people that had withdrawals. He is trying to make the point that they exist, for better or worse. Is he supposed to choose the people who didn’t experience them. There are plenty of articles on nicotine addiction and withdrawals, I didn’t have withdrawals, but they are real. So, why would an author choose me to demonstrate that there are withdrawals. Who are you to gauge the severity? How do you know he chose the worst of them? I think it would be better to choose the comments where people have definite symptoms, it illustrates the point.

Is your hostility caused by withdrawal from cannabis?

I normally step out of commenting when it gets heated and personal like this…

If you read my post more carefully, you would notice I did not ask why the author printed the experiences of folks who had withdrawals, but rather that he did not put it into any context, like “2% of all smokers experience…” or whatever the case may be.

A second place where you could have read more carefully was when I posted my testimonial, I stated, “since you have used personal testimonies, I will share mine… but this isn’t science, is it?”

Dirk, you call yourself a science reporter.

However, in the middle of the comments following the article you started adding a caveat to your article – that only a very few get addicted – but you mentioned nothing like that in the article itself.

Typical science reporting! I am so fed up with the incompetence of your profession. I accuse you of careless, sloppy, undisciplined thinking. Or perhaps you just thought the article would have more impact if you hid the complete truth.

Either way, that makes your article worthless. What else have you hidden from us?

The anecdotes you gave are pathetic – these are neurotic individuals at best who might get addicted to any number of activities such as gambling, excess sugar consumption, surfing the internet, biting their nails…..

What else do you know about these individuals? What other factors may be involved? And what kind of scientific survey asks the respondents to volunteer after reading an ad? Surveys have to be random and blind.

Why are there no anecdotes or statements regarding those who do not get addicted? Good science does not ignore contrary evidence.

I hope you pleased your editor. Because you accomplished nothing else.

Just because you went to college and have a degree in some kind of science does not mean you get to write any nonsense you please.

You are a fraud and your article is a joke.

You just add to the noise in the world.

What is the point?

Another problem I have with the article:

What the NIDA has learned about cannabis addiction, according to the principal investigator of a recent NIDA study, was that “we had no difficulty recruiting dozens of people between the ages of 30 and 55 who have smoked marijuana at least 5,000 times.

That’s what the NIDA has learned about cannabis addiction? That they had “no difficulty recruiting dozens of people between the ages of 30 and 55 who have smoked marijuana at least 5,000 times”?

What does that even mean? And are we supposed to be impressed that they had no difficulty in recruiting dozens of people?

I guess your MJ withdrawal kicked in while you were writing that para….

Dirk, you need to stop adding to the ignorance and lack of critical thinking already so prevalent in our society. You can do better than this.

Ya actually it is. But, that is beside the point. You still should know what you’re talking about.

No where in your first paragraph is that stated. WTF, do you just make stuff up or what? You might have said it later but that is irrelevant. And once again he the 2% crap is not required for it to be true and factual, it would just make it more informative, you are saying the article is total bs, and it’s not.

Samantha
June 15, 2009 | Permalink

Absolute total BS. I have been smoking since age 12 and am now 42. I feel FINE when I go without smoking. The only difference is that I feel a bit more alert. But I really don’t have withdrawl symptoms ever. I feel very alive and healthy when I go without cannabis.

Recently I took a trip for a weekend and had to go without both cannabis and caffeine. Let me tell you, the caffeine withdrawals I could feel. There were no cannabis withdrawals. I would venture to say that caffiene is a much stronger drug.

And since cannabis is soooo much safer than tobacco and alcohol, less intoxicating than beer, why in the world are we all so up in arms about this great threat to society?

Study something else… like the effects of throwing folks in jail, taking away their children, subsidized housing, etc., just for smoking pot.

The article in it’s entirety, not the individuals who contributed to it, is BS.

its 2009 and the only backup is an article written in 2002….and nothing concrete ever since…i think that pretty much says it all.

Mike, I’m curious what does that say?

Budney, A. (2004). Review of the Validity and Significance of Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161 (11), 1967-1977 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.161.11.1967

Vandrey, R., et. al. (2005). Cannabis withdrawal in adolescent treatment seekers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 78 (2), 205-210 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2004.11.001

Vandrey, R., et. al. (2008). A within-subject comparison of withdrawal symptoms during abstinence from cannabis, tobacco, and both substances. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 92, 48-54.

Aharonovich, E.,et. al. (2005). Postdischarge Cannabis Use and Its Relationship to Cocaine, Alcohol, and Heroin Use: A Prospective Study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(8), 1507-1514.

Wilson, D.,et.al.,(2006). SR 141716 (Rimonabant) precipitates withdrawal in marijuana-dependent mice. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 85 (1), 105-113 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2006.07.018

Hanson D. (2009) “Marijuana Withdrawal: A Survey of Symptoms.” In The Praeger International Collection on Addictions. Ed. by Angela Browne-Miller. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, Vol. 2 pp.111-124.

The plural of anecdote is data. There is anecdote that shows some folk have difficulty they attribute to giving up pot. There is data evidencing folk do not have a difficulty ‘in times of no pot’. Most of the symptoms in the case of the former are consistent with destabilised endocannabinoid homeostasis. Indeed if they didn’t happen in some people I would be surprised. Cardio/Vascular/Neuro/temp all consistent. They inform us of how important a biological source of exo-cannabinoids may be to ameliorating/alleviating other conditions. As to describing these as withdrawal caused by cannabis that is another matter. It may be, and i speculate, that some or all of these conditions pre-existed the cessation and are now revealed, and that the cannabis users ‘acuity, insight and sensitivity’ to altered stated of conscience also colours the research. I have no doubt that these experiences are real and described accurately. That is a far call from understanding what is actually happening.

However, given the replies to others by D. Hanson, I suspect he already knows this. He may well, I suspect fully understand that valid epidemiological research is impossible under the ’set’ of a prohibition paradigm. But one has to begin somewhere. I applaude Dirk’s work but also understand why others would label it BS.

Perhaps the following should be the label on legal pot.
Cannabis: Your Milage May Vary

NZ has introduced and passed the legislative model for recreational psychoactive substances that includes accurate labeling. I might argue the above harm reduction label is consistent with known risk profiles.

Marijuana is a perjorative term. Cannabis is the correct scientific name. Marijuana should be stripped from the scientific lexicon.

Wow, what a debate. It makes me so mad to hear the disbelievers, Just look at the 500 blog entries the author refers to. You will also see mine. (-Tim) So they are all BS? 500 BS’ers, and motivated by what may I ask? I am in the aprox 10%-15% (although I think the number is much higher) of x pot users who were severely addicted and suffered and still do miserably from the withdrawls. Will the author please point the readers to these testimonials. They are factual, not imagined. I am 5 months in, after 25 years of daily use, however controversial it may seem, canabis is addictive via physical and mental analysis, hands down.

Tim, a number of skeptics here have concluded that the 500 testimonials of pot addiction on my blog are not reliable case histories, but rather the statements of weak and confused people suffering from various forms of mental disorders that they mistakenly attribute to cannabis withdrawal. For my part, I am seen by some legalization advocates here as a sort of secret agent working on behalf of the forces of darkness to keep pot illegal–even though I have publicly stated my support for legalization.

It’s an emotional topic for certain.

I didn’t think that marijuana withdrawals were possible? I believe withdrawal comes from the chemical addiction that people have to the substance which causes physical symptoms to appear once they are off of it.

I am 57, and have been smoking since I’m 16. I’ve been smoking every day since last October, and very regularly before that. Concern about the effect of the daily smoking on my energy levels led me to go cold turkey 5 days ago for a three week testing period. My plan was to give it 2 weeks to get out omy system, and 1 week to see how I was feeling. I’ve been feeling shitty ever since, which is how I got to this blog while researching withdrawal. Clearly everyone is different, but don’t just dismiss this article as BS. I’ve experienced the vivid dreams, depression, lethargy, nausea and overall weird feeling. I love getting high and feel that pot has been a valuable part of my life and choose to continue to make it such. One thing is clear… going cold turkey is definitely not smart. I’m going to take a toke now.

I’ve smoked pot for quite a while. I also smoked cigarettes (quitting them was much harder, even slowly the way I did it.) I drink occasionally, but not often.

When I quit smoking pot, I started getting vivid intense dreams. Which is super cool honestly. I like ‘em. Maybe I’ll start smoking again and quit again just to get the dreams to continue! lol… they’re great, I can take a bong rip in my dreams, too. No nightmares though, just dreams. It’s been about a month.

The other thing I can corroborate is the temperature variations… none of my friends have this so I think it has something to do with my metabolism. Obviously my energy system is pretty wacked from this whole experience but overall. The worst thing (or scariest I guess) is the black shit I’m coughing out of my lungs. And THAT, is honestly from cigarettes. I quit smoking cigarettes and that’s when that started. But when I quit smoking pot it got worse too. Kinda interesting. Lungs cleaning themselves out as new cilia grow… now I plan to go into the woods and smoke me some more fine herbs

I began searching for withdrawal symptoms last night.

I have been a smoker since i was 18, heavy smoker since i was 20, im now 24. Lately i had been smoking more than usual due to stress at work, about an ounce of good weed a month. (2-8 bowls a day depending on day) Some shared, mostly alone.

Im buying a new car, and had to quit for a month or two to pay taxes and etc on the car.

The first 2 days was fine. I felt more tired than usual waking up.

Day 3 i started having cold sweats at work, and would sometimes wake up with cold sweats
This lasted for another few days.

Day 3 Low appetite, went from eating 2 fish sandwhiches, beer, and fries at lunch.
To eating fries, and just ice water. Quite fatigued sometimes.

Day 5 i started having, not so much nightmares, but very very vivid dreams, and i would wake up, and be wide awake, remembering everything, but confused about reality, i’d feel lost for the first 30 secodns i was awake, far worse than ever before. This continued
Day 5, Headaches started, first very small, would come and go quickly, now on day 7 i’ve had a constant dull headache for 48 hours, feels quite the same as when i stopped taking Anti depressants cold turkey years ago.
Day 5 Horrible insomnia. Lay in bed for hours before i fall asleep, only to wake up 2 hours later for work.

Day 7 Shakes started. Mostly just slight trembling all over, ususaly happens when im having chills and cold sweats.I have to write or type slower to do it accurately.

Day 8ish Shakes were so bad, i could hardly hold a drink. It would appear that after stopping smoking, my blood sugar values got thrown slightly out of whack, my doctor suggested it was because i had gone from eating ridiculous amounts of foods, to very small amounts, possibly my body had been making to much insulin.
Day 11 where i am now. Head ache comes and goes, dreams are back to normal, shaking is still happening, however not as intense, mostly gone. Anxiety is mostly gone, hunger has returned mostly to normal.

I being one of the people who always said, you cant get addicted to weed man!!!! I’ve learned my self thats not true, However, this is the only time this has happened, i have quit smoking in the past more than a couple of times, with out any ill effects greater then temporary depression, or a headache lasting no more than a day or two.

I also believe it should be made legal, and i will also continue to smoke. However i will not allow my self to continue smoking one ounce a month. For the first 3 years, i smoked half of that, or less.

Im having withdrawals after smoking heavily for 4 years, i knew a person who got the shakes quiting cigarettes after only smoking for a week. I see no reason for the people here to be freaking out about the claim of withdrawals.

I am also ADHD, and i find when i smoke is the only time i can concentrate, get homework done, finish a report for work. Etc Etc.

When i used to take adderall, i smoked much less, but the insomnia it caused forced me to stop taking it.

Being a level headed guy, i will agree to the posibility of the “withdrawal” symptoms being related to an underlining condition that pot was merely self medicating for.
However and the people here claiming nothing at all happens, or completely ignoring the possiblity that the symptoms are caused my canabis, simply shows how closed minded our society has become.

I’ve been smoking daily since 1970. Last week I decided to stop for a while. I’ve experienced some cold sweats and a little irritability in the past few days. I’ve spoken to some friends who have been in similar situations and none of them have had anything but a little irritability. I get the feeling that as far as cold sweats go I’m part of a small minority. I have no trouble believing the accounts in the article but would like to know how many people this researcher spoke to that didn’t experience any of these problems. I don’t call BS on this but I do think there is some cherry picking involved here.

i have grown and smoked the best weed anywhere,i could smoke 5-6 or more a day for years,
i stop every so often for months or years at a time after about 5-6 days of irritability im fine,my biggest problem was, and still is am a cheapskate, i wont but it ,but for now appx 18 months the pot police shut my grow room down paid 180 fine, what a bunch of jerks ,they need to arrest criminals who commit crime not grow their owm medicine! my narcotic pain pills were not a concern as they knew i suffer from chronic pain and it also helped with chemotherapy side effects.they left me my bag of pot but took my plants!

I’m surprised at how many people are saying this is unsubstantiated. Sure, it may not have happened to you and sure, it may not happen to a LOT of people, but it’ real. Think about the number of people around you who have an addiction or some form of OCD. You and I can’t imagine why they have their compulsions or addictions and you and I may never experience anything like that, but it’s still very real. I remember watching ‘Intervention’ and feeling so stongly that there was now way I would ever ruin my entire life for a drug, but that sure doesn’t mean others have not or will not. It would be nice to see people sharing their personal stories and opinions without trying to discredit the author and the people who have experienced these withdrawls. What reason would thay have to lie? Your stories just prove that cannibis is not quite as addictive as most drugs, not that is isn’t for some other people. One person’s physiology and psychology is completely different from the next. Take that into consideration.

I have smoked pot on and off for about 25 years, I have had no problem with it, no paranoia, and I can go for months on end without it. I gave up smoking over night, as easy as if I have not ever smoked, so what is wrong with me? I have not ever taken hard drugs, but ask me to give up food and stick to a diet and its like as if my world crumples into a heap, I have thoughts about food in my head that messes with my cognition to the point whereby I will go eat something just becuase.
I know I am not hungry and I am very upset about being 14 stone (196 pounds approx) and whats more I am only 5 feet 2…I am ashamed of myself but I even lie to myself over eating something i know I shouldnt have…whats worse is, 7 years ago before I had a bad fall and got brain damage I was so small in size, i had always battled with my weight but I was a UK size 12/14 and in good shape…so how is it possible to give up drugs such as ciggies, poy, and I never have caffine either, so whats going on in my head huh? I would love for someone to sort that one out….

I think the withdrawal symptoms have a lot to do with the potency of the weed. Today’s weed is so much more potent than long ago. It’s definitely more potent than Hash, at least the stuff I was getting. I guess the ones that haven’t had symptoms smoke sticks because my symptoms are very real. Exactly the same as the others. The only thing that has been easy is staying away from the bowl because I feel like crap and I never want to go through this again, NEVER. I’ve smoked since I was 17, and am now 50 Keep busy, and exercise. This is awful! I am 4 days into this nightmare.

I basically smoked pot every day for 32 years; I can remember each day I skipped, which was about seven or eight total. Was I addicted psychologically? Sure. Did I smoke for a reason? Yes, I had chronic pain. Did it give me enough relief to live my life? Absolutely.

Then I stopped. Withdrawal was total and complete hell for me. I did not sleep, any at all, for NINE DAYS STRAIGHT. It was the worst experience of my entire life, even worse than being pinned into a car wreckage for over a hour. Insomnia continued to this day (four years later).

I had the sweats and temperature changes. Worse yet, I had an extreme cognitive breakdown. Basically, I couldn’t remember shit, I was unable to read because I would forget the first paragraph by the time I had read the third one, I forgot how to drive a car, and more. As I was already physically disabled, I didn’t have to try to work, but obviously I couldn’t have done it. It took a year and therapy with a brain damage specialist to get back to square one.

Samantha – what in the world is your problem, other than being in total and complete, massive denial? And a heartless person to boot? Apparently this study is REAL and TRUE; some people go through a nightmare when they quit smoking.

As for me, I have no axe to grind. I am a strong proponent of MJ in general and believe it should be legalized, as well as used for medical purposes.

Like other posters, I find it incredible that so many smokers have jumped down the author’s throat on this one. It actually convinced me that pot addiction is even worse than I thought, as these posters like Samantha have a major disconnect between common sense/logic and their habit. It’s also disappointing to read how many jerks there are in the world today who disregard critical thinking in general.

Thanks for the study, Dirk Hanson. Good job!

Withdrawal is definitely real for me. I think that nothing explains withdrawal better than, “WHAT COMES UP MUST COME DOWN.” It’s a simple concept that applies not only to all drugs, but even to life experiences. I can’t tell you how many times great experiences in my life like travel or fun time with friends actually led to feelings of depression afterward when the fun was over.

Marijuana has provided profound healing relief to me in my life without a doubt. It has helped me heal from depression, get over childhood trauma, and provided all kind of relief from injuries. It has opened me up to so many things that I know I wouldn’t have been exposed to without it. However, at this point after smoking regularly for like 7 years- I want to be more sustainable and able to build a high from within myself. Also, marijuana simply isn’t doing nearly as much for me as it used to.

One’s withdrawal symptoms, I believe, are related to how low ones dopamine levels have become. The worst withdrawals I’ve experienced have come from when I was smoking way too much- smoking all day- starting in the morning for weeks or months. Quitting cold turkey coming off of being perpetually high led to some of those extreme withdrawal symptoms people talk about, chills, insomnia, loss of appetite, depression, anxiety, aching joints, flu like symptoms, extreme emotions, fuzzy thinking and memory- weird twitches and more. I’ve experienced all this a number of times and when I’ve managed to endure this for more than a few days- it lasted at least a couple weeks or more. In fact, quitting has actually led to me catching a cold or flu a number of times- I think just from the lack of quality sleep and stress weakening my immune system.

However, I made it through those symptoms- distracted myself as much as possible- exercised a ton and took two months off this spring. Once most of the withdrawal symptoms wore off- I actually felt really high not being high. Since then- I try to keep myself from getting too deep in it. If I find myself smoking everyday- I’ll fight the urges and take a couple days off and the withdrawal symptoms aren’t that noticeable just because I haven’t completely drained my dopamine levels. Before, taking even a day off was nearly unbearable- now I can take a week or so off and I might crave weed or feel bored or uninspired, but its not like I have trouble finding the will to eat or find myself taking advil PM just to get to sleep.

Now- whenever I’m not high I try to focus of being present and really taking in the moment. This can get me pretty close to all the irie feeling I’d get when I’d be blazed out of my mind. When I find my mind racing when I’m trying to sleep I try to concentrate on feeling every cell of my body and being- and it calms my mind and quiets my thoughts.

It’s hillarious top read all these DEFENSIVE comments!! Most cronic marjuana smokers I know HAVE withdrawl symptons—but guess what puffies? none will ever admit to it. I have seen their personalities change for the worse when they don’t get some.
Cronic smokers NEED it all the time. That says something in itself! They don’t go without because it’s miserable whe they do. Tell me that you all have been smoking for 10-30 years because you enjoy blowing money on something that turns you into a pseudo vegitable! Every cronic I have ever met is basically the same, they are so into their pot they will fight the defensive fight for pot over anything, they are self absorbed on it, off of it they are freaks with anger issues, on it they have very little motivation or aspirations.
Eww, it’s such a gross way to exsist- “lets go smoke another dirty joint man!- let’s smoke another, yah another to sleep now- wow! I’m a total retard isn’t this great being high/my head in the clouds and NEEDING this stuff ALL the time to just function!”

Eww, it’s such a gross way to exsist- “lets go smoke another dirty joint man!- let’s smoke another, yah another to sleep now- wow! I’m a total retard isn’t this great being high/my head in the clouds and NEEDING this stuff ALL the time to just function!”

After reading this blog, this is just the most recent of a litany of posts here that demonstrate a complete lack of knowledge or compassion for those of us that ARE experiencing marijuana withdrawals.

I have been a chronic user for 35 years, using several times per day nearly every day I am by no means a “retard” or vegetable. I have worked 30 years in a highly technical field that requires considerable knowledge and expertise. I have received many commendations for the high level of competence that I have demonstrated in this field.

I was forced to quit for a few months 7 years ago. I experienced many of the withdrawal symptoms symptoms listed above, but by far, the worst was the nightmares. These dreams varied widely in content, from people with automatic weapons invading my home and killing my family in front of me, to my wife leaving me to enter prostitution. I would wake up several times per night, sweating and disturbed from the dreams, only to go back to sleep and have another one. Because of these dreams, I could not wait until I would be able to smoke again. These dreams NEVER subsided in the entire two month period.

I am now forced to quit again, this time for good. I am once again experiencing these nightmares, and it is horrible. They rob me of sleep, and I am exhausted by mid day. I had put off quitting, because I was afraid that the nightmares would begin again, and I was right. For some of us, marijuana withdrawals are VERY REAL, and those that are calling it BS are grossly misinformed. Just because they have not experienced them doesn’t mean that they don’t exist. Marijuana withdrawals are very real, and very disruptive to the lives of those of us who experience them.

I do not have “underlying subconscious problems” as some have suggested. I had a very happy childhood, in a loving upper middle class family. Addiction (yes, I used the “A” word) to marijuana has been my only mental health issue in my life. I started smoking with friends out of boredom, and continued it because I enjoyed it. I believe it should be legalized, as it is far less damaging than alcohol, in my opinion. That being said, I now wish I had never started. Most of the withdrawal symptoms I can handle just fine, but the nightmares are unbearable. I dread going to bed at night, because I know what’s in store for me. I find myself waiting later to go to bed, to try to put off the inevitable, which is only increasing my exhaustion.

Those who have posted here criticizing the article because they fear it will interfere with their pot legalization agenda are poorly informed, and demonstrate a complete lack of compassion. Maybe those of us who experience marijuana withdrawals are a minority of users, but we do exist. To suggest otherwise is a demonstration of ignorance.

PS to Mr. Hanson: If you are aware of any means to reduce the nightmares, please send me an email, or post about it. I am becoming desperate. . .

I don’t know why there are some people here hating. Mr. Hanson is doing some fine work.
I’ve recently (16 days) stopped the weed after being a daily smoker for many years , I suppose 13 or so, one before work, one as soon as I got in from work…….you know the drill. All these symptoms – weird dreams, irritibilaty, nasty spaced out feeling, suddenly weeping and i mean sobbing like a baby, restlessness, appetite effect, etc..- I’ve had them all and still do. Physcologically I want it all the time.

People this is real. The effects are precisely the same for many people. And I don’t think it is such a small minority either.

What really cracks me up is the “I smoke but I can stop for a weekend, or day, or i mean i can cut down maybe smoke just 1 or 2 or 5 in 1 day no problem im not addicted ” types, and they have the cheek to tell me I’m a fool?

FWIW I would probably legalise all drugs and treat it as a medical health issue.

I believe it should be made legal, and i will also continue to smoke. However i will not allow my self to continue smoking one ounce a month. For the first 3 years, i smoked half of that, or less.

Thank you Mr. Hanson for posting such an informative article and discussion. It seems to me that the folks who deny that pot is addictive or don’t beleive others when they share about withdrawels “just don’t get it.” Trying to explain the disease of addiction to those who “use” and do not become addicted is like talking to a brick wall.

I am a researcher at a university and have studied the effects of drugs, particularly alcohol, on the brain for the last decade or so. Like many of my friends and colleagues, I consider marijuana to be a relatively low-risk drug when used in moderation by responsible adults. However, I am now forced to admit that my view of the discontinuation syndrome was naïve and that I was completely unprepared for it myself:

Week 1: Despite missing my evening smoking session and feeling some mild irritability, I felt fine.

Week 2: Mild flu-like symptoms, which I assumed to be viral in nature though it did not exactly feel viral. No real desire to smoke marijuana. I assumed I was out of the woods and had gotten off easy.

Week 3: Sudden onset of incredibly intense and vivid dreams. Profuse sweating at night. Difficulty discerning dreaming from waking state. Lack of energy. Upset stomach. Absolutely no appetite. Unable to focus. Saw my primary care physician. All labs normal.

Week 4: This is where the real problems began for me. Sudden onset of intense, full body anxiety…. This led to complete insomnia for days. A very deep feeling of dread and a sense that I was going completely insane. Crying spells that came from nowhere….

Week 5: The intense anxiety slowly began to dissipate… was able to sleep for 4-6 hours a night, which is approaching normal for me. Appetite slowly came back but the thought of eating was unpleasant. Feeling of confidence began to return. Feelings of hopelessness and of going crazy began to diminish.

Hi all

I’ve given up weed and cigs from a 20-year habit including alcoholism which was dealt with about 4 months ago. I decided to take the booze away frist and then the cigs and weed. I dont know if I could have done all 3 plus the DT’s are no joke, although I never had seizures.

I am on day 3 of going cold turkey and I can say that i have experienced a great many of the symptoms listed. I have been taking sleeping pills every night, due to insomnia, and have experienced night sweats (also before with booze). Irritability, anger, depression, fear that I would never be happy again (thats definately created by the drug void!)

Last night I could simply not cope, but today seems better. In fact I had my first genuine moment of sober nuero chemical happiness. To those currently trying to stop, I would say please carry on. Dont give up just yet. Once the drug begins to leave the body the feelings slowly start to go away and you become sober which for me has been a feeling i haven’t felt for years.

The brain takes a little while to create new reward pathways after having been under the effect of THC (and the rest). I am sure GABA and acetylcholine receptors take time to work properly and new nueral pathways require . Levels of dopamine need tme to adjust. Be aware that the brain doesn’t want you to stop. Its not enjoying losing its addiction either. Think off the tricks it plays to get you to sleep when you dont want to go to sleep.

Keep strong, exercise, eat well, relax, yoga, massages, and also ecourage your friends and family to support you. I had a good cry on one of my friends shoulders last night cause the emotional build up was so intense and it needed to be released.

For those condemming this blog, just f*ck off and doing something else. You’re obviously c&nts and simply cannot fathom what chronic drug addiction and withdrawl is.

To the rest of you, good luck in whatever stage of remission, retry, rehab, or detox your in. Just keep in there and it will eventually get better. Just endure it day by day, hour by hour if need be but keep going.

I wish you all the best
Alex

I have smoked for at least 12 years and I have never felt any withdrawls. The people complaining are obviously wimps.

lol NIDA, nobody with half a brain takes anything you say seriously.

Also, lol @ alex, who was addicted to alcohol, cigs, weed, and claims that people condemning this anti cannabis propaganda don’t know “real” addiction. that’s a joke buddy.

I’ve been a pretty frequent smoker of marijuana for a couple of years; my other pot-smoking friends have been doing so for close to thirty years. When we’re out of pot, none of us experience anything remotely similar to any of the withdrawal symptoms listed above. None of us experience any cravings for marijuana and none of us are compelled to voraciously consume any marijuana that has been placed in front of us. I also have two friends that are intentionally abstaining from marijuana in order to pass drug screenings; neither of them experience these withdrawal symptoms either.

It is worthy to point out that I have several acquaintances who smoke marijuana mixed with tobacco; they do experience cravings, but these are nicotine cravings and a regular cigarette calms them down.

Yes, this is anectodal evidence, but given the lurid descriptions of these intense withdrawals it is worthy to note that our experiences would seem to contradict this study.

Subjects in our study were long-term heavy users of marijuana who reported a history of at least 5,000 separate episodes of marijuana use in their lifetime (the equivalent to smoking once per day for 13.7 years), were smoking at least once daily at the time Eating Disorders
of recruitment and met DSM-IV criteria for marijuana dependence without meeting criteria for a current Axis I disorder. Subjects were excluded if they reported that they had used another class of drugs more than 100 times in their lifetimes or had consumed more than five alcoholic drinks per day continuously for one month or more in their lifetimes.

It is important to note that although, as a group, the current marijuana users experienced an increase in withdrawal symptoms compared to the controls, only 60% of the subjects in the current users group reported a change in symptoms of at least three points in magnitude. The fact that 40% of subjects who had used marijuana regularly for an average of 22 years did not report experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms during abstinence might suggest that physical dependence on marijuana is not as strong as that observed with other drugs of abuse. This may be due, at least in part, to the long half-life of THC. However, many subjects reported that when trying to remain abstinent in the past, the presence of withdrawal symptoms had played an important role in their relapse. Thus, alleviation of abstinence symptoms may contribute to the maintenance of daily marijuana use in chronic users.

One of the most common symptoms of marijuana withdrawal is a lack of appetite. This usually lasts for 3 to 4 days after the last time you smoke. You can almost think of it as the opposite of the munchies. Fast food doesn’t taste the same with Mary Jane!Don’t be surprised if your appetite shrinks, or that you aren’t interested in food for a couple days. You may even lose some weight when you go through cannabis withdrawal. The lack of appetite can be a part of a more general feeling of sickness that has been described as low-level flu like symptoms. Very few people report diarrhea or nausea, but it does exist for some of us.

A subset of marijuana smokers develop a cannabis use disorder and seek treatment for their marijuana use on their own initiative. A less well-known consequence of daily, repeated marijuana use is a withdrawal syndrome, characterized by a time-dependent constellation of symptoms: irritability, anxiety, marijuana craving, decreased quality and quantity of sleep, and decreased food intake. Treatment studies show that rates of continuous abstinence are low (comparable to relapse rates for other abused drugs), and more treatment options are needed. The objective of this review is to update clinicians on the current state of marijuana research and to describe features of marijuana withdrawal to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of cannabis use disorders.

this man is only trying to help those who ARE having these withdrawl symptom, he’s not telling you to do anything, give him a break. I have suffered a few of these symptoms as a heavy pot smoker and i found it relieving that someone could explain it. shame on you, i came here for support, not to see stupid petty comments from know it all pot smokers, get a life!

if you had never smoked pot before, by reading this article you would think, Oh my god, the withdrawal symptoms! I had withdrawl symptoms after 3 weeks of Lyrica,(extreme body aches, not to mention bloating weight gain and depression) Two months of Tramadol(flu like symptoms, lethargy, muscle aches and pain) and even a few weeks of Norco after dental surgery (anxiety and body aches). But marijuana? I smoked everyday for 12 years and then stopped cold turkey at a boyfriends request. NO WITHDRAWAL. I felt fine. Absolutely fine.
If helped me in so many ways over the years. Nausea, indigestion, menstrual cramps, anxiety.
Please if you want to help people, write the whole truth and include the countless examples of people having no problem stopping if they want. Geez.

I’m 63 and have smoked pot since I was 17. A year ago I quit. Nada, zilch, no withdrawal whatsoever. But I also quit smoking and quit drinking with little difficulty. And I drank me some whiskey over the years! I adore pot, I think alcohol is wonderful and I really, really enjoyed smoking not to mention alot of nose candy and psycholodelics in my younger days. I can only guess at the reasons why and I think it’s because I used the drugs for fun and pleasure and never let them use me.

Scare tactics. That’s all this article was. People who EAT TOO MUCH go thru withdrawals. People who surf the web too much go thru withdrawals. People who have TOO MUCH SEX go thru withdrawals. Anyone who abuses anything will go thru withdrawals. Those people who go cold turkey on any substance will experience symptoms. Regardless, you’ll note that no one died during their pot withdrawal. Indeed, no one has ever died using it either.

I suspect articles such as this were originally funded by wacko religious government officials who wanted to make a point about Jesus or something. After all, the early 20th century laws that were passed to prevent pot use were originally all about the need to make people adhere to some invisible authority figure.

OMG!!! I HAD smoked every day for 23yrs and had to stop 3 months ago because of a collapsed lung. I have had nothing like some people are explaining here and because of my own experience I feel that these stories are y and maybe a bit over the top. I think it is yourself MAKING yourself feel bad because you cant have what you want. Fair enough, the lung collapsed at the very time I was sucking on a bong but as for withdrawals….NOTHING!!!!

Dear Readers,

I have enjoyed the manifold benefits of cannabis for several decades and have never experienced anything remotely rexembling ‘withdrawal’ symptoms . As an opioid habituee and as someone possesing a post Graduate qualification from the Royal College of General Practicioners in ‘Substance Misuse’- as well as a retired Senior National Advocate of the UK’s Methadone Alliance charity (retired due to ME related ill health 2007) who has taught Consultants, Physchiatrists, Doctors, Nurses, Senior Civil servants, drug users, carers, as well as being a published author on the subject I ahould know a thing about drug use, habituation, ‘addiction ‘ , and it’s nuero-physiology.

Prohibition is a multi billion dollar idustry on which careers, livelyhoods, professions, reputations, incomes and ‘honours’ are dependent- addicted if you like. FIrst of all who sponsors the US research- SAMSA- a US Govermetn body funded as part of the appuratus of prohibition- anyone recieiving reseaerch funding streams from such a source is sure as hell unlikely to bite the hand that feeds it and show up Cannabis ‘withdrawal syndrome’ for what it is- the product of a deranged and delusional society which employs prohibition and the war on human beings who use ‘drugs’ (the proper term should be pharmakons) as a convieniant fig leaf with which to mask the projection and protection of strategic, security, political, economic and other objectives.

If the health of drug users was the primary reason for the prohibition of human beings who use drugs then the first and most effective measure that would improve their health would be the abolition of prohibtion – which has created a global market where any person- of any age- with any health problem- overt or latent- can buy any prohibited substance of unknown purity, adulterants, bacterial and viral contamination, on any street, at any time of day or night so long as they can obtain the cash to purchase such substances at prices inflated by prohibition. After 70+ years one can only conclude tat it is not working.

Time to introduce related legal markets in drugs with the income and taxes generated helping to contribute to the treatment of any who develop problems related to their use of drugs including tobacco and alcohol- the two biggest killers of all.

15 years ago there were NO reports of cannabis withdrawal syndrome- no scientific evidence base- and if by withdrawal we are describing vomiting, diahorea, cramps, abject misery, pain, suffering and clearly measurable and observable symptoms precipitated by sudden withdrawal of a pharmakon- then show me the video’s please.

Yes a person can become a heavy/chronic abuser of cannabis and expereince psychological craving and as- with any psychoactive pharmakon- prescribed or not- those with psychiatric or emotional problems or a family history of the same would be best advised to refrain from using cannabis or for that matter alcohol. Liekwise some precribed medications can produce or induce adverse effects inome individuals.

But as ever- it is a case of different strokes for different folks- some people find moderate cannabis use
not just pleasurable but also a positive help in managing chronic pain, the symptoms of MS, ME, cancer, as well as off benefit with psychological and/or emotional problems.

The body produces it’s own opioids- the endogenous endorphins- it has recently been discovered that the body even produces it’s own morphine sulphate- likewsie the body produces it’s own endogenous ‘cannaboids’ .

The question we need to ask is would account for the current ‘reports’ of cannabis withdrawal syndrome?syndrome. What has changed in the last 15 years ? The apologists for the war on uman beings who use drugs argue that ’skunk and modern hybid varieties are far stronger than past forms of herbal cannabis and/or resins. Nonsense- Nepelese Temple Ball, Afghani Black, double zero, Thia Sticks, Sensimillia, Columbian Red, Cambodian Weed, to name but a few of the potent varieties of years past.

So I suspect that this theory- the ’skunk’ connundrum- is without substance nor credible foundation.
So what else has changed- certainly in the UK one major change is the wider avialbility of cannabis, it’s increased use among the working class- and those poor who are now deemed ’surplus to economic requirments’ (this is UK Civil Servent speak for benfit claiments), a fall in the age of regular use, and crticly- the breakdown of old user supplier networks based on friendships- and the emergance and now dominance in the market of crack style distribution and supply methods.

As many are increasingly alienated and disaffected from a society in which they have no stake and assigns them ’sub human’ value- poverty creates real mental health problems and social ones too. Another significant change has been the reporting- the daytime TV chat shows- the willingness of psyciatrists dealing with the children and teengaers of dysfunctional middle class family’s to create convieniant fictions -for example the mass diagnosis of ADDD and the accompanyig huge increase in the prsscribing of potent amphetmine reallted psyco-active drugs such as ritalin to young people and children at stages in thier life when the brians nuero chemistry and hard swiring are in flux and the process of imprintinmg/forming.

So middle class parents can psyco-pathologise their ‘difficult’ children- elude responsibilty for pursuing careers, wealth, their own intersts at the expence of the unconditional ove human beings, especially children need in order to flourish and become emtionaly stable and mature young adults.

As for the of spring of the proletarit- well they are best psychopathologised and crimminalised- the chidren of the relatively wealthy and privelaged get drunk and just engage in high spirited horse play- but the same behaviour by a prole child or teen would result in an Anti-Social -Behaviour-Order- a Drug Treatment and Testing Order-and the micro mangement of every minutie of their lives.

Many young childtren cope with an incrasingly hostile alien and alienating world- no onder many go onto develop emotional and psychological problems , many will self medicate to manage the – not even recognising that they may have ‘problems’ that might benefit from non judgemental support and help.
Cannabis withdrawal syndrome is a flag of convieniance that masks the real blight- poverty- the poverty of everyday life and human relationships under Glbalisation and a new form of Kapital in the West which has seen the post world war 2 social contract between the forces of labor and those of Capital shredded- mass unemployment that is trans generational – this corrodes the soul and mind.

Kinship ties- the extended family- even the nuclear family- are fragemented, community bonds such as the trade unions, working mens clubs, public houses, social clubs, libraries, schools, public transport- in short the social infrastucture and fabric that gave direction, a sense of belonging, of place, of mapping life and ones personal development- all have long gone. As have the Docks, the factories, the shipyards, the mines, the railways, the times of full employment, all consumed as Kapitals previos explosive growth has inverted and become expansion by implosion – by stripping the working class and lower middle class of social wealth, public amenties, emplyment, sense of place (‘Get on your bike and find work’- ‘There is no such thing as society’ declared the last UK Tory goverment as it inflcited ‘pain’- now we face the prospect of another even more rabidly post Friedmanite obsessed Tory Goverment that has promised us ‘PAIN’).

Back to cannanbis withdrawal syndrome- it seems to occur most frequently among neuroloical researchers who are ambitous, probably would benefit from a bit of weed themselves, and have a vested interest in producing – manufacturing ‘evidence to substantiate the claims of their political paymasters.

ANd if you promote by every means at your disposal ill evidenced, poorly designed, cod science with headlines news and scaremongering reports-then if you tell people their shit dosent smell long enough then sure as hell you will find evidence that peoles excrement really doesnt smell so bad after all.

Best- rant over back to rest. Aplos for speling and typo’s the ME etc is playing meery hell with my cognitive fuctions today.

Great comment trail! I’m not sure why people are so fired up to deny withdrawal symptoms. I’m also confused as to why people consistently conflate such with “addiction”. You can experience withdrawal symptoms from ceasing a behaviour without being addicted. You can be addicted to something without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The possibility of experiencing withdrawal symptoms is not a sufficient reason to prohibit anything.

And yes – you can experience a withdrawal syndrome if you cease using cannabis

It is certainly true that withdrawal symptoms can occur in the absence of addiction. One of the best contemporary examples would be SSRI antidepressants, which can produce strong withdrawal symptoms (not cravings) when people discontinue use, even though the drugs themselves are not addictive.

But I’m having a harder time thinking of a substance addiction which does not produce any withdrawal symptoms during early abstinence.

I am all for the legalization of marijuana. Let that be clear.

I was a chronic smoker for close to 10 years before I decided to quit due to the negative effects it was having on my life. I have experienced nearly all of the marijuana withdrawal symptoms except naseau. You can see my post about marijuana withdrawal symptoms
There are tonnes of comments about these effects!

John Mckee

I can attest to the withdraw symptoms as well. After 15 years of daily smoking I tried to drastically cut back for personal reasons. Without any known previous effects (from having 30 day+- dry spells), I suddenly began having general anxiety and panic attacks. This included sudden spells of dizziness to the point of almost fainting, daily nausea, major heart palpitations, feeling like my body was constantly getting shocked, and feeling like I was going to die…to the point I almost wanted to die to end it. I sought treatment for all my symptoms without fessing up to my use history and there was no known health conditions otherwise. I always will enjoy pot and am not against it but my withdraw is real. CHEMICALS effect everyone different and if you don’t experience any, consider yourself lucky…not stronger or better than anyone else but LUCKY. Stop hating and open your mind. It never seemed to hit me until I decided it was time to all but quit doing it. Now I have to be careful for awhile because while I was clean for 30 days and past the hell I started enjoying it again and within a day the symptons stated coming back.

The objective is to do the marijuana withdrawal… stop smoking it.
So if there is the symptom from doing this, we will try the best to solve it.

Though it has some symptom or they need some substitute instead such as resin.. But it is a good way that they try to do marijuana withdrawal in reality. They have intention to make people be proud of him.