Withdrawal symptoms from cannabis?

[BIG DAD]

Does anyone know what the withdrawal symptoms would be for someone who has smoked cannabis for about 20 years?

[Chillum]

From personal experience, the only real disruption I've found is in disturbed sleep. Waking very early, and being unable to get back to sleep. Other than that, I was amazed at how little disruption there is. 

[Englishbird]

In the brief periods my ex tried to give up, his anxiety levels rose quite a lot, but I think it was because it's illiminating a coping strategy rather than a physical addiction.  The anxiety passes once you find other ways of relaxing rather than smoking cannabis.  In the same way that anxiety levels will rise if you give up drinking or smoking, if you smoke joints and not cigarettes you could also suffer from withdrawl from the nicotine in the tobacco.

Memory and concentration definately improves even after long term usage.

[BIG DAD]

Thanks for your answers, Chillum did you notice any benifits from giving up?

[Chillum]

I tend to do a kind of "lent", so I'm not giving up completely, but for a few months or so. To be honest, I hardly notice a difference at all (benificial or otherwise). I'm not a particulary heavy smoker, though I do smoke daily. The first time I decided to give it a break, I expected a lot more of a reaction, and couldn't believe how easy it was (that was after about 20 years). You do need to be in the right frame of mind. It's no use if you're going to be thinking about it all the time. As long as you want to, you forget about it very quickly. Mind you, I do always start again....

[Sall]

Hi Big Dad,

When I gave up I noticed that I remembered all my dreams and I felt good and rested after sleep and not stoned from the night before.  Smoking did make me very paranoid in the end and all that went after a few days and I was back in the real world and it is great.  We do still have the odd smoke but mothing like we were doing.  Also you will find that your bank account looks much healthier as well as your mind.  After being almost perminantly stoned for years it is a new high being normal.  Have you stopped or are you planning to stop?  Also you may want to distance yourself from friends who still smoke for a while as it is very tempting to get stoned again.  You will find that you get loads done and you don't feel so tired so why not try some light exercise, nothing too heavy just a few nice walks after dinner to help you sleep better.  So really the only withdrawal symptoms are good ones, this is more like a lifestyle change and you are one who is in control and not the dope.  I hope it works out for you, just try it, you never know...

Sallyanne

[Chillum]

Yes, Sal, the dreams thing...very true, you remember your dreams.

[BIG DAD]

I am trying to give it up, havnt had any since saturday, i know its only a couple of days but after 20 years of smoking it every night its quite hard. Its not the being stoned i am missing more the relaxing feeling you get after smoking it for so long. I am giving it up because i dont get enough done and find myself looking forward to getting home just cos i can have a smoke. Maybe i'll lose a bit of weight as well cos i wont be getting the munches at midnight :-) 

[jake-the-peg]

If it's any help as an incentive I believe you have a much higher chance of developing lung cancer from smoking cannabis than from smoking tobacco.

Not because of the cannabis itself but because of the way you smoke it, inhaling deeper and keeping it in the lungs for longer.

[MargeB]

I believe it is because of the cannabis itself, much higher levels of tar.

[MargeB]

eg. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/cannabis/

[Snappy]

I find that when i try to give up, its the routine of going out for a smoke that i miss (i cant do it in the house) not the actual cannabis

[redmug100]

It would mainly depend on whether you smoked cannibis mixed with tobacco and whether you smoked cigarettes after giving up th cannibis. Any physical withdrawel syptoms would be from nicoteen rather than from cannibis.

[themodgrover]

i have read that that cannabis reduces incident's of cannibilism. And that giving up unleashes these urges to munch human flesh. It's pretty scary so im going to keep on having my 'cuppa' before bed.

Good luck giving up. And as long as no-one else gets hurt by your cannabilism it's, like, ok maaann.

[funkyg]

im in the same boat m8, about 3 months ago i did really well by staying off the weed for 1 month although this did have its problems like a really short temper, i even broke down at times, and realized that it isnt as harmless as people think. after a few days i sweat alot at night in bed but your right i do dream more. i think you have to find things to fill the void in your mind and distance yourself from the friends you have who smoke it. i know im to blame for slipping back but 1 of my friends just kept offering it, and when you have a **** day its the easy option. i wish you all the best m8 coz i know it aint easy, im trying again but i know what to expect this time so it might be easier to deal with. good luck. may the force be with u.

[nodrugslol]

ive smoked very large amounts of the strongest skunk i could find for the last 4 years, decided to give up about 3 weeks ago. over the past 4 years i cant remember having one dream, now i seems to have them everynight and can remember them. i do have trouble getting to sleep and wake earlyer, this morning i was awake at 4.. but on the other hand, ive been training and feel a lot better, better than i have in the last 4 years. keep to it... i know i will..