Many people will insist that marijuana is habit forming rather than addictive, but it’s fair to say that there’s a thin line between the two for many people. Some people are going to struggle with cutting it out, either temporarily or permanently. So, for those asking how to stop smoking weed, the answer isn’t a simple one. Especially if you want to quit without withdrawals. Let’s try to answer that question here, as well as if there’s any best way of knowing how to quit weed fast.
If you want to know how to stop smoking weed without withdrawals, you should understand is that weaning yourself off cannabis is a much better choice than stopping all at once. It likely won’t be easy, but what seems to make the process easier is to try to exercise and drink more water. Some report that taking supplements like a B complex vitamin or an oral THC pill may also help reduce the chance of withdrawals. That last tip is particularly advisable for heavy users, because their withdrawal symptoms will be stronger.
Now that we’ve laid out the basics of how to stop smoking weed, let’s move to having a look at why quitting weed isn’t easy. We’ll then touch on the most common withdrawal symptoms before expanding on why these tips above are effective.
Not Your Father’s Bud
Not to necessarily suggest your father enjoyed cannabis in his youth, but many people did in the 60s and 70s. Back then marijuana didn’t have nearly the potency that it does today. In fact, industry experts say cannabis potency has increased some 500% since the 1970s. That does mean a lot more of the relaxation, pleasure, and heightened awareness that THC offers to recreational users, but it also means much more residual THC found in the bodies of people who enjoy marijuana today.
There are some estimates that about 30% of marijuana users develop a dependency on it, and that this is particularly true for teenagers. However, the belief is that only half of those who quit marijuana experience significant withdrawal symptoms. For those that do, there’s generally two primary factors contributing to them.
We point out the term residual THC because it’s the stores of the cannabinoid releasing into your bloodstream that contribute to one half of withdrawals symptoms when quitting marijuana. The other half of the equation is pleasure receptors in your brain being unhappy with the fact that they’re not being lit up by THC anymore.
THC builds up in fat tissues of the body, and when you quit suddenly it goes into the bloodstream. Therefore, there’s no one best answer to how to quit weed fast and not experience withdrawal symptoms. If there’s even a moderate level of THC in your fat tissues, it’s going to be released and you will experience withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms begin within the first day after quitting cold turkey, and peak within 2-3 days.
Most people find they subside to tolerable levels within 2 weeks. Resolving yourself to tough out this 2-week window is also a part of understanding how to stop smoking weed.
Withdrawal Symptoms
There are several withdrawal symptoms from quitting weed that are common to those deciding it’s time to quit smoking marijuana.
Some Symptoms Include:
- Disturbed sleep and Insomnia
- Night sweats
- Heightened anxiety and irritability
- Nausea
- Cramps
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Increased body temperature
- Boredom
Remedies for Withdrawal Symptoms
To address your disturbed sleep patterns, it is best to avoid caffeine for the first few days. Also, go to sleep as soon as you sense your body is ready for it. Lemon balm tea as well as valerian root can be good for insomnia. Fortifying your levels of B vitamins with a quality B Complex vitamin can help mediate any increased anxiety or irritability.
Do not allow yourself to smoke any time after 7pm so that you begin to recover normal sleep patterns. This is something of a double effect because it means you will be more well rested and rejuvenated, which will aid you in overcoming other withdrawal symptoms.
If your anxiety or irritability is especially strong, then another effective natural product is Kava Kava, a medicinal root formulation from Polynesian island cultures that is very effective for promoting peace and calm in the body. It is readily available in health stores in Canada, but less so in the U.S.A. In moderate doses it is entirely safe.
For nausea, you can eat bland foods that are easier on the stomach. There are number of under-the-counter anti-abdominal cramping medications you can take for any cramps you’re experiencing. Anti-motion sickness medications like Gravol, etc. can address dizziness.
Headaches require a little more explanation here when discussing how to stop smoking weed and dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Taking standard headache pills like Tylenol or Aspirin will not be effective. The source of your headache is not related to the same triggers that these medicines will target. Instead try to soothe yourself by drinking green tea, as the Inositol in it should mediate your headaches somewhat.
Cool showers and cold compresses on your forehead can help cool you down if that becomes a need.
How to Stop Smoking Weed? Go Slow
As mentioned, you should not quit smoking suddenly. Instead, smoke progressively less often and smoke progressively less of a quantity of marijuana each time you do. Some people lay out a ‘tapering’ plan. If you choose this option you should be aiming to have cut your consumption in half by the exact halfway point of the plan, and so on. In addition, it’s also best to not fight appetite changes. While any type of ‘compensating’ for not smoking weed isn’t ideal, it’s still a better alternative to caving in to your urges and smoking again.
Lastly, another recommendation is to do a month-long nutritional cleanse in advance of your quitting to optimize your body for eliminating all toxins – including THC -from your body most efficiently.
That’s our long and short of how to stop smoking weed with the least amount of strain on your body and mind. Good luck with it!
