By Miguel Ordoñez

We've spent a lot of time on this blog discussing the benefits of cannabis use.

It has a lot of relief and soothing sensations to offer, and many casual users don't run into any significant side effects. However, if you smoke especially often, you'll find that the days you spend without it are especially uncomfortable. We're talking, of course, about cannabis withdrawal.


You may be more used to hearing about withdrawal from opioids, alcohol, and the like, but negative physiological and mental sensations that arise from quitting weed are notable in their own way. It may not be as uncomfortable as quitting those other aforementioned substances, but it's still worth knowing what you'll endure and how you can relieve the issues.

What Is Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome?

Whether it’s exercise, sweets, or drinking six cups of extra strong coffee a day, your body will get used to anything you do or consume regularly. Take that away suddenly, and your body will, expectedly, be in a state of shock and start acting up in turn.

Chronic cannabis users, as you may be disappointed to discover, aren’t exempt from experiencing similar withdrawal symptoms. An abrupt halt after a period of chronic use often leads to repercussions that affect the individual’s physical, emotional, and behavioral well-being.

Cannabis withdrawal syndrome (otherwise known as CWS) is classified as a mental disorder. But is it as detrimental as the withdrawal symptoms from other substances like cocaine, alcohol, and opioids?

Sure, the symptoms can weaken you and mess with your head, but none of them lead to life-threatening consequences.

What Causes Cannabis Withdrawal?

But what, exactly causes these withdrawal symptoms in the first place?

Well, even if you aren't very familiar with the herb, there's a good chance you’re familiar with THC. It is, of course, the primary psychoactive component of marijuana. As you increase your consumption, say, from once a month to every night, your brain develops a stronger tolerance to THC.

At that point, to a certain extent, your body is dependent on the THC to function. If we’re going to be scientific here, this process can be described as the CB1 receptors in the central nervous system (specifically the endocannabinoids system) becoming desensitized after repeated interactions with the same substance. In turn, since these receptors handle many more responsibilities outside of processing cannabis, some functions in the brain are altered over time.

However, the same can’t be said with cannabidiol (a.k.a CBD). It has no psychotropic effects, unlike THC, and doesn't directly interact with the endocannabinoid receptors, either. Considering that, it's fairly understood that even daily usage likely won’t give you these problems.

What Causes Cannabis Withdrawal?

Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms that people experience whenever they go through marijuana withdrawal symptoms.

These are usually mild episodes of physical and emotional disturbances, but professional help may be required if they persist and worsen.

  • Irritability: It starts off as mild annoyance, but can escalate to irrational aggression. This is one of the first symptoms that people experience when they start going through withdrawal.
  • Sleep troubles: Chronic marijuana users who suddenly quit often experience sleep problems like insomnia, vivid nightmares, and night sweats.
  • Headaches: Intense headaches are part of the list of marijuana withdrawal symptoms. It usually begins about three days after quitting and may last for the next week or two.
  • Flu-like symptoms: You’ll get the usual profuse sweating accompanied by fever and chills.
  • Anxiety and depression: Feelings of paranoia along with continuing sadness and sudden loss of interest in daily activities are part of the list of symptoms.

How Long Do Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

The length of time in which people go through stages of withdrawal varies from one person to another.

The worst of these symptoms usually shows up within the first two weeks after the person dropped cannabis use from their regular routine.

Now, to give you an idea, here is a rough timeline of what happens within and after that two-week period.

Week 1

Physical and mental weariness begins to take effect. The episodes of irritability usually come first, followed by anxiety and sleeping problems.

Week 2

Withdrawal symptoms are at their peak during this time, particularly during the ten-day mark. For some who were especially chronic users, the headaches and flu-like symptoms will begin to kick in.

Week 3

During this time, the affected person will begin to feel their symptoms decline. The discomfort begins to fade, and they’re able to slowly return to their normal routines.

Week 4

Just like how the lungs return to full health after a long period without smoking, the brain's cannabinoid receptors will go back to functioning normally with time. By that fourth week, all withdrawal symptoms should have dissipated.

Can Cannabis Withdrawal Cause Psychosis?

One of the earlier pieces of propaganda against cannabis was about its alleged effect on a person’s mental health.

In fact, this one study in 2007[1] points to previous research claiming that 1 in 4 cannabis users are at high risk for developing schizophrenia “or a related psychotic disorder.” For those who intend on dabbling with weed for the first time, this isn’t very encouraging information.

So, is it really as alarming as it sounds? This most recent study on the topic, conducted in 2017[2], says otherwise. To be specific, it claims that prolonged cannabis use can lead to “light to moderate” withdrawal symptoms that affect a person’s mood and behavior. At worst, you might need some outpatient care to deal with the discomfort, but nothing beyond that. Other than that, there was no evidence of cannabis directly leading to those sorts of mental disorders.

Really, the only time that someone would need inpatient care due to chronic cannabis use or withdrawal would be if they had a pre-existing mental condition. Even then, in some cases, some extensive outpatient care would suffice.

Now, for CWS to completely vanish, you'll need to fully abstain from cannabis and pretty much any other stimulating substance. So, for example, if you replace your cannabis use with tobacco and alcohol, there’s a good chance your condition would worsen, and you'd likely end up using cannabis at the same rate you were beforehand.

How to Prevent and Manage Cannabis Withdrawal

They say prevention is better than cure, but it also pays to know the measures to take to alleviate any unpleasant symptoms of a specific condition.

Well, dear reader, you’re in luck! We’ll provide you with solutions for preventing cannabis withdrawal, and give you some ideas on what you can do if you’re already experiencing it.

Here are some ways you can prevent the dreaded CWS. If you stick to these tips, the first 72 hours of your life after chronic use should be a lot less bumpy.

  • Keep Yourself Hydrated

Water is life, as they say; given that our bodies are made from 60–63% (young male adult) of H₂O, it just goes to show how necessary it is for our survival and well-being.

You’d want to drink around 12 cups per day once you cut out cannabis from your life. Sugary and caffeinated drinks aren’t advisable at this point, as they can dehydrate you and leave you having a worse time, so you may want to do away with sodas and lattes.

Cannabis Withdrawal

  • Sweat it Out

There’s more than enough research material online to educate you on the benefits of regular exercise. Sure, wanting that beach body all-year-round is a part of it; however, in this case, it should help release the build-up toxins from prolonged cannabis use.

Allot at least 30 minutes per day for exercise. It can be any workout of your choice, but be sure to have fun with it to make it worth your while.

Cannabis Withdrawal
  • Eat Healthier

Sure, a generous serving of burgers, fries, pizza, and ice cream can be satisfying to the palate, but you can expect to feel more sluggish and irritable if you keep that up enough. If you’re already going through marijuana withdrawal, that will only worsen what you’re going through.

So, for the time being, you can substitute that with fresh fruits and vegetables, along with some lean meat. Along with that, if you find the right recipe online, you’ll realize that good eating isn’t always a dull and miserable experience.

Cannabis Withdrawal

  • Practice relaxation techniques

As we mentioned, anxiety is one of the main symptoms of cannabis withdrawal. There are many ways to combat it, yes, but practicing relaxation techniques is one of the most tried, true, and simple strategies.

It can be especially effective if you practice it in the context of mindfulness meditation. For those who aren't familiar, that just refers to meditation you perform with the intent of focusing on the moment, rather than thinking of past incidents or future possibilities. All you’ll need is ten minutes per day to sit still and quiet the mind. Along with helping you focus on the moment in general, the practice will teach you to be aware of when anxiety arises, then help you let go of it at a gentle yet quick pace.

Cannabis Withdrawal
  • Improve Sleep Rituals

Getting a healthy amount of good quality sleep is another way to cope with withdrawal symptoms. Like mindfulness meditation, improving your sleep rituals takes practice by building a routine around it.

An effective way to start is by sleeping around the same time every night. It will help normalize your body’s circadian rhythm, meaning it'll have a sense of when to wake up and when to prepare for sleep. This adjustment, in turn, will gradually improve your sleeping habits.

Cannabis Withdrawal
  • Seek Help From People Around You

Your friends, loved ones, and close kin will always be there to provide support, whether physically or emotionally. So, if you do need help at some point, don’t hesitate to ask.

It helps to have positive people around to help you get through this struggle.

Combating Cannabis Withdrawal

Depending on the severity of your situation, the cannabis withdrawal symptoms you’ll go through will vary. It’ll either be a walk in the park, an uphill battle, or a challenging hike that lands somewhere in between.

Regardless of what the experience may be, you’ll need a good amount of willpower to recuperate. Just keep these tips in mind, you’ll slowly but surely pull through.

External Resources:
  1. Reefer madness https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. The cannabis withdrawal syndrome: current insights https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: