Thank-you. It is the best way to go about it I think.
Certainly puts to bed any question of 'weed withdrawals' to me and shows that i am not even dependent.
I just like it.
-
CD Moderators: nepalnt21
Weed withdrawal questions
- Thread starter passion4cannabis
- Start date
Thank-you. It is the best way to go about it I think.
Certainly puts to bed any question of 'weed withdrawals' to me and shows that i am not even dependent.
I just like it.
passion4cannabis
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2013
- Messages
- 81
Thank-you. It is the best way to go about it I think.
Certainly puts to bed any question of 'weed withdrawals' to me and shows that i am not even dependent.
I just like it.
If you smoke like that ofcourse you won't get any withdrawals, how can you say withdrawals isn't a thing then? You talk down to me because your older and im 22 and i seem a helluva lot more smarter than you. I probably have more life experience than you man.
....So are you starting to see why this is an unwinnable argument? At best you'll both walk away with a mutual understanding of each others position, at worst you'll both think the other is retarded (and I think we're getting dangerously close to the latter here).
Also, the direction of your last post makes me question your intentions with this thread. Just throwing that out there.
passion4cannabis
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2013
- Messages
- 81
No i'm just hungover and pissed today lol, and a 30 year old using the word 'troll' haha don't make me laugh! You've smoked yourself stoopid.
VYBE
Greenlighter
I've been smoking weed on a daily basis for at least the past 3 years. I just moved states and have no connects where I currently am so I'm now on week 2 of no smoking. So far I haven't even noticed the difference. I've barely even thought of smoking and honestly I feel better if anything at all. I love weed an it's definitely something I believe I will be doing for the rest of my life but as far as this two week break goes there has been no side effects at all. If you have ADD, smoking usually helps it imo, so the fact that you haven't been smoking might be causing your add to really come out again. Obviously all this I Just my opinion but it's from my own experience.
passion4cannabis
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2013
- Messages
- 81
Yea i've had a suspicion for a long time that i have ADHD/ADD actually from deep introspection with weed and other drugs, but you never know this could just be the drugs clouding my mind. But i feel retarded both during smoking periods and after periods.
NJ5227
Bluelighter
I think the words "dependent" and "addicted" are being interchanged far too often in this discussion.
The difference is damage - an addiction will cause damage. However, both will have symptoms of withdrawal, but does that automatically make it something thats awful? In my opinion, no. We are all dependent on water, and if you take it away, you will have some nasty symptoms. In moderation, cannabis causes a few minor problems - memory loss, lethargy, and some social disconnnect. My personal experience has been that smoking cannabis exasperates these negatives, by temporarily reducing your lungs ability to take in oxygen. My experience has shown me that vaping is a cleaner, more energetic high. But my experience has also shown me that being medicated 24/7 on cannabis will have some unwanted side effects, and that the best plan for success if you plan to use cannabis is to save it for nights, weekends, holidays, and times of true medical need/illness.
The difference is damage - an addiction will cause damage. However, both will have symptoms of withdrawal, but does that automatically make it something thats awful? In my opinion, no. We are all dependent on water, and if you take it away, you will have some nasty symptoms. In moderation, cannabis causes a few minor problems - memory loss, lethargy, and some social disconnnect. My personal experience has been that smoking cannabis exasperates these negatives, by temporarily reducing your lungs ability to take in oxygen. My experience has shown me that vaping is a cleaner, more energetic high. But my experience has also shown me that being medicated 24/7 on cannabis will have some unwanted side effects, and that the best plan for success if you plan to use cannabis is to save it for nights, weekends, holidays, and times of true medical need/illness.
dankplantgrower
Bluelighter
Of course there are weed withdrawals for heavy smokers, what an ignorant suggestion. Some very lucky and (probably mentally strong) individuals report that they can just stop smoking unfazed. But everyone I known in person in my life, and most online, suffer significant disruption to vital functions like sleeping or eating upon cessation of prolonged heavy use. I bet the kid is right, you probably werent smoking heavily enough to experience it yourself, but it exists, period.
If you wanna sit back with the old "oh no my hemp fact book states that its scientifically impossible to become addicted cannabis!" tripe, youre being more childish than the kid (on top of the current condescension youre already oozing). Weed can most certainly be addictive, and many heavy prolonged users will have significant impairment to bodily functions like sleep and appetite for a week to a month, depending on severity. The irritability, boredom, and general malaise you try explain away as a crutch, thats just icing on the cake.
Edit: OP, I didnt notice my anxiety/social awkwardness until the first time I quit smoking cannabis, after about 6 years of use starting around age 14, the last 4 years being very heavy. I was never nervous to talk to people, afraid of crowded places, etc. Unless I was socially my awkward my whole childhood and somehow forgot about it, and Im pretty sure I didnt, weed was either the cause or factor in developing anxiety. Maybe that first abrupt detox caused PTSD or something (kidding).
If you wanna sit back with the old "oh no my hemp fact book states that its scientifically impossible to become addicted cannabis!" tripe, youre being more childish than the kid (on top of the current condescension youre already oozing). Weed can most certainly be addictive, and many heavy prolonged users will have significant impairment to bodily functions like sleep and appetite for a week to a month, depending on severity. The irritability, boredom, and general malaise you try explain away as a crutch, thats just icing on the cake.
Edit: OP, I didnt notice my anxiety/social awkwardness until the first time I quit smoking cannabis, after about 6 years of use starting around age 14, the last 4 years being very heavy. I was never nervous to talk to people, afraid of crowded places, etc. Unless I was socially my awkward my whole childhood and somehow forgot about it, and Im pretty sure I didnt, weed was either the cause or factor in developing anxiety. Maybe that first abrupt detox caused PTSD or something (kidding).
Last edited:
dopemegently
Bluelighter
I've posted this in another thread but I feel it's relevant here: cannabis "withdrawals" are psychosomatic in nature ie psychological. Some people are simply prone to dependency issues, and I include myself here. I've experienced heroin withdrawals, and I can say with complete confidence that there are no physical symptoms from stopping cannabis after heavy use, and all objective evidence bears this out.
I have a friend who is a compulsive gambler; if he is unable to gamble for whatever reason, he also experiences psychosomatic withdrawal symptoms: he can't sleep, he can't eat, he becomes agitated, depressed, and on edge. Are these physical symptoms? Yes. Are they caused by "gambling withdrawal symptoms"? No; he simply has an addictive personality, and has become psychologicaly dependent on his particular addiction.
As a previous poster pointed out, it's disrespectful to blame a beneficial and therapeutic herb on our personal dependency issues.
I have a friend who is a compulsive gambler; if he is unable to gamble for whatever reason, he also experiences psychosomatic withdrawal symptoms: he can't sleep, he can't eat, he becomes agitated, depressed, and on edge. Are these physical symptoms? Yes. Are they caused by "gambling withdrawal symptoms"? No; he simply has an addictive personality, and has become psychologicaly dependent on his particular addiction.
As a previous poster pointed out, it's disrespectful to blame a beneficial and therapeutic herb on our personal dependency issues.
Last edited:
bennyZA
Bluelighter
Amen bro. Weed withdrawal, at its worse, is annoying and uncomfortable. Try having seizures and wanting to kill yourself coming off benzo's. Or the RLS when coming off opiates. Think of it this way, if you have to plan your kick with a kit of all sorts of other VERY POWERFUL drugs and still feel like shit, that's withdrawal.
I've seen people have weed withdrawals, and usually it was more self-percieved than others really noticing it. I have a ridiculously addictive personality and after 15 years of pretty much all day use, I finally cut down to 1g a week, sometimes going a week or 2 without, and I never, ever, have problems. Scientific studies about weed addiction are highly biased and skewed to look for negatives rather than positives. For example, the study that shows that weed is the number 1 drug people seek treatment fore is not cause weed is so damn addicting. There are so many other factors that I would say the study is a joke and shouldn't be taken seriously, at all. Also, is it possible that there were some issues you were self treating with weed? Cause those can come back pretty fast.
I will say this, I don't think there is a definitive answer on this because all drug effects are based on YOUR body and everyone's different.
dopemegently
Bluelighter
That's a great point you made about biased studies; it's like they're determined to rationalize making this gentle herb illegal, and it really doesn't help that there's a perception it's an addictive drug, when it's a simple fact there are addictive people. Many people who have attended grossly expensive treatment centres for cannabis could have quite easily done it themselves at home, with little distress, if any.
bennyZA
Bluelighter
Joe Rogan calls out "addiction medicine specialist" Dr. Drew's bullshit on weed studies, withdrawals, and serious addiction issues.
dankplantgrower
Bluelighter
I see several posts saying stuff like "Ive been through heroin withdrawals, you cant say cannabis has withdrawals" and "Thats not a withdrawal, Ive been so sick I couldnt get up and drive to get my drugs, thats withdrawal." This is a false equivalency, you dont have to be in the deepest throes of heroin sickness to experience substance WDs.
Im curious to you people who say there is no such thing as THC withdrawals, what is your definition of withdrawal?
When I cease cannabis intake, I lose several pounds of body weight for at least the first week, 2 weeks if Ive been toking real heavy. I dont become hungry until the afternon, and I pick at my meals when I do eat. Make no mistake, I wish I could eat to maintain nutrition, but my appetite ceases to function properly for several days to half a month. I lose hard-earned muscle mass everytime this happens, probably because my body feeds on my muscles because my stomachs rarely processing food. I also feel like Im "disrespecting" my family and friends who serve homecooked meals that I cant even eat. I know it sounds weird, but I often have friends/family pushing delicious plates of food in my face and asking me how good it is. But when your body is no longer producing an appetite, even good food is just bleh. I find myself forcing myself to eat like I had to do on meth, in fact my bodies sudden lack of appetite and abrupt weight loss has caused friends/family to think I was using meth in the past.
Sounds like physical dependence on cannabis to me. Seems that in the absence of cannabis, my body does not produce enough of the signals/hormones to stimulate an appetite, and I start wasting away. Luckily 1 or 2 weeks seems to be about the duration of cannabis dependence, I would probably have some malnutrition issues if it persisted longer.
Also to the person trying to equate gambling with cannabis appetite and sleep loss, you are way off buddy. Gamblers dont imbibe appetite-stimulating substances around the clock, nor do they habitually use substances that make you drowsy.
Im curious to you people who say there is no such thing as THC withdrawals, what is your definition of withdrawal?
When I cease cannabis intake, I lose several pounds of body weight for at least the first week, 2 weeks if Ive been toking real heavy. I dont become hungry until the afternon, and I pick at my meals when I do eat. Make no mistake, I wish I could eat to maintain nutrition, but my appetite ceases to function properly for several days to half a month. I lose hard-earned muscle mass everytime this happens, probably because my body feeds on my muscles because my stomachs rarely processing food. I also feel like Im "disrespecting" my family and friends who serve homecooked meals that I cant even eat. I know it sounds weird, but I often have friends/family pushing delicious plates of food in my face and asking me how good it is. But when your body is no longer producing an appetite, even good food is just bleh. I find myself forcing myself to eat like I had to do on meth, in fact my bodies sudden lack of appetite and abrupt weight loss has caused friends/family to think I was using meth in the past.
Sounds like physical dependence on cannabis to me. Seems that in the absence of cannabis, my body does not produce enough of the signals/hormones to stimulate an appetite, and I start wasting away. Luckily 1 or 2 weeks seems to be about the duration of cannabis dependence, I would probably have some malnutrition issues if it persisted longer.
Also to the person trying to equate gambling with cannabis appetite and sleep loss, you are way off buddy. Gamblers dont imbibe appetite-stimulating substances around the clock, nor do they habitually use substances that make you drowsy.
dopemegently
Bluelighter
I see what you're saying, but what you're describing sounds like the mind adjusting its equilibrium after long periods of cannabis intoxication; of course you'll experience a diminished appetite if you've been using a powerful appetite stimulant; it's not a withdrawal symptom in the traditional sense, its a period of adjustment. Cannabis also removes the filters of perception; stopping it, and thinking with those filters back on, is going to feel very boring in comparison, which in turn can be mistaken for depression. Again, not a traditional withdrawal symptom, but the mind re-adjusting its equilibrium. As to weed as a sedative, I've never found it to be a sedating drug, so I can't comment on that.
I used heroin as a classic example of an addictive drug; it becomes addictive for its intense endorphin rush, and over time it really fucks with the brains pleasure centres; discontinuation of the drug results in the brain no longer producing enough endorphins, causing some of the most severe and traumatic withdrawal symptoms known to man. Cannabis, in comparison, doesn't fuck with any of the brains reward chemicals: endorphins, dopamine, seratonin, GABA; any perceived withdrawal symptoms are psychological in nature.
BennyZA spot on, mate: These "addiction specialists" have an ulterior motive,
I'm pretty cynical when these guys open their mouths; if it were up to a lot of these sharks, they'd treat people for coffee addiction.
I used heroin as a classic example of an addictive drug; it becomes addictive for its intense endorphin rush, and over time it really fucks with the brains pleasure centres; discontinuation of the drug results in the brain no longer producing enough endorphins, causing some of the most severe and traumatic withdrawal symptoms known to man. Cannabis, in comparison, doesn't fuck with any of the brains reward chemicals: endorphins, dopamine, seratonin, GABA; any perceived withdrawal symptoms are psychological in nature.
BennyZA spot on, mate: These "addiction specialists" have an ulterior motive,
I'm pretty cynical when these guys open their mouths; if it were up to a lot of these sharks, they'd treat people for coffee addiction.
Last edited:
bennyZA
Bluelighter
If a definition of withdrawal is "bad feelings after doing something a lot" then people who suddenly stop playing video games get withdrawals, people who stop eating fatty foods, people who workout a lot and suddenly can't, etc. On that last example, I was a pretty serious athlete in HS and then I injured myself and couldn't play and I got super depressed, anxious, annoyed, generally pissed off... is that withdrawal? If it is, then we do need another word for 'real' physical withdrawals (like benzo's, heroin, alcohol).
A lot of this can be semantics. There generally seems to be a disagreement on what the word specifically means, i.e. this debate can go no further until we clarify what the word withdrawal actually means, specifically.
A lot of this can be semantics. There generally seems to be a disagreement on what the word specifically means, i.e. this debate can go no further until we clarify what the word withdrawal actually means, specifically.
dankplantgrower
Bluelighter
I said drowsy not sedative, and you must not be much of a head if youve never gotten high enough to be drowsy. Havent you ever eaten a strong edible? Strong weed most definitely knocks people out all the time, its quite common to newcomers.
The absence of appetite is obviously a physical issue, not "my mind re-adjusting equilibrium", whatever the hell that means.
Cannabis most definitely plays with the brains reward centers, why do you think we get high? There is a chemical in our brains called anandamide that is significantly altered by cannabis, in addition to whatever makes us feel so good when we're high (and shitty when we arent).
And there you go again with the heroin comparison, you dont have to be a suicidal mess laying in your own piss shit and vomit to be experiencing substance withdrawal. I experience negative physical effects every time I quit getting high. Im not talking about boredom or depression, Im talking about changes to my vital bodily functions that cease functioning properly for several days to weeks.
Also if you think Im against weed or supporting Dr. Drew type scaremongers, youre waaay off. Im lit off a wax edible as we speak, Im high all day everyday, and I vote for legalization every time it comes up. Its just that Im honest about the substance I use, even if it means espousing its negative effects. Hell the reason half these assholes dont take us seriously is because stoners tend to downplay its negative effects, as if cannabis were an infallible wonder medicine that treats everything, with no side effects for anyone and impossible to become addicted to. And really it is pretty much benign, unless youve been a very heavy user for a prolonged amount of time. But when you are a heavy user for that long time, you will most definitely feel negative effects upon cessation.
The absence of appetite is obviously a physical issue, not "my mind re-adjusting equilibrium", whatever the hell that means.
Cannabis most definitely plays with the brains reward centers, why do you think we get high? There is a chemical in our brains called anandamide that is significantly altered by cannabis, in addition to whatever makes us feel so good when we're high (and shitty when we arent).
And there you go again with the heroin comparison, you dont have to be a suicidal mess laying in your own piss shit and vomit to be experiencing substance withdrawal. I experience negative physical effects every time I quit getting high. Im not talking about boredom or depression, Im talking about changes to my vital bodily functions that cease functioning properly for several days to weeks.
Also if you think Im against weed or supporting Dr. Drew type scaremongers, youre waaay off. Im lit off a wax edible as we speak, Im high all day everyday, and I vote for legalization every time it comes up. Its just that Im honest about the substance I use, even if it means espousing its negative effects. Hell the reason half these assholes dont take us seriously is because stoners tend to downplay its negative effects, as if cannabis were an infallible wonder medicine that treats everything, with no side effects for anyone and impossible to become addicted to. And really it is pretty much benign, unless youve been a very heavy user for a prolonged amount of time. But when you are a heavy user for that long time, you will most definitely feel negative effects upon cessation.
Last edited:
dopemegently
Bluelighter
My definition of withdrawal symptoms would be when the brain needs a certain drug to supply it with any of the pleasure chemicals I described above, and if it doesn't get the drug, then the body suffers a rebound effect which can be traumatic. But as Benny shrewdly pointed out, a lot of this is semantics; there's a lot of ambiguity as to what "withdrawal symptoms" really are. After all, we all have unique personalities and metabolisms.
bennyZA
Bluelighter
I can't say for certain what withdrawal truly means. I know the dictionary definition, but that includes things not drug related, at all. It just means that shit sucks after stopping anything you've ever done for a long period of time. Drug withdrawal on the other hand... I can't say for certain. Part of me wants to use the all encompassing word withdrawal for EVERYTHING, but then it's too vague. At the same time I know that colloquially, in reference to drug withdrawal, people mean heavy duty, super intense, with physically unbearable effects. Maybe discontinuation or something like that may be a better word for unpleasant but bearable weed withdrawal.
dopemegently
Bluelighter
Yeah that's the way I've always viewed it; "if it doesn't feel like you're dying, it's probably not withdrawal" lol . So anyway, I've been reading that long term thc abuse does in fact permanently alter the brains cannabinoid receptors, and there's some substantial anecdotal evidence of mild withdrawal symptoms ie insomnia, diminished appetite etc So let's just say I'll keep an open mind on the matter from here on out.
As for myself, I was dependent on hash for two years, decided to quit and experienced nothing more than boredom, so I guess it has made me cynical in a way.
As for myself, I was dependent on hash for two years, decided to quit and experienced nothing more than boredom, so I guess it has made me cynical in a way.