Quitting cannabis isn't just a matter of "putting down the joint". It's a process, often gradual, that requires a conscious approach tailored to each individual's situation. In this guide to cannabis withdrawal, we give you all the practical solutions and resources available to help you successfully stop using cannabis.
Step 1: Take stock of your consumption and prepare for change
The first step in quitting cannabis is to become aware of your addiction and clearly define your motivations. It's about identifying your enemy and adopting the right strategies to defeat it.
Ask yourself some questions:
- How often do I eat?
- Do I smoke to sleep, to relax, to escape boredom?
- Does it have an impact on my professional life, my motivation, my health, my budget?
Start by writing down your habits to help you visualize your consumption and identify what triggers your desire to use cannabis. You can then set clear, realistic goals based on your level of dependency and the mechanisms that sustain your consumption.
Step 2: Implement strategies to manage cannabis withdrawal and avoid relapse
Unlike hard drugs, weaning off cannabis can be a gentle process. However, some users may experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite and concentration.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle, including physical activity and a balanced diet, can help you get through the withdrawal phase more easily. You can also ease the transition and prevent relapse by avoiding risky situations, such as places and people associated with your consumption.
The most important thing is not to remain passive and to replace your need to use cannabis with something else. Remember: you're kicking a habit that was occupying your time, your mind and your body. So you need to find something to put in its place, otherwise the void takes over. You could, for example, embark on a project that excites you, start a new activity or achieve goals you've been putting off until now.
Step 3: Support for cannabinoid withdrawal
Cannabinoid withdrawal shouldn't be a solitary experience. It's possible to quit on your own, but support from friends and family or from professionals often increases your chances of success.
Talking to trusted friends and family can make all the difference. Their emotional support and outside perspective will help you to stay motivated and keep an objective view of your progress. If you feel that this isn't enough, medical support can prove invaluable. An addictology professional can help you assess your addiction, understand its mechanisms and set up a comprehensive, personalized and effective follow-up.
Step 4: Using alternative cannabinoids to support cannabis withdrawal
Cannabis addiction is often twofold. Many users combine cannabis with tobacco. While some nicotine substitutes have already proved their worth, there is currently no medication capable of reducing cannabis withdrawal syndrome.
On the other hand, many consumers have found valuable support in alternative cannabinoids, such as CBD. According to some scientific studies, this cannabinoid may have anxiolytic and antipsychotic effects, helping to alleviate some withdrawal symptoms. The difference between THC and CBD is therefore real, and using CBD could provide you with additional support and help you overcome your cannabis addiction more easily.
"Replacing cannabis with CBD allows the same ritual of the "joint" to be maintained, but without the "high" effect. The psychic improvement of these patients is real, due to the suppression of THC. Any anxiety-depressive disorders, delusions, memory or concentration problems regress.
Dr Donnadieu Rigole, Head of the Addictology Unit at Montpellier University Hospital.
Need a helping hand?
Puffy offers you a wide range of products based on alternative cannabinoids (THC-H, THCPCBD, etc.), which respect the legal limit of 0.3% THC, to accompany you in your servicing:
- Gummies A pleasant alternative with moderate effects to help reduce your cravings for cannabis.
- Syrups Easy to integrate into your daily routine, our Syrups offer a discreet, gourmet and relaxing experience.
- Vape Practical and effective, our puffs offer rapid absorption of cannabinoids, with no psychoactive effects.
Bear in mind that every withdrawal journey is unique. While it can be difficult for some, withdrawal symptoms are usually moderate and short-lived. With perseverance and kindness towards yourself, you can overcome these challenges and succeed in your withdrawal.