By Zach Harris | Merryjane.com | April 14, 2020





Nearly half of all cannabis users who sought treatment for problematic use experienced physical withdrawal symptoms when they put down the pot.

Due to marijuana’s immense benefits and myriad medical applications, the potential downsides of cannabis use aren’t usually emphasized by ardent advocates and industry insiders. But just like any other mood-altering substance, pot withdrawal can spark its own set of unique effects when frequent consumers take a tolerance break or put down the pipe altogether.

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and first reported by US News , nearly half of all past cannabis users who sought treatment for marijuana consumption issues said that they experienced some form of physical withdrawals. Using data collected from 23,518 case studies, researchers discovered that 47 percent of subjects felt symptoms ranging from anxiety and stomach pain to chills, night sweats, and constant headaches.

"People may feel that weed helps their anxiety level, but it may be more that you are developing worsening anxiety from marijuana withdrawal, rather than weed helping your anxiety level," Dr. Scott Krakower, unit chief of psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, NY, told US News . "It's hard to explain to people that the symptoms they're experiencing could be from them not using marijuana."