Many people use marijuana as a way to treat symptoms of mental health—whether you’re feeling down, on edge, or if you just want to zone out. The hard truth, however,…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.April 14, 2021
The Weedless Blog
Exploring Weed Use, Withdrawal, Treatment and More
The classic myth of marijuana as a ‘gateway drug’ for other substance use is controversial. Because marijuana use is just one of hundreds or potential risk factors for other substance…
Brian Canfield, Ed.D.March 29, 2021
It shouldn’t be a surprise that there are harsh legal penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol. What many people don’t realize, though, is that you can also receive…
Weedless EditorMarch 15, 2021
A substantial proportion of marijuana users suffer from anxiety disorders. If that’s you, chances are a big motivation for using marijuana is because it dulls your symptoms of anxiety. The…
Brian Canfield, Ed.D.March 11, 2021
Chances are that you’ve thought about the safety of your marijuana consumption at some point in time. In broad strokes, general perceptions are that marijuana is much safer than drugs…
Brian Canfield, Ed.D.March 1, 2021
Cravings can be particularly strong during the early withdrawal period, and peak within the first week of quitting. In fact, in studies of people with cannabis withdrawal, cravings are frequently…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.February 26, 2021
Most people know that alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. In contrast, using marijuana while pregnant represents more of a gray area–studies have shown that women rarely receive counseling on…
Weedless EditorFebruary 23, 2021
Ruben Baler, Ph.D., a Health Scientist Administrator at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discusses brain changes that occur in some chronic…
Weedless EditorFebruary 18, 2021
If you have been feeling down or depressed since stopping marijuana, just know you are not alone. Depression is a real and serious symptom of marijuana withdrawal affecting over half…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.February 16, 2021
Believe it or not, your teenage years and early 20’s are a critical period for brain development. In fact, the brain does reach complete maturity until about age 25. This…
Weedless EditorFebruary 12, 2021
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), also known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome or cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), is a rare but serious condition that can develop suddenly in people who are daily…
Brian Canfield, Ed.D.February 3, 2021
Early on in the marijuana withdrawal process, mood symptoms can start to manifest, and range from irritability to depression to anxiety. Within just 24 hours of stopping marijuana, you may…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.February 2, 2021
Occasional Use Occasional marijuana use is defined as less than once a week. Most people who use marijuana will fall into this category. Settings for occasional marijuana use are typically…
Brian Canfield, Ed.D.January 27, 2021
Marijuana can have a variety of effects on your brain, such as euphoria, a sense of relaxation, and heightened sensory perception. If you’re reading this, chances are that you have…
WeedlessJanuary 21, 2021
Can't sleep without weed? If you are like most regular users of marijuana who have stopped using, you have probably had difficulty falling asleep. Maybe you have had vivid, disturbing…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.January 15, 2021
When you smoke or ingest marijuana, THC enters your bloodstream from your lungs and is subsequently distributed throughout your body. Cannabinoids such as THC have a variety of physiological effects,…
Weedless EditorJanuary 11, 2021
Across the globe, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has presented a host of unprecedented challenges and disruptions to our previous patterns of daily life. In these strange times, many people are…
WeedlessJanuary 5, 2021
Weed withdrawal is the body’s reaction to a sudden decrease in its baseline levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. When you smoke a lot or very frequently, your…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.December 20, 2020
There is no right or wrong answer as to why people use marijuana. Some use it for the enjoyment of its characteristic high, or to gain a temporary view of…
Weedless EditorDecember 14, 2020
Do you get angry easily? Do you feel anxious, or even sad? Are you quick to lose your temper? These feelings are common during marijuana withdrawal. One of the biggest…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.November 17, 2020
Check out our new guide to quitting or reducing marijuana! The Guide is for anyone that uses marijuana and wants to stop or reduce. Whether this is your first attempt,…
Weedless EditorOctober 21, 2020
One of the most common marijuana withdrawal symptoms is GI upset. This can manifest as nausea, loss of appetite, or food aversion, where the thought of food seems unpalatable. Eating…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.August 31, 2020
If you were a frequent marijuana user, a large portion of your day may have been spent smoking weed. And without marijuana, your days may now feel somewhat empty. You're…
Leah Zuroff, M.D.June 24, 2020
The first days and weeks after quitting marijuana can be a roller-coaster of thoughts, physical symptoms, and emotions. You will experience a range of withdrawal symptoms and also be confronted…
Weedless EditorJune 12, 2020
Talking about changes in your sex drive can be awkward or viewed as taboo, and for this reason, there is often a sense of shame surrounding the topic. But changes…
Brian Canfield, Ed.D.January 10, 2020
Before the 1990s, many doubted that cessation of cannabis could lead to similar symptoms of withdrawal seen in other illicit drugs. However, as marijuana use began to rise over the…
Weedless EditorDecember 26, 2019