Prevention and youth protection · Reviewing your own use

What happens when you stop after long-term cannabis use?

5 min read · Updated 26 October 2026 · Editorial team of The Cherry e.V.

If you stop after long-term cannabis use, you usually first experience physical and psychological changes. According to the drugcom FAQ, withdrawal symptoms usually begin 24 to 48 hours after the last use and generally last up to a week, and at most up to 14 days. Another drugcom top topic gives three to four weeks until physical withdrawal is over. The figures therefore differ. As for memory, one study showed improved memory as early as the week after the last use.

The first days after the last use

According to the drugcom FAQ, withdrawal symptoms usually begin 24 to 48 hours after the last use. The complaints named include sleep problems and strange dreams. Symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Some people notice little, while others find the change stressful.

According to drugcom, psychological withdrawal symptoms include irritability, aggression, nervousness, anxiety, sleep problems, loss of appetite, restlessness or depressed mood. Physical ones include stomach pain, tremors, sweating, fever, chills or headaches. According to drugcom, withdrawal from cannabis is unpleasant, whereas withdrawal from alcohol or opioids can be dangerous. Psychological dependence, by contrast, is longer-lasting and requires active engagement with your use.

Sleep, mood and craving

Many people report sleep problems and intense dreams. This can be exhausting. Irritability or restlessness also occur. Psychological dependence shows mainly in a strong craving for cannabis. This craving can be particularly strong in stressful situations or during routines. Sucht Schweiz describes that psychological dependence shows mainly in a strong craving.

What improves in memory

A drug research study with 88 participants aged 16 to 25 found an improvement in memory as early as the week after the last use. It remains unclear how lasting the changes are. The finding does not replace a personal assessment.

In some heavy long-term users, memory and concentration are impaired. According to Sucht Schweiz, these impairments usually recede once use ends. No timeline for this can be derived from the information.

Exercise as support

A study of 79 participants, 37 of them with weekly use, suggests that exercise can support the recovery of brain performance. The study ran for three weeks and is rather small. Even so, the physically active participants showed clearly better brain performance than the comparison group without exercise. A walk, cycling or swimming are simple ways to start.

Particular caution with young people

Young people need particular caution. According to drugcom, it has not yet been conclusively established whether the brain of young people fully recovers after abstinence. This applies especially to starting use before the age of 18. Anyone who wants to stop during this stage of life should therefore seek support early. The article Until when does the brain develop? explains the background.

Dealing with relapses

Relapses occur in many people who want to stop. They do not necessarily mean that the attempt has failed. It is important to look at the relapse calmly: what was the trigger, and which situation came before it? These questions show where the next strategy can start.

A plan for difficult situations helps. These include meetings with people who use regularly, boredom in the evening and stress at work. For each of these situations, there should be an alternative that can be put into practice straight away. Relatives can also help if they know the arrangement.

When support makes sense

If the complaints are severe, last a long time or the relapse keeps happening, counselling makes sense. The Sucht & Drogen Hotline can be reached on 01806 313031 daily from 8:00 to 24:00 and is charged. According to its own information, DigiSucht (suchtberatung.digital) offers free and anonymous digital addiction counselling. For health complaints, a visit to your family doctor is also part of this.

A realistic plan

Set a date and remove your supplies so that reaching for them does not happen automatically.
Inform a trusted person who can be contacted if in doubt.
For sleep problems and tension, plan fixed routines, such as exercise and fixed bedtimes.
Treat relapses as part of the process, talk through the situation and keep going.

How to deal with a failed attempt is shown in the article What should you do if stopping keeps failing?. An overview of services is in the article What self-help options exist for people who use cannabis?.

Frequently asked questions

When do withdrawal symptoms start after cannabis?

According to the drugcom FAQ, the symptoms usually appear 24 to 48 hours after the last use. The complaints mentioned include sleep problems and strange dreams. They generally last up to a week, and at most up to 14 days; another drugcom top topic gives three to four weeks. The severity varies a lot from person to person. If the complaints are severe, seek counselling or medical help.

Do impairments remain after stopping?

According to Sucht Schweiz, impairments of memory and concentration usually recede in people who used heavily for a long time. A study found improved memory as early as the week after the last use. For young people, drugcom says it is not yet conclusively established whether the brain recovers.