What are the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal?

Cannabis withdrawal syndrome (CWS) is a recognized clinical entity in DSM-5. It occurs in approximately 47% of regular cannabis users who stop abruptly. Symptoms typically begin 24–72 hours after cessation, peak at days 2–6, and resolve within 2–3 weeks. Common symptoms include: irritability, anxiety, and agitation (most common, ~75% of cases); sleep disturbance and insomnia; decreased appetite and weight loss; restlessness; depressed mood; physical symptoms including headache, sweating, chills, and stomach pain. Severity correlates with frequency and duration of use, and potency of cannabis used. Withdrawal is rarely medically dangerous but is a major driver of relapse. No FDA-approved pharmacotherapy exists specifically for CWS, though gabapentin, zolpidem, and CBD have shown promise in small trials.