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October 8th, 2025
Cannabis detox and withdrawal
Many people think cannabis is a “safe” drug, but if you use it regularly and in high doses, it can cause mental health conditions and serious personal struggles. Many people reach a point where they want to stop, but find it’s much harder than they expected. Cannabis detox gives you the chance to quit once and for all, with UKAT offering safe and supported detox in nine leading rehab centres across Britain. It is normal to be a little worried about what cannabis detox involves, but understanding how it works and what to expect can give you the confidence to take this life-changing step.
What is cannabis detox?
Cannabis detox means giving your body a break from cannabis so it can flush out all remnants of the drug and begin to reset. If you are addicted to cannabis, detox is the first step in rehab treatment because it breaks the body’s physical dependence before you move on to therapy.
When you use cannabis regularly, your brain gets used to having THC, the chemical that makes you feel high, in your system all the time. In simple terms, the brain starts to believe the THC is supposed to be there, so if THC is suddenly taken away, the brain takes some time to readjust.
This time period is called cannabis withdrawal, and it is accompanied by several unpleasant withdrawal symptoms (if you have tried to quit before, you likely already know how these feel). Even when somebody really wants to quit, if cannabis withdrawal symptoms get too strong, there is a very high chance that they will relapse.
During detox at a UKAT, our experienced teams take effective steps to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms so you are not in too much discomfort. Some of our centres have full round-the-clock nursing teams, while others have doctors and psychiatrists on hand. You can learn more about our primary care programme by contacting us directly so we can discuss which cannabis detox centre is right for you.
How to detox your body safely from cannabis?
At a UKAT cannabis detox centre, our doctors create a personalised plan for every client. This is very important because everyone reacts slightly differently to cannabis withdrawal. The plan begins with a full medical assessment upon admission, which looks at:
- How much cannabis you have been using
- How long you have been using it
- Whether you have been taking any other drugs or drinking a lot of alcohol
- Whether you have any mental health struggles
- If you have tried to quit using cannabis previously
Once you begin your detox, our team will provide you with any physical and emotional support you need. We provide inpatient cannabis detox, which means you will live at one of our centres so we can prepare your meals, keep you hydrated and adapt your plan if your withdrawal is different from what was expected. In some cases, usually if someone has serious health issues or is detoxing from multiple drugs alongside cannabis, certain medications can also be given for symptoms.
Once the most uncomfortable days have passed, you can then begin therapy right away. This means there is no time gap between drug detox and cannabis rehab treatment, which greatly reduces the chances of a post-detox relapse.
What are the benefits of cannabis detox?
Cannabis detox benefits people in many different ways, depending on how the drug has affected their lives. Some of the biggest benefits we see in our cannabis detox clients include:
- Improved mental health: Cannabis addiction can cause a lot of stress, paranoia and anxiety, and heavy use is linked to depression and even schizophrenia and cannabis-induced psychosis. Cannabis detox can greatly improve your mental health and help you avoid these potentially serious problems.
- Better physical health: Regularly smoking cannabis can harm your lungs, increase your blood pressure and heart rate, and there have been some studies that link cannabis use to a higher risk of strokes and heart attacks. Quitting cannabis can help your body recover and prevent any life-risking cardiovascular conditions.
- Improvements in your day-to-day life: Cannabis often makes people unmotivated and this can cause problems in everything from education to your career. Cannabis detox helps clear your head and give you more energy so you can live more productively again.
- Improved relationships: Cannabis addiction can damage your relationships with the people you care about the most. Cannabis detox is the first step towards repairing the damage with your friends and family.
Even if you use cannabis often but you’re not addicted yet, giving your body a break can still make a big difference in every part of your life. If you’re not sure whether you need detox, contact UKAT and we can provide you with some free advice and guidance.
What are the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal?
While detoxing from cannabis isn’t usually as severe as doing so from other substances such as cocaine or alcohol, the side effects can still be unpleasant, depending on your level of reliance. Some of the most common cannabis withdrawal symptoms we see in our clients include:
- THC cravings
- Insomnia
- Decreased appetite
- Flu-like symptoms
- Sweating and chills
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Irritability
These symptoms are generally manageable but where bigger problems often arise is if you have underlying health problems or if you have been using multiple drugs. This is very common, and it means that you could also experience other withdrawal symptoms that cannabis alone does not usually produce.
That is why the initial medical assessment and being completely honest with your cannabis detox team is so important. It means they can make the right plan for your needs and prepare for any possible complications.
How long does it take to detox from cannabis?
Because the idea of detox can be scary, one of the most common questions our clients ask is “How long does withdrawal last?” In most cases, cannabis withdrawal is a shorter and easier process than with many other drugs, but for those who have used cannabis for a long time or in conjunction with other harmful substances, it can take a little longer.
Usually, the first few hours to a few days can be the most turbulent of the cannabis detox phase, as this is when the withdrawal symptoms peak. After several days, the physical effects will begin to wane, but the psychological withdrawal symptoms, like cravings and depression, may still be present. That is why some people relapse even weeks after they first quit cannabis, and also why the ongoing support you will receive during the rehab therapy stage is so important.
Can you detox from cannabis at home?
If you are not addicted to cannabis, it is possible to detox at home. There are unlikely to be any life-threatening risks, and as long as you get enough rest, food and water, you should be okay. However, it is not always easy to know whether you are addicted or not and if you have been using multiple drugs or drinking a lot, things can take a bad turn incredibly quickly. That is why we always recommend inpatient cannabis detox for anybody who may be at risk of either relapse or medical issues.
There are also NHS drug services across the UK, which offer cannabis detox free of charge. However, these programmes are mostly outpatient-based, which means you will need to visit a clinic to receive treatment before returning home. However, waiting lists can be very long, which could delay your treatment.
Before you make your decision, it is important to understand that inpatient detox programmes tend to have a more successful recovery rate than outpatient ones. They offer respite from your current routine, support from professionals who know how to manage withdrawal and prevent any triggers or distractions from disrupting your recovery process.
What cannabis withdrawal medication is used during detox?
There isn’t one specific medication for cannabis withdrawal, but during detox, your doctors can prescribe different medicines to make the process safer and more comfortable.
If cannabis withdrawal leaves you feeling very anxious or low, you may be given short-term medication to help calm your mood. Sleep problems are also common, and in some cases, your doctor may prescribe a mild sleep aid so you can rest properly while your body adjusts. If you experience severe agitation, confusion or paranoia, other medicines may be used to settle your nervous system.
At a UKAT centre, all medication is prescribed on a case-by-case basis, depending on your symptoms and your health. If you have any existing medical conditions for which you have been prescribed medication, our staff will also make sure you receive it at the right times.
What comes after cannabis detox?
Getting cannabis out of your system is a huge step, but it’s only step one. The next part is rehab therapy, where you can finally talk about why you have been using cannabis so much, how it became a problem, and how to change things for the better. Without working through all this, many people relapse even after successfully completing cannabis detox.
UKAT’s programmes bring together a range of therapies to cover every part of recovery. These include one-to-one counselling to family therapy. Each centre has its own unique mix, so we encourage you to visit our centre pages or get in touch so we can guide you towards the programme that is right for you.
Recovery is a lifelong road, and a lot of people worry about what comes after cannabis detox and rehab. But once you leave our centres, thanks to our comprehensive treatment pathway UKAT provides structured aftercare and all the resources available to our alumni community. This ongoing support means you will never be alone during the hard times and will have a whole family to celebrate the good ones.
Where can I receive inpatient cannabis detox?
Detox can feel daunting, but with the right care, it is absolutely possible. Thousands of people have taken this step with UKAT and are now living happier, healthier lives. If you’re ready to begin or even just want to talk through your cannabis detox options, contact us today. We have supported so many incredible people in your position, and we will be there for you, too, every step of the way.