Many opiate abusers have greatly benefited from the use of marijuana for opiate withdrawal symptoms. After studiously researching opiate addiction recovery for several years now, I’ve found over 50 remedies (both natural and medication-based) that can ease the mental and physical symptoms of withdrawal.
Over the years, I’ve often been asked the question “does weed help with opiate withdrawal?” My answer is always the same…as far as natural remedies go, marijuana ranks high on the list of the most powerful withdrawal aids. Marijuana has been reported to ameliorate withdrawal syndrome by countless individuals.
There have even been studies suggesting that there are benefits obtained from using marijuana for opiate withdrawal symptoms relief. Furthermore, marijuana is widely known for its high degree of safety regarding both the medicinal and recreational use of the plant.
The Cannabis Plant
Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is a beautiful plant that is widely used for recreational and medicinal use throughout many parts of the world. The main psychoactive constituent of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabidiol (CBD) is another compound in marijuana that has recently been shown to have numerous medicinal benefits.
Common marijuana effects include:
- Relaxation
- Euphoria
- Increased appetite
Common marijuana side-effects include:
- Reddening of the eyes
- Dry mouth
- Short-term memory loss
- Impaired motor skills
- Paranoia
Marijuana for Opiate Withdrawal Study
In a marijuana study from 2013, it was suggested that marijuana use may help ameliorate withdrawal symptoms during Methadone Treatment.
In the study, 91 patients on methadone were studied at Thomas Jefferson University. The use of marijuana was found to decrease the patients’ scores on the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).
Note: The COWS is an objective tool commonly used to measure the severity of opiate withdrawal symptoms. After the study ended, researchers found that marijuana may help to increase success rates of Methadone Treatment due to its ability to diminish the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Common opiate withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Depression
- Irritability
- Diarrhea
- Hot and cold flashes
- Aching muscles and limbs
Using Marijuana for opiate withdrawal can result in the following benefits:
- Reduction of anxiety
- Relaxation of muscles and nervous system
- Helps you fall and stay asleep
- Mood-enhancer
- Increased appetite
- Eases nausea and stomach pain
- Painkiller
Note: I met a man while I was living in New York that stated he used nothing but marijuana to come off a 400 mg per day Oxycontin habit. He told me he smoked a lot of weed, and as a result, experienced only mild withdrawal symptoms.
Marijuana Legality
Marijuana is currently illegal and classified as a Schedule 1 substance, meaning the U.S. federal government claims that it has a high potential for abuse and no medicinal value. However, many states have now passed laws to decriminalize or legalize marijuana for medicinal or recreational use, and each state has their own regulation system in place. Click here to view the legality of marijuana by U.S. jurisdiction.
How to Supercharge Marijuana for Opiate Withdrawal Benefits
While marijuana is effective at treating many opiate withdrawal symptoms, it still falls short at reducing all symptoms.
Marijuana does not treat the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Endorphin deficiency
- Other imbalances in biochemistry
Note: For opiate withdrawal diarrhea, I recommend using loperamide HCL.
*For every other symptom, I recommend using a powerful Opiate Withdrawal Supplement that has been used by many opiate abusers to ease withdrawal symptoms and restore their brain chemistry to optimal functioning. If you can afford it, I also highly recommend taking this awesome supplement, because the benefits are just too good to pass up.
Click here now to view my best home detox program.
If you have any comments or questions on the use of marijuana for opiate withdrawal, please post them in the comment box below.
Hi i been take app 120mg of oxy every other day for months. Last dosed thursday night it is sunday and i am dying here my hr has been 112 steady for 2 days i have not slept maybe 4 hours total since Friday throwing up every bit of food i feel like grade A $*it. Im so close to relapsing n i want to get this demon off me itsdestroyed my life how much longer in hell before seeing light??? Please send help ive tried chamomile, melatonin, theanine, cannabis n its barely scratching surface
taking methadone chronic pain 30 years was at 180 now at 90mg can pot b blocked to pass urine test apain
I’m on 50 mg and they r taking me down 2 a week, can I stop going and smoke marijuana without withdrawals? Whic kind do I use Indika or sativa?
I doubt marijuana alone would help you feel well enough to cold-turkey off 50 mg. However, if you were to use it in addition to some other remedies, I’m sure you could stop methadone and feel okay. Here is an article that will show you all of the top remedies you could use for a cold-turkey methadone detox:
Methadone Withdrawal Remedies THAT WORK>>
I have been on 100mlg methadone for 3 half years. I tapered off all the methadone in 11 months. I have been off for 7 days. Feeling all withdrawal symptoms and have Ulcerative Colitis and painful bladder syndrome. Two Autoimmune diseases that wear me down. Im just wanting to know what will help with the awful symptoms. I know I’m going to feel crappy for several months. But I am walking more and trying exercises 3 times a week. Trying to gradually work out longer. But I just have zero strength most days. Should I keep pushing myself forward in brisk walking everyday. And what natural remedies will help?
I’ve been on pain medication for 15 years and my doctor just dropped me for no reason! I guess it’s the opioid problem that’s going on? And this hole weekend I was really scared about having to stop cold turkey, going to treatment was definitely OUT of the question due to family, kids and work then I came across this thread and now I’m not worried about the withdrawals that I’d be having if I smoke. I haven’t done it in about 15 years lol because I stopped due to drug tests but now I won’t be worrying about that anymore now. I’ll be starting this week and hoping for the best that I can get through this without the rough withdraws of the opioids, after I get through the withdrawals and I decide to stop smoking…will the withdrawals from the pain medication start?
In regard to how long the acute and post-acute withdrawal symptoms will last, it depends on the type of pain medication you were taking, how much, and for how long.
I just published an article on this recently that should give you all the info you need, as well as a bunch more remedies you could use along with cannabis to reduce the severity and duration of your withdrawal.
Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms (& The Top 20 Things That Can Help)>>
I am tapering off methadone and am now at 50, I go down 2mg a week, can I just stop now and do marijuana and keratin? And do I dmoke idika or sativa?
My son is currently going through withdrawal and he has been using marijuana brownies to help. I was beginning to wonder if perhaps he was still using cause it seems he is having less severe reaction than I expected. Then I found this post and thank you for writing it. We have found it difficult to cut through the maze of getting rehab help but I was shocked and dismayed at the answering machines and ads on hold when you call their supposedly HOTLINE.. I would hope that you promote someone being on the other end of the phone when someone calls for help. They need a person not a machine or sit through the ads.. So through online research we are doing this at home. And thankfully it is so far going well. We will tackle therapy and counseling next. Thank you again for post and helping in our research.
I will be detoxing at home with my doctors help off methadone 50 mg a day for the past 7 years. I’d like to hear from people who have tried marajuana to help detox off methadone. How did b it work for yiu? Was it helpful?
Hey, I read your comment and your story is very similar to mine. Marijuana does help but you still will need a physicians care. Methodone has been in your system for a long time. I have been on it for 6yrs n had my dose go from 120 to now 10mg a day. I am seeing a Docotor in addition to the marijuana. Hope i helped and good luck
I’ve been a heroin addict for at least 9 to 10 years. Everytime I have ever wanted to quit or have been thrown into w/d my friends with cannabis were the only reason I didn’t hang myself on a hot water pipe in my basement. The combination of having people love you and look up to you plus the sense that smoking thc isn’t a stigma but a solution to the pain I was experiencing let me run with the recovery and beat my addiction, alas many times, but one day it will be permanent. It’s important to choose your weapons and your battles and if your gonna wanna fight an opiate addiction w/ds only cannabis can help it is a miracle drug. I can still, I can eat, I can sleep, I can go to work, I can interact normally with customers, supervisors, family, and friends. God bless thc.
Absolutely. Cannabis is a wonderful medicine. I’m so glad it has helped you. Thanks for your comment!
That’s awesome Johnny…it is indeed a miracle plant…even Jefferson and Franklin wrote about it hundreds of years ago here…in other lands, make even pre-date the pyrimids of Eygpt. Here’s a little tip for you…but be warned, the simple procedure I am about to disclose will really potentiate the pot. It’s quite simple actually…just a matter of heating it for a certain amount of time. If you just eat pot from a bush…nothing happens, true? It is when the THC precursor acid is heated, it turns into delta-9 THC with all of its ensuing medicinal, phychiatric, spiritual effects materialize … and their analogues. We have THC receptors ALREADY in our brains…clearly unique to THC. I won’t give the specific recipe tho I’m sure it’s out there…I’m NOT an MD too! Just hold a joint over a candle or lighter…stove top perhaps. Just don’t burn it…until later. You will smell the skunky oils turn into the gift it truly is.
I am wondering if it is the CBD or the THC that calms withdrawal symptoms. My son has been on naloxone for many years now and is slowly being tapered down, but he has a lot of anxiety about quitting. I would love to help him as he is not the same person he used to be. He is emotionally flat, and completely withdrawn from the family, even his own young daughters. Any helpful information you have I will pass on to him with a large dose of encouragement.
Thanks
I have been on oxy and fentanyl for several years along with a morphine pump. So last month 4/4/16 my pain doctor gave me a 30 day discharge of patient. This is completely ridiculous because the avg. pain doctor books out several months. So my question is will marijuana help me through this period? With draws are not something I ever want to experience again!!!
I’ve been taking 95 milligrams a day of methadone for over a year, legally, through my local Clinic. 3 days ago I got my last in-clinic dose with two take home doses of 95mg. I immediately started smoking weed and drinking beer. So far it’s been really surprisingly easy! I took a 1/2 methadone dose on Sunday morning and the other half dose on Monday night. I have one full dose and will take half of it if I feel I need to. I’ve been sleeping good and actually eating too. The clinic wanted to take one year for me to get off of it but I wanted to speed things up. I’ll keep you posted.
Take your time. don’t speed it up. I’ve been on 150 mg of meth for 7 years. I went down 5 mg a week. Now I’m on 70mg. I smoke canabis every day so far it’s been a breeze. I’m still nervous when I get lower.
I’ve been taking Tramadol for a few years for chronic back pain from a past accident where I was hit by a car on my bicycle. I’m about to run out half-way through the month and won’t have a re-fill until next month. I’m wondering what marijuana products other people have found the MOST helpful when coming off pain medicine. The withdrawal is terrifying, but the pain I originally take it for also needs to be tolerable in order to work :/ Any suggestions are really appreciated!
I’m going on my 2nd attempt to get off Tramadol. I’ve been on it for over 5 years now for severe back problems. My family and I had moved 875 miles away from my physician, and had to wait until our new insurance kicked in to find a new physician. My 1st attempt, I’d ran out, cold turkey. Worst experience of my life! Whole body jerks, with the worst case of RLS, something I battle with already, thru my entire body! Major anxiety, bad mood swings, shaking, sweating, then freezing, etc. I finally called my old Dr and he sent me a script to get me thru utility I could find a new Dr. Well, it didn’t last, as our insurance kicked in later than expected, and my Dr’s appointment is a month out. So, here I sit, again. However, this time, I knew what was coming so I tapered off. That didn’t help. I’ve been eating muscle relaxers like candy, take hour long hot showers, my husband tries to rub away the severe aches and pains, you name it… Still fighting it. Until he did some research, and brought me a joint and begged me to try it. I don’t care what anyone says, it works! And it almost instantaneous! No, not all my symptoms are miraculously gone, but they are bearable! 2 or 3 puffs and my legs and body settle down enough for me to go to sleep. The pain is tolerable. No one can ever tell me that it doesn’t. I highly recommend it to over come opiate withdrawals!
I have been tapering off oxy for eight months now. I have a neuromuscular disorder that causes pain. I have been taking oxy for over ten years. I have managed to reduce my dose from obscene to acceptable. However, I still would like to get off the oxy completely. As I approach a low level of medicine I find that my pain becomes intolerable in combination with the withdrawal symptoms. I can’t seem to break through to lower levels. I am curious to know how well marihuana might work as a pain reliever. I have learned how opiates cause a person to experience greater pain when used long term. I am searching for an answer that might suite my needs. I would appreciate any additional information regarding the use of marihuana for pain relief and successful withdrawal from opiates. Thank You for your attention in this matter. Tim
Definitely helping me. I jumped Sunday morning, from ten years at near-max dose (32mg) of Subutex. THC & CBD combo’s (capsules & tinctures) have helped me stay fairly calm these past few days. Friday now-Happy New Year-and I feel “okay” with both combos on board. Listening to early 70’s music is helpful too 🙂
Thanks for leaving a comment about your experience using marijuana for withdrawal. I’m so happy for you! 🙂
Hello. Just want to say that this information was very helpful. I’m going to start this process asap. Thank you. It means so much to know that i am not the only crazy person with this issue.
Hi Holli,
I’m so glad this info was helpful. You’re not alone, and I wish you the very best on your journey. Take care, and thank you for leaving a comment.
Hi Shelley,
I’m glad you got some good information from my website. Sounds like you have a good plan for tapering and using natural remedies. Good luck and take care.