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No appetite after quitting weed: why, how long, and what to eat

· 3 min read · Not medical advice

If food suddenly looks boring a couple of days into a break, you’re not imagining it. Less appetite is one of the most common signs of cannabis withdrawal, and it usually comes back on its own within one to two weeks.

Why it happens

THC makes you hungry by acting on CB1 receptors, which help regulate appetite. That’s the munchies. After weeks or years of regular use, your body gets used to that push before meals. Take it away and, for a while, hunger cues are quieter than you’re used to. Some people also get mild nausea or stomach discomfort in the first days, which doesn’t help.

How common it is and how long it lasts

Decreased appetite or weight loss is one of the official withdrawal symptoms in the DSM-5. In a US survey of frequent users, about one in four of those who met the criteria for withdrawal reported it. In Budney’s outpatient study of daily users, appetite and body weight both dropped during the first days of abstinence, with symptoms typically starting on days 1 to 3, peaking on days 2 to 6 and mostly fading within two weeks. Reviews describe appetite loss as coming on quickly after stopping and turning around fairly quickly too.

A small drop on the scale in the first week is common and usually comes back once you’re eating normally. Some people notice the opposite and snack more, often out of boredom at the hour they used to smoke.

How to eat when you’re not hungry

  • Eat by the clock, not by hunger. Set three times a day and eat something at each, even if it’s small. Hunger signals catch up faster when meals are regular.
  • Go small and often. Half a sandwich every three hours is easier than a full plate you don’t want.
  • Drink some of it. Smoothies, milk, soup and yogurt drinks go down when chewing feels like work.
  • Start the day with protein. Eggs, yogurt or peanut butter on toast in the morning makes the rest of the day easier than skipping breakfast and crashing in the afternoon.
  • Keep easy food in reach. Bananas, crackers, nuts, cheese, cereal. If there’s nothing ready, you won’t cook.
  • Walk before meals. A short walk often wakes appetite up a little, and it helps with the restlessness of the first week too.
  • Drink water through the day. Thirst and nausea both feel worse when you’re a little dehydrated.

Eating on a schedule also helps sleep, which is often the other thing that goes sideways early on. See our guide to sleep in the first nights, and what to expect day by day for the rest of the first weeks.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if you can’t keep food or water down for a day, if you keep vomiting, if you’re losing weight past the second week, or if your appetite hasn’t started to come back after about three weeks. The same goes if you were already underweight, have diabetes or an eating disorder, or take medication that needs food.

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