Can You Go to Rehab for Weed?

Even though cannabis has a lighter reputation and is useful in helping with relaxation and pain, using it long-term does pose risks. In fact, approximately 1 in 10 people who use cannabis will eventually become addicted.

The truth is, if you’ve used weed for a long time, it’s not so easy to quit on your own. It becomes ingrained in your daily routine, and you may be left asking the question, “Can you go to rehab for weed?”

The good news is help is available and you aren’t the only one asking this question. Learning more about the effects of cannabis on your mind and body, along with your rehab options, will make the process far less stressful.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about weed, weed addiction, and treatment programs.

Overview of Cannabis

First, it’s crucial to understand more about cannabis and how it impacts your mind and body.

Weed, also known as marijuana or cannabis, is a plant that contains specific compounds used for medicinal and recreational purposes. People use seed oil, dried leaves, and other plant parts for their calming effects.

If cannabis has enough potency, it can create a mind-altering or psychoactive effect. However, some cannabis strains are much milder and don’t contain potent ingredients.

Now, let’s look at what’s actually in cannabis that gives it these effects.

CBD vs. THC

The first step is understanding the differences between CBD and THC and how they impact your mind and body.

Cannabis has at least 120 known active ingredients also known as cannabinoids. The most prevalent ones include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

THC produces psychoactive or euphoric effects, while CBD is much milder in this regard.

How Do Cannabinoids Work in Your Body?

Many people are surprised to learn that the human body naturally produces its own cannabinoids. This is known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids are molecules made in your body and are similar to cannabinoids. You have two main endocannabinoid receptors in your body known as CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are mainly found in the central nervous system.

On the other hand, CB2 receptors are in the peripheral nervous system, specifically in the immune cells.

You can think of these as being like neurotransmitters since they send messages throughout your nervous system. These transmitters affect brain areas that control things like:

• Thinking
• Memory
• Concentration
• Movement
• Sensory
• Perception
• Pleasure
• Metabolism
• Immune system responses
• Sleep

These same receptors are also what respond to THC and other cannabinoids you take. For this reason, taking cannabinoids from outside sources can easily disrupt or change normal brain functions.

Dopamine Hormone

Taking THC stimulates certain cannabinoid receptors, causing an increased release of dopamine. Dopamine is often called the “feel good” hormone since it gives a sense of pleasure and euphoria.

Once the effects of THC wear off, this feeling dissipates, which leads to people taking more cannabis to achieve this high once again.

Short and Long-Term Effects of Cannabis

Once the THC starts to absorb into your system, it will activate your endocannabinoid receptors. This will cause you to feel the “high” people associate with using weed.

In addition, you’ll experience other effects like:

• Altered sense of time
• Altered sensory perceptions like colors seeming more vivid
• Sense of euphoria
• Sense of relaxation
• Impaired memory
• Hallucinations if taken in high doses
• Difficulty thinking

Usually, these short-term effects wear off once you stop smoking. However, if you ingest cannabis, the effects can last for hours.

Some studies show that using marijuana long-term may cause a decline in cognitive abilities and permanent IQ loss. This is due to how weed affects neurotransmitters, which help the brain build connections.

Cannabis Forms and Uses

There are various ways to use cannabis, and the method you choose will determine how it affects you overall. These methods include:

Inhaling or Smoking

Smoking or inhaling cannabis is one of the most popular options since it works quickly. You’ll get a sense of elation within minutes of smoking. This euphoria peaks between 15 and 30 minutes and wears off within a few hours.

Ingesting

Edibles like gummy candies and capsules are also fairly common. If you consume cannabis, you’ll typically begin feeling the effects within an hour. You’ll find the effects peak after 2 to 3 hours.

However, the effects of edibles can last from 6 to 12 hours, depending on your meal timing and overall health.

Topical

Topical patches or lotions allow cannabis to enter your body over a longer period. This method creates more of a steady infusion and is a common choice for people with chronic pain conditions.

Topical cannabis usually doesn’t result in a noticeable rush of euphoria, but you’ll feel more relaxed and have less pain.

Medical Uses of Cannabis

In the United States, over half the states have legalized marijuana for medical use. The rules vary for each state, but you’ll typically need a statement from a healthcare provider citing that you suffer from a specific medical condition.

Studies show that cannabis can be effective in reducing symptoms in various conditions such as:

• Can decrease chronic pain
• May decrease nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy for cancer
• Help to increase appetite in conditions like HIV and cancer
• Effective for Chron’s disease symptoms
• Can relieve other inflammatory bowel disease symptoms
• May help with epilepsy symptoms
• May help with multiple sclerosis symptoms

In some cases, medical marijuana can help with anxiety symptoms along with improving sleep.

Risks of Cannabis Use

It’s important to be aware that using cannabis does involve some risks. The biggest risk is it affects your judgment and decision-making abilities. This can put your safety at risk if you’re trying to drive or operate machinery since it impacts your motor skills.

Taking weed with alcohol intensifies its effects, which impacts your decision-making abilities even more. It may also lower your inhibitions, which can cause you to take chances you normally wouldn’t consider.

If you’re using cannabis that isn’t regulated, you don’t know exactly where it came from or what it can contain. You might end up using contaminated cannabis that’s much stronger than you’re used to.

Smoking weed regularly can lead to breathing issues, like wheezing and coughing. This can put you at higher risk of developing respiratory infections. Having sensitive airways from long-term cannabis use can cause complications with anesthesia and surgery.

Long-Term Cannabis Use and Addiction

Ongoing marijuana use can lead to marijuana use disorder, which can result in addiction in more severe cases. In fact, recent studies suggest that at least 30% of all people who use marijuana have some level of marijuana use disorder. In addition, people who start using cannabis before age 18 are up to seven times more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder compared to adults.

Marijuana use disorder mainly occurs because of how long-term use impacts the brain and neurotransmitters. Ultimately, this is why heavy cannabis use causes issues with dependency and addiction.

With marijuana use disorder, people continue to use marijuana excessively despite the negative consequences on their health, careers, and relationships.

Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms

Completely stopping cannabis once you’re dependent on it can lead to uncomfortable symptoms. These symptoms will vary depending on the amount and frequency of your cannabis use.

However, you can expect to experience general symptoms like:

• Mood changes
• Irritability
• Trouble sleeping
• Cravings
• Restlessness
• General discomfort
• Decreased appetite
• Dehydration
• Stomach pain
• Anxiety

You’ll find these symptoms peak sometime within the first week after you stop using cannabis. In most cases, withdrawal symptoms will start to ease after approximately two weeks.

Marijuana withdrawal symptoms are disruptive and often drive people back to using cannabis. Ultimately, this leads to a vicious cycle of dependence and addiction in the long run.

Can You Go to Rehab for Weed?

Since it’s possible to develop a marijuana use disorder that involves dependence and addiction, you can indeed go to rehab for weed.

If you’ve been using cannabis long-term, finding an addiction treatment program is the most effective way to stop using it altogether.

Not only do weed addiction programs help you through the withdrawal phase, but they also provide support in many other ways.

Overall, when your life revolves around using weed to feel high, taking a step back by attending a rehab program will help you get a new focus. It’s very difficult to make these changes on your own, especially if you lack support from family and friends.

There are various treatment programs available designed to help you, which include:

Addiction Treatment Programs

There are different steps in treating marijuana addiction and although it may seem like a long road in the beginning, it will give you the support you need.

The different stages of going to rehab include:

Detox

The first step in treating any type of drug or alcohol addiction is detox. Detox is the process of cleansing the body of alcohol and drugs and is the first step toward recovery.

Since withdrawal symptoms from stopping cannabis can make it challenging to quit completely, it’s best to enter into a detox program.

Assessment and Medications

When you first enter a detox program, you’ll receive a thorough assessment. This includes a physical exam to assess your overall health and the withdrawal symptoms you’re experiencing. From this, you’ll receive a custom detox treatment plan to help you get to the next stages of treatment.

While you’re in detox, trained healthcare staff will monitor your vital signs 24/7 and support you. Detox programs also involve medications to ease withdrawal symptoms.

The medications you’ll receive depend on your symptoms and treatment plan.

Mental Health Evaluation

You’ll also get an evaluation for any mental health disorders. This is because substance use disorders and mental health disorders often co-exist.

You’ll see this referred to as co-occurring disorders. Therefore, you’ll find addiction treatment programs offer dual diagnosis treatment. In other words, you’ll receive treatment for both your mental health disorder and addiction.

The next step is moving on to a treatment program.

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment or inpatient treatment is the most intense addiction treatment program. It’s also most effective since it takes you out of your regular environment and allows you to focus solely on recovery.

Inpatient programs can range from 30 to 90 days but vary based on your individual needs. The best rehab programs include the Reflections Bay Area inpatient rehab program, which offers affordable luxury rehab accommodations, and accepts most PPO insurance plans.

You’ll have a private room that allows you to wind down after each day of treatment. The treatment program includes:

• Customized treatment plans
• Behavioral therapy sessions
• Discharge and relapse prevention planning
• Group therapy
• Learning your individual strengths

You’ll also receive a holistic treatment approach that includes nutritional therapy and other therapeutic activities.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Intensive outpatient treatment is a step down from inpatient residential treatment. With an IOP, you’ll be able to live at home while attending treatment.

An IOP is best for people who’ve completed a residential treatment program and don’t need constant medically supervised detox. It also requires you to have a stable home environment that doesn’t put your recovery at risk.

IOPs are especially helpful for people leaving a residential treatment program. This is because it can be a big adjustment going from daily treatment to being on your own.

IOPs typically meet three days a week for 3 to 4 hours at a time. The program usually lasts between 8 and 12 weeks, depending on your needs.

You’ll have individual behavioral therapy sessions to continue working through any mental health issues. You’ll attend group sessions to help you connect more with other people going through the same thing.

Family therapy sessions help you work through family relationship issues to establish a stronger support system. You’ll also have access to holistic therapies like yoga and energy therapy.

You can find a comprehensive IOP program at Reflections in Northern California that will meet your recovery needs.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy is a significant part of your treatment plan, so it’s essential to get a better understanding of what it’s about.

As mentioned earlier, mental health disorders and addiction go hand in hand. Many people with addiction have untreated mental health issues and use substances like weed, or other drugs and alcohol to reduce the symptoms.

During your treatment, you’ll focus on this during individual behavioral therapy sessions. The most common behavioral therapies for addiction involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps you identify negative thought patterns that lead to the development of self-defeating behaviors. The main premise of CBT is that your behaviors are caused by your thoughts and not outside events or people.

CBT works off the fact that while you may not be able to change the situation around you, you can change how you react to it all.

CBT therapy has you look at the causes of behavior like drinking or taking drugs. It also has you look at the consequences of this and how it impacts your life. You’ll work on unlearning unhealthy behaviors and relearn helpful coping skills.

You’ll then be able to apply them to situations that would usually trigger you to use cannabis.

You’ll also learn mindfulness behaviors to help you be fully aware of your reactions in a non-judgmental way.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is based on CBT methods, but it’s geared toward people who have intense emotions. Many people with intense emotions have difficulty regulating and managing them.

It can be very effective in treating substance use disorders and various mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

DBT is talk therapy that aims to help you achieve acceptance of who you are as a person along with the challenges you face. Forming this bridge of acceptance can help people learn new skills.

DBT teaches you mindfulness techniques that help you focus on the present moment. It also focuses on distress tolerance, which involves learning to understand and manage your emotions. This way you won’t respond to stressful situations with emotional or harmful behaviors.

Holistic and Specialized Therapies

Holistic therapies are a critical part of any addiction program. Remember, addiction and dependence often tie into mental health disorders. Issues like unresolved trauma, grief, or loss can cause people to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Having this can lead to a host of other mental health symptoms, including depression and anxiety.

The only way to manage addiction long-term is to address your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. The way to do this is to start incorporating healthy lifestyle habits into your routine. Effective holistic therapies include:

• Yoga
• Mindfulness
• Massage therapy
• Music therapy
• Equine therapy

Remember, substance use disorders are comparable to having a chronic medical illness. This means they take the same course, which requires you to find healthy ways to manage them long-term.

More About Yoga and Mindfulness

Research shows that exercises like yoga are proven to reduce stress and anxiety and can help people stay in recovery. Incorporating this into your daily routine can help you make healthy lifestyle changes you can stick to long-term.

In addition, finding a local yoga class after you finish your treatment program is a great way to meet new people interested in the same types of activities.

Many people also practice yoga with mindfulness, allowing them to tap into the present moment and find a space of peace and calm.

More About Equine Therapy

Equine therapy is well known to be effective in treating mental health disorders and addiction. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Greece, where the Greek physician Hippocrates wrote it had therapeutic potential.

Equine therapy has many benefits, such as:

• Impulse control
• Builds social skills
• Helps emotional awareness
• Builds confidence
• Improves problem-solving skills
• Increases empathy and trust
• Decreases anxiety
• Decreases PTSD symptoms

You’ll learn about grooming and feeding while spending time with these loving animals. It’s a wonderful way to find a place of stillness, allowing you to focus on recovery.

Nutrition and Fitness Counseling

Nutrition and fitness counseling are key parts of recovery that many people tend to overlook.

When you’re using substances, that becomes your main focus. This even rings true for cannabis use, especially if you use cannabis with other drugs or alcohol. You’re more likely to be too caught up in substance use and eat whatever you can grab, rather than focusing on nutritious meals.

This is also the case with exercise since people using substances are less likely to focus on creating a daily exercise routine.

As a result, people in addiction can suffer from nutritional deficiencies from not eating enough or constantly eating unhealthy foods. People using marijuana can often experience an increased appetite. Over time this leads to consuming more fat and sugar, resulting in weight gain.

This can rob your body of vital energy, making you feel tired, worn down, and depressed. When you feel this way, you’re much more likely to start using drugs again.

Once you begin taking in the nutrients you need, you’ll feel better and have more energy. The same thing goes for forming an exercise program. Once you make these changes a habit, it will help you stay sober long-term.

For these reasons, addiction programs focus on nutrition and fitness to help you feel better, and learn new skills to take with you as you embark on your new sober journey.

Find Cannabis Addiction Treatment Today

Knowing the answer to the question “Can you go to rehab for weed” will help guide you to the next phase in your life.

You can turn to Reflections of Marin County in Northern California for all your addiction treatment needs. We’re one of the top substance dependence treatment centers in the United States.

We offer individual treatment programs including detox, residential treatment, and intensive outpatient programs. Our dual diagnosis program addresses co-occurring mental health disorders along with holistic therapies, nutrition, and fitness.

Our specialized tracks for business executives, private VIP individuals, and LGBTQ+ make treatment more accessible for people from all backgrounds. We also accept many PPO insurance plans, making treatment affordable.

Make sure to contact us today to learn more about our treatment programs to start on your journey.