Cannabis (Ganja) side Effects and When Use Becomes Dependence

If you are searching for the side effects of cannabis (ganja), chances are you are not just looking for general information. You may be wondering whether your own use, or the use of someone close to you, is becoming a problem.

This can be difficult to judge in India. Cannabis has cultural and religious links, and bhang is legally sold in some places. That can make it seem harmless. But traditional, natural and legal are not the same as safe.

Here is what cannabis can do, how regular use can turn into dependence and what may help if you want to stop.

What Does Cannabis (Ganja) Do to You?

Cannabis affects the parts of the brain that manage memory, mood, appetite, movement and judgement. After using it, you may feel relaxed, talkative or laugh more than usual. Time may seem to move slowly and you may feel hungrier. You might also forget parts of a conversation or lose track of what you were doing. Your reactions and coordination can become slower.

For some people, the experience is very different. Instead of feeling calm, they may become anxious, panicked or suspicious. Cannabis can also cause a racing heart, confusion or the feeling that someone is watching you. These effects are more likely with larger amounts and stronger cannabis products.

Cannabis that is eaten or drunk can take an hour or longer to show its full effect. Because of this delay, some people take more and later realise that they have had too much. Do not drive or operate machinery after using cannabis. Your judgement and reactions may still be affected even after you stop feeling high [1].

Can You Become Addicted to Cannabis (Ganja)?

Yes. Regular cannabis use can lead to cannabis use disorder, also known as cannabis dependence or addiction. Cannabis comes from a plant, but that does not make it non-addictive. Tobacco and opium come from plants too. Research suggests that around 20% to 30% of regular users may develop cannabis use disorder [2]. The risk is higher if you use it daily, started at a young age or use stronger forms of cannabis.

It can also become harder to control when cannabis is your main way of dealing with stress, poor sleep or difficult feelings. What starts as something you use to relax can slowly become something you feel you need to manage the day. Most people who try cannabis do not become dependent. But dependence is not rare, and it is not a sign that someone is weak. You can read more about substance use and addiction.

You do not have to use cannabis every day for it to be a problem. If it is affecting your sleep, mood, relationships, work or daily routine, that is enough reason to ask for help. Treatment is about understanding what keeps the use going, not judging the person.

How Do You Know If Cannabis Use Has Become a Problem?

Rather than focusing only on how often you use cannabis, think about how much control you have over it and how it is affecting your life. You may notice that:

• You often use it more than you planned.
• You make rules for yourself but cannot stick to them.
• You have tried to cut down but started again.
• You need more cannabis to feel the same effect.
• Your work, studies, money or relationships are being affected.
• You are losing interest in things you once enjoyed.
• You use cannabis to feel normal rather than to feel high.
• You feel anxious, restless or unable to sleep when you stop.

However, one sign by itself does not confirm dependence. A mental health professional will look at the whole picture, including how long this has been happening and how it is affecting your daily life. Because, some of these signs can also appear in depression, including low energy, poor motivation and losing interest in things. A proper assessment can help separate the two or identify when both are happening together.

What Does Cannabis Withdrawal Feel Like?

If you stop after using cannabis regularly, you may feel irritable, anxious or restless. Sleep can become difficult, dreams may feel unusually vivid and your appetite may reduce. Some people also feel low for a while. Symptoms usually begin within one or two days of stopping. They tend to be strongest during the first week and then improve over the next two to three weeks [2]. Sleep may take a little longer to return to normal, especially after heavy daily use.

Cannabis withdrawal is not usually dangerous in the way severe alcohol withdrawal can be. Still, it can be uncomfortable. Poor sleep, irritation and strong cravings are common reasons people start using again. One review found withdrawal symptoms in around 17% of cannabis users in general-population studies. The rate was much higher among heavy users and people already receiving treatment [3].

If sleep is making it harder for you to stop, our guide to managing insomnia may help.

Can Cannabis Make Anxiety or Sleep Problems Worse?

Yes. Cannabis may help you relax or fall asleep at first, but regular use can make anxiety and sleep problems worse over time. This can become a difficult cycle. You use cannabis because you cannot sleep, but regular use starts disturbing your natural sleep. You then feel that you need cannabis just to get through the night.

The same thing can happen with anxiety. Cannabis may give short-term relief, but the anxiety comes back. In some people, it becomes stronger. If anxiety is one of the main reasons you use cannabis, treating the anxiety problem itself may make it easier to reduce or stop.

Can Cannabis Cause Psychosis?

Cannabis can cause paranoia, confusion and psychotic symptoms in some people. Psychosis means that a person is having difficulty knowing what is real. They may hear voices, become extremely suspicious or strongly believe things that other people do not.

A large European study found that daily cannabis use was linked with about three times the odds of developing a first psychotic disorder. Daily use of stronger cannabis was linked with nearly five times the odds [4]. This does not mean that cannabis caused every case. Most people who use cannabis do not develop psychosis. However, the risk should not be ignored, particularly with daily or high-strength use.

Feeling confused or suspicious while high may pass when the effects wear off. But if someone continues to hear voices, feels watched or remains confused afterwards, they need urgent medical help.

Is Cannabis (Ganja) Legal in India?

Indian law treats different parts of the cannabis plant differently.

Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, ganja generally refers to the flowering or fruiting tops of the plant. Charas is cannabis resin, while bhang is usually made from the leaves. The law excludes leaves and seeds when they are not attached to the flowering or fruiting tops [7]. This is why bhang is treated differently from ganja and charas. Rules for selling or possessing bhang may also vary from one state to another.

But legal and safe do not mean the same thing. A cannabis product may be legally available and still cause health problems when used regularly. India’s national survey estimated that around 2.2 crore people used bhang and about 1.3 crore used ganja or charas. It also estimated that nearly 72 lakh people needed help for a cannabis-related problem [6].

How Can You Stop Using Cannabis?

You can choose to cut down or stop completely. If you have tried cutting down before and it did not work, stopping fully may be easier to manage.

Start with a simple plan:

• Choose a date and tell someone you trust.
• Remove cannabis from your home.
• Stay away from situations where you usually use it.
• Arrange extra support for the first week.

Poor sleep, irritation and cravings are common in the beginning. Try to eat regularly, keep your routine lighter and have someone you can call when the urge to use feels strong. There is currently no medicine approved specifically for cannabis dependence [2]. A doctor can still help with related problems such as anxiety, depression or poor sleep.

Talking therapy is the main treatment. Research involving more than 4,000 people found that it helped people reduce their cannabis use. It appeared to work particularly well when motivational support and cognitive behavioural therapy were used together [5].

If you have never spoken to a therapist before, you can read what to expect in psychotherapy. If you use cannabis again after trying to stop, it does not mean you are back at the beginning. Think about what triggered you, change your plan for that situation and continue from there.

When Should You Get Help?

Get urgent help if you or someone with you is hearing or seeing things that are not there, is extremely confused or agitated, continues to feel watched after the high has passed, or is thinking about suicide or self-harm.

Call 112 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Ask someone you trust to stay with you. You can also use these mental health crisis helplines. Even when it is not an emergency, professional support may help if you have tried to stop but could not, need cannabis to sleep or manage the day, or can see that it is affecting your work, studies, money or relationships. If you are worried about another person, our guide to supporting a loved one may help you start the conversation.

You do not have to wait until the situation becomes serious. You also do not need to promise that you will quit before asking for help. At Allo Health, cannabis use is treated as a health concern, not a character flaw.