Does marijuana withdrawal syndrome exist?

The question of whether a clinically significant marijuana (cannabis) withdrawal syndrome exists remains controversial. In spite of the mounting clinical and preclinical evidence suggesting that such a syndrome exists, the DSM-IV does not include marijuana withdrawal as a diagnostic category. The clinical syndrome has been characterized by restlessness, anorexia, irritability and insomnia that begin less than 24 hours after discontinuation of marijuana, peak in intensity on days 2 to 4, and last for seven to 10 days.

The question of whether this syndrome is clinically significant is important, not only because marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, but also because marijuana has been shown to produce dependence at rates comparable to other drugs of abuse and because relapse rates among individuals seeking treatment for marijuana dependence are similar to those with other drugs of abuse… Psychiatric Times