When, Why & How to Take a Tolerance Break

It’s no secret that when you smoke weed day after day, for months or years
at a time, your habit starts to affect your cannabinoid receptors’ ability
to absorb THC. Soon, it takes more and more cannabis to get your body and
mind to that sweet spot — and sometimes, it might feel like *nothing* can
get you there anymore.

When that happens, it’s a clear sign that it’s time for a tolerance break.
Okay, So What Is a ‘Tolerance Break’?

A tolerance break is just a term for taking some time away from consuming
cannabis so that your body can regulate, readjust and reduce its need for
such high amounts of THC.

If you think taking a tolerance break means cutting yourself off cold
turkey, it may seem like a drastic turn in the other direction, especially
if you are a consistent or heavy smoker. But you can also ease yourself
into a tolerance break so that the sudden departure from your beloved
pastime doesn’t seem so severe and jarring.

How you guide yourself into a tolerance break is really dependent on your
personal smoking habits. For example, if you smoke all day every day —
let’s say a blunt in the morning, midday and evening — then you can try
eliminating one of your seshes, then two of them and then finally the last
one until you aren’t smoking any weed at all.

You also can choose whether you’d like to do this over the course of a few
days or a couple weeks. The most important thing is that once you stop
smoking, you shouldn’t have any weed at all for a set period of time. Even
one puff will disturb the process and you will have to start from scratch.

During your break, you will need to have a plan for how you’re going to
allocate your newfound free time. Consider picking up that book you’ve been
meaning to check out, reintroducing that old hobby that went by the wayside
or trying a new activity that has been on your to-do list. Staying busy
during times you would normally be rolling up and chilling will be
important in helping you stay committed.
What to Expect When You’re Abstaining

You might also observe some differences in your sleeping and eating habits,
particularly if you are a heavy daily smoker. You might have trouble
falling or staying asleep or notice that your appetite is not as voracious
as it once seemed. Be patient with yourself and your body as they both
adjust to the new change you’ve put into place.

It’s up to you how long you would like your tolerance break to last, but in
order to notice any real results, it’s probably a good idea to plan for at
least a week-long break. Everyone is different, though, so the amount of
time you need to abstain will vary.

According to one study, it may only take about two days for the body’s
cannabinoid receptors to replenish, but keep in mind that the benefits
increase over time. So, essentially, the longer you curb your use, the
better the outcome will be.

To be clear, tolerance breaks are designed for heavy smokers who feel like
they are not getting the same psychotropic experience as they are used to
with their normal amount of weed intake. Tolerance breaks are not for
patients who use cannabis to treat chronic symptoms or terminal illnesses.

If you are using cannabis as an alternative treatment and find that you are
not experiencing the same relief, consult with a medical marijuana
professional to figure out what needs to be done.

*TELL US*, have you ever taken a tolerance break?

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Now.