The ultimate guide to breaking Cannabis tolerance

If you’ve smoked weed for quite some time, you’ll know a thing or two about cannabis tolerance. THC downregulates cannabinoid receptors over time. Thankfully, taking a cannabis tolerance break can reset things. Find out all you need to know here. Users have to smoke more to experience the same effects.

Out of the blue, you may find yourself no longer feeling that same high from your go-to strain. It doesn’t matter how much you toke, the euphoric and creative effects are just not what they used to be. This might have you wondering why and if anything can be done. The answer is yes! When your body builds up a tolerance to THC—the primary psychoactive element found in cannabis—it’s time for a tolerance break. Doing so will help you get back that intensity of feeling that made smoking marijuana so enjoyable when you first began.

What Influences the Breakdown of Cannabis Tolerance?

Many cannabis smokers don’t reach the point of diminishing returns. Some casual users may be able to go for lengthy periods without any major changes to their highs. Ultimately, a variety of elements will determine if a cannabis tolerance break is right for you, like personal biology, amount used and frequency, and THC levels of the strains you choose. These very same factors will also relate to how successful a tolerance break can be.

Smoking Habits and How Often You Do It

Using THC-rich cannabis regularly and in high quantities can lead to downregulation of your endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors, specifically CB1, resulting in a weakened response. Even sporadic smoking of large amounts will eventually affect how your body reacts to cannabinoids. This is why regular users benefit from taking breaks from cannabis use more than occasional smokers, even though the withdrawal symptoms may be relatively mild. However, it takes significantly more time for regular smokers to restore their CB1 receptors back to normal levels than it does infrequent smokers.

THC Content

The THC levels of any cannabis you consume has a direct impact on cannabis tolerance, and the consequent need for taking tolerance breaks. If you regularly use cultivars containing 30% THC, your cannabis tolerance will rise more quickly than if you chose strains with 15% THC. As people increase consumption, they can opt for stronger doses in order to experience similar effects. However, this technique is only effective for so long before its efficiency decreases. Many users move on to concentrates with upwards of 50-90% THC, creating an extremely high threshold.

Method of Ingestion

Cannabis can be consumed in several ways, such as smoking, vaping, orally taking it or applying it sublingually. Each of these methods has its own bioavailability, speed of onset, duration and effects with edibles often having the most intense psychoactive effects. Although the way in which it is ingested has an influence on cannabis tolerance levels, what will have a greater effect is the strength and dose of the product. For example, tolerance break times for someone who dabs cannabis concentrates on a daily basis is likely to come much sooner than for someone who only microdoses cannabis edibles occasionally.

Exercise

Regular exercise is an excellent way to assist with a cannabis tolerance break and clear THC from your system. Not only will it increase your metabolism, but it will also trigger good feelings hormones. Going for a jog, bike ride or brisk walk are all good ways to activate the endocannabinoid system. Aerobic activity releases molecules which bind to the same receptors as THC – though these aren’t quite as potent as the cannabinoid itself, they can still bring about the “runner’s high”. Having a regular workout regime while abstaining from cannabis can help alleviate discomfort and likely speed up processing time.

Sex and Hormones

The research behind how cannabis affects the sexes remains early and inconclusive. However, ongoing animal studies[1] suggest that females develop tolerance much more rapidly than males. As a result, heavy females are likely to require more cannabis over a shorter period of time in order to achieve the same effects, so they may need to take more frequent tolerance breaks than heavy males.

What Is a Cannabis Tolerance Break (T-Break)?

Cannabis Tolerance breaks are simply abstinence from cannabis for a specified period in order to restore the body’s sensitivity to THC. To reset their ECS, adherents simply stop smoking, vaping, dabbing, or taking edibles for a set period of time. It sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? But for those who use cannabis as a daily staple, things can get quite challenging.

T-Breaks: Why Should You Take One?

After consuming THC, the cannabinoid binds to CB1 receptors in the brain, leading to a spike of dopamine and the feeling of being high. Over time, the ECS adjusts to constant exposure to THC by decreasing expresson of CB1 receptors. This means fewer sites are available for THC to activate, causing users who smoke more weed to experience weaker effects. A cannabis tolerance break allows the ECS a rest period, allowing it to restore CB1 receptor expression back to its usual state.

How Long Should a Cannabis Tolerance Break Last?

The factors affecting how long until weed tolerance returns to its baseline are varied. They range from how often a person uses it, to their biology. Unfortunately, due to a lack of research on the topic, this may require some personal testing. Nevertheless, most intermittent users report their endocannabinoid system restores itself in a matter of days and they can enjoy the full effects again. For frequent cannabis users, however, it is best to give their ECS two or three weeks for optimal results.

How Often Should I Take a Cannabis Tolerance Break?

If you go back to heavy and frequent cannabis use, your tolerance will increase within a few weeks or months. However, if you enjoy a joint only occasionally, your highs will not change much. Ultimately, if you feel you aren’t getting the desired effects from using cannabis, you should consider taking a tolerance break to reset your system.

Will CBD Ruin My Tolerance Break?

The use of CBD products during a tolerance break will not adversely affect cannabis tolerance or CB1 receptor expression. Interestingly, early research[4] shows that CBD might indirectly boost levels of anandamide, which, if replicated consistently in humans, can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms and make a weed tolerance break easier to handle.

You’re Ready for a Successful Weed Tolerance Break

You’re now aware of everything you need to know to take a T-break and reset your ECS. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, you’ll soon be able to enjoy cannabis in all its glory once more. No longer will you have to settle for subpar highs and boring smoking sessions. After the first few hits, you’ll feel euphoric, creative, and creative. If you have any questions about our products feel free to contact us.