Cannabis is used both recreationally and medically and is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Early studies show that long-term use of cannabis can reduce the effects of its intoxication. So you can develop a tolerance for the drug. Taking a “tolerance break” may help you avoid or reduce a high tolerance for cannabis.
What Is a Tolerance Break?
A tolerance break is a short period of time in which you abstain from or significantly reduce your cannabis use.
How To Reduce Your THC Tolerance
It is as simple as just taking a break from smoking/ingesting THC, this is known as a T break.
If you are a very heavy user and the withdrawals are too strong you can look at first reducing the amount of THC you are taking in. Rather than going full ‘cold turkey’ you could try some of the following ideas:
- Reduce your frequency. Often just reducing the amount of times you smoke can have a very positive effect so try to slow down from your regular smoking schedule.
- Consume less each session. Our hemp cones hold between 0.5 and 1 gram per cone so you can look at reducing the amount of flower you put in.
- Try a strain of flower that is less potent. There are an incredible amount of strains available nowadays, all with different properties. Look at trying one that is weaker than the typical strain you smoke.
- Try a different form of ingestion. Look at taking the THC in a different form to give you a different high and help quell the cravings while still giving some enjoyment.
If you do experience these ‘weed hangovers’ it is a sign that your current regime may be too much and you should look to reduce your total ingestion in order to mitigate any negative health effects that come from frequent marijuana smoking.
How Long Does It Take for THC Tolerance To Lower?
For a fast reset of your tolerance, it is advisable to have a complete pause from THC. We have seen that a single day off is often a great help, but usually, it takes 3-5 days for most users. On the other hand, for frequent users, it may take as long as 3-4 weeks for their tolerance to go back to its regular level.
How Long Should a Tolerance Break Be?
The length of time you need to decrease your tolerance depends on many different factors that are unique to each person, these include:
- Your frequency of use.
- The strength of cannabis you use.
- Your diet and level of fitness.
- Your age.
Studies have shown that most average users reach a cannabis-naive status after 48 hours of stopping. Therefore if you take a t-break for 3-5 days you will most likely feel the benefits.
A study in the Iranian Journal of Psychiatry determined that the half-life of THC for an infrequent user is 1.3 days and 5-13 days in frequent users. So a tolerance break of 10-14 days is recommended if you are using cannabis daily.
Very heavy users and those looking to rid their body of THC entirely may need to stop cannabis use for around 30 days.
Health Effects of High Cannabis Tolerance
Just like any other drug, long-term cannabis use can have negative effects on your health. The fact that your tolerance levels are built means that many users take more quantity and with more frequency than when they first started out. If smoking the cannabis, there are the increased negative effects of inhaling smoke.
Conclusion
Cannabis comes with a variety of effects, including euphoria, relaxation, altered perception, and feelings of creativity which is why it is such a popular drug. Like any other drug, long-term use means building up a tolerance and results in having to smoke more product to get the desired high. This negatively affects your health and also your wallet as you need to consume higher quantities. A tolerance break is beneficial in many ways, try it out and see if you experience the positives yourself.
