Everyone remembers their first time. Waves of pleasure and sensation prickling your body. Cravings you’ve never had before. A feeling of euphoria followed by complete relaxation. Yep, you remember--the first time you got high. What else could we be talking about? But now that you’ve become a serious smoker, the high feels a little different. It may be more muted or perhaps you need to consume more just to reach the same high. If so, it may be time to take a tolerance break.
A tolerance break, also affectionately known as a t-break, is exactly what it sounds like. It’s taking time off from cannabis consumption to break down your tolerance levels to THC. Everyone’s t-break is unique. It can be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. You may not want to fully hit the pause button but perhaps you’ll pass on your morning wake and bake to increase potency on your evening toke. Maybe you’ll say no to THC but continue to consume CBD for a time. It’s your body, your choice. Why even consider it? There are several reasons to think about taking a break. First, as we said, your high might not feel the same. If you find yourself needing to increase your dosage more and more just to get the same high, it may be time for a t-break. Perhaps you want to join in on a societal challenge such as “Dry January” or “Sober October.” Consider a t-break. Find yourself in a bit of a rut? Taking a t-break can help your daily routine feel fresh again. Maybe your wallet’s feeling a bit light. A t-break may help to keep it tight.
So the reasons behind considering a break are numerous. But does it work? Science points to yes! The endocannabinoid system is a complex thing and more research is required. However, we do know that the reason you get high from cannabis is THC binding to the CB1 receptors in your body. Unfortunately, we’ve also learned that the more THC you consume, the less receptive the receptors become. The number of CB1 receptors actually decreases with the increase of cannabis consumption. Meaning, you need to smoke more to feel the same effects. But the body bounces back! The number of receptors start to increase with just a short break from THC and can potentially fully replenish within four weeks. Of course, everyone is different. This means your tolerance builds at a different rate than others, and the time it takes to break down that tolerance will also vary.
Taking a t-break is easy. You simply stop consuming cannabis, or consuming as much cannabis. But there are a few things to know and do before you quit cold turkey. First, you need to mentally prepare yourself for the break. If you aren’t in the right headspace, things aren’t going to go well. You should also be prepared for a few side effects if you are a heavy stoner. You may find yourself experiencing anxiety, irritability, decreased appetite, mood swings and insomnia. But you may also find yourself having more dreams and being more clear-headed. And eventually, when you take back up with the THC, you’ll find yourself high as hell. Just like that first time, all over again. It may seem counterintuitive for a cannabis company to recommend a tolerance break. But to get you The Most High, we need you to be your best self. And if that includes taking a tolerance break from time to time, so be it. You do you. Cannabis is all about self-care so take that t-break if you need to. Just come find us when you’re done.
