One out of every twenty people in the United States consume cannabis products on a daily basis. That’s over 17 million people! If you are one of the many who enjoy cannabis everyday, you may have noticed some changes in your relationship with this plant. Overtime, the constant consumption of marijuana or hemp-derived products may have decreased effects for the individual. If you find yourself medicating day in and day out, and you are taking in more THC than when you started, you may want to consider taking a tolerance break.
Too much of anything is never a good thing. That is why we recommend a tolerance break. But what is a tolerance break? What is cannabis tolerance? In this guide, we want to go over the science behind cannabis tolerance, and answer both of these questions and more to give you a better understanding of how to maximize your cannabis experience and save your money!
What is Tolerance?
Tolerance is the body’s developed resistance to a substance like cannabis or alcohol after prolonged exposure. A person’s tolerance varies depending on the substance and the individual. Like alcohol, people have different levels of how much cannabis they are able to take. When you consume cannabis or alcohol regularly, the effects may diminish slower or faster from one person to the next. In any case, it is safe to say that all people will experience some form of tolerance if they frequently consume any substance. Now that we have an idea of how general tolerance works, lets go into more detail about tolerance with cannabis.
The Science Behind Cannabis Tolerance
Anyone can build up a tolerance to cannabis products, regardless of the cannabinoid. In a 2015 study, the density of our CB1 receptors, the receptors in our endocannabinoid system responsible for giving us the effects from delta-9 THC, have decreased as a result of the over-consumption of delta 9 products. That means more THC is required in order for our bodies to receive the same level of medicating effects. This poses serious problems for people trying to enjoy cannabis at a daily rate. Having to consume more cannabis means spending more money on products while feeling less medicated.
How can we correct these issues? Fortunately, from the same 2015 study, cannabis tolerance was found to be reversible. After taking a four week break from cannabis, CB1 receptors in the tested subjects were observed to return to their original densities. That being said, that experiment was only observing tolerance for delta-9 THC, not delta-8. However, we believe that because delta 8 provides similar effects as delta 9, one’s tolerance should react similarly. Do you think you are in need of a tolerance break? Keep reading to find out!
Do You Need a Tolerance Break?
First off, a tolerance break from cannabis is exactly as suggested by the previously mentioned study, not consuming cannabis for a period of time. But how are we supposed to know when we need to take a tolerance break? Well, there are a few indications you can look out for to know if resetting your tolerance is within your horizon.
There are at least three signs that will let you know you should consider taking a break from cannabis. First, the high from your usual cannabis products may not be as effective as when you took them the first time. Second, because your cannabis products are less effective, you may find yourself consuming more, which will cause you to arguably spend more money than you need to. Lastly, the length of time you are medicated may be shorter than you are used to, causing you to also consume more cannabis more frequently. If you find yourself facing any combination of these problems, you should highly consider taking a tolerance break.
How long should I take a Tolerance Break?
You are beginning your path to resetting your tolerance, but you don’t know how long that path will take. How many days do you need to successfully reset your tolerance and enjoy cannabis like you used to? As we mentioned earlier, everyone’s relationship with cannabis is different, and there are variables to consider before determining how long you need to take your break.
How often you consume cannabis products, and how quickly you metabolize, are factors that contribute to the duration of your tolerance break. If you enjoy delta 8 or delta 9 THC products daily, you may want to take a break that is at least three to four weeks long, as that is the required time for your CB1 receptors to restore themselves. If you consume marijuana or hemp products occasionally, and maybe only a couple times a week, you may only need a couple weeks or less to reset your CB1 receptors. In any case, you need to make sure you are following strict guidelines to ensure you successfully reset your cannabis tolerance.
How to Reset Your Tolerance
Your journey to enjoying THC to its fullest has just begun. Now that you understand how tolerance works, and how to return it to its original state, it is time to commit to the break.
At first, it may be tempting to get back into the usual swing of taking in your regular dose of THC, but you must resist the temptations! Remember, you are trying to reset your tolerance so you can enjoy delta 8 and delta 9 THC to their maximum potential. Even the smallest dosage will prevent you from resetting your tolerance. Make sure to physically remove all temptations if you are unable to resist the urge.
Understandably, the need to consume cannabis may be uncontrollable. If you still need to take in any form of cannabinoids, we recommend using non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD, as it was found that CBD does not contribute to the build up of cannabis tolerance.
As long as you are able to resist any forms of THC for the duration of your tolerance break, you’ll be able to experience cannabis like it was your first time.
How to Maximize Your Cannabis Experience
Whether or not you think taking a tolerance break is right for you, there are other ways you can still get the most out of THC. Trying other forms of cannabis products or cannabinoids are great ways to take in the diverse effects of cannabis. If you are used to consuming delta 9 THC, try consuming delta 8. If you are used to vaping THC, try an edible. The different cannabinoids and different ways of consuming those cannabinoids are going to provide completely different medicating effects.
In addition to trying different forms of THC, whether it be hemp or marijuana derived, making sure those products are of the highest quality is imperative to having the best cannabis experience possible. When it comes to enjoying the best delta 8 THC products, Mints Brand has you covered. At Mints, we understand that the cannabis industry may lack standards, which is why we make sure all of our products are formulated in house and contain no fillers or additives. When selecting delta 8 vapes, make sure that they not only have lab tests, but also contain only delta 8 THC and terpenes. Mints Brand has taken the liberty of lab testing all of our delta 8 products, and also make sure to provide a list of ingredients for every product to let you know exactly what to expect. If you have had the misfortune of experiencing a poor delta 8 product such as a vape from a brand that does not set itself up with the same values as Mints, you will instantly notice the difference in quality when enjoying our delta-8 THC pods. The experience will be unmatched, and now that you know the importance of making sure you are letting your body take in only high quality THC brands like Mints, you will be able to consistently have the best experience the THC can offer.
As long as your tolerance allows it, we hope that you are able to continue to enjoy cannabis to its fullest potential. If you do find yourself in need of a tolerance break, we hope this guide will be right by your side to get you through every step of the way. Ready to learn more about cannabis, hemp, marijuana, and more? Check out our blog for more information! Otherwise, feel free to check out our shop.
