The term ‘tolerance break’ or ‘t-break’ is mainly used by those in the Cannabis community and refers to a break from smoking or smoking less often. Some reasons for taking a break include: decreasing general tolerance, to pass a drug test for work, to save money or for travelling purposes etc. Another reason people take a tolerance break is to reflect on the experience and determine if consuming Cannabis remains positive or euphoric.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive component of Cannabis, will stay in your body for up to a month. Because of this fact it is recommended that the tolerance break is from a minimum of two weeks to one month or more. Some of the negative side-effects from a tolerance break include general irritability, moodiness and even nausea.
Prepare yourself, have a clear plan of your objectives for taking a break. Consider other natural remedies for managing any physical ailments or withdraw symptoms, such as melatonin for sleep or ginger tea for nausea and so on. Plan healthy meals to avoid stress eating. Keeping active can help distract you, it will help to process the remaining THC stored in fat cells.
The most important thing you can do to help yourself is to reach out for support from friends or from online communities and forums. Talk to others in the community who have experience with tolerance breaks and ask for advice. Stay social but stick to non-Cannabis related actives to avoid temptation, see a movie or plan a nice meal with a good friend instead.
If you use Cannabis for medical purposes consider your desire and need to medicate with the desire to lower your tolerance. Scientists in the medical community think low levels of endocannabinoids are the root cause of some medical conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There is evidence suggesting endocannabinoids play a role in inflammation, insulin sensitivity and fat and energy metabolism function.
Increasing cannabinoid levels reduces symptoms associated with clinical endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome. Taking a break could interfere with an individual’s treatment and is a factor worth considering. This a key factor to consider before deciding to cut out Cannabis all together, even if it is temporary.
Using CBD dominant products instead could be a suitable alternative to eliminating Cannabis altogether. Whether you take a break from using Cannabis, or simply cut down your usage or switch to CBD dominant products there are advantages and disadvantages to each.
*Consult your doctor for professional advice.
Reference: Urban Dictionary, Herb, Leafly, Herb, CBD Oil Review, The Fresh Toast, Royal Queen Seeds and Reddit.