Spliffany Explains: A “Forced” Tolerance Break and the Lessons Learned
Tiffany Smiley
Disclaimer: If you are taking cannabis for any medical reasons, it is always best to consult your doctor and come up with an adjustment plan that works best for you and your individual needs. This article is simply based on my experiences and may not work for everyone.
Have you ever found yourself gravitating towards certain cultivars (strains) because of past experiences, only to one day have a not-so-fun time consuming the same thing?! Maybe you’re finding that once upon a time a certain THC range was the perfect potency for you, but you’re now consuming more grams with a higher percentage of terpenes without it offering the same effects you are accustomed to, meaning you’re burning through your cannabis faster than ever before? First off, let me say you are not alone! This is a totally normal occurrence for daily partakers like myself. Don’t stress! We are in luck! Sometimes a short pause, or just an adjustment in our consumption routines can make all the difference and can actually help our endocannabinoid systems by essentially lowering our tolerance intake needs.
I looooooove cannabis! For over 20 years, I have been a huge supporter of this amazing plant and think it has major benefits that largely outweigh any possible temporary negative effects. I can assure you this is not a “let’s bash cannabis post” or even one trying to convince you that a break is what you need. This is more an honest conversation about consumption and how your personal needs may shift over time.
Recently I celebrated my 40th birthday and had the opportunity to go on a forced T-break a.k.a tolerance break because I was on vacation in a non cannabis friendly country. Before leaving, I was sooo nervous! “No cannabis for 7 whole days?!!! I can’t do this!” I consume cannabis daily, so the thought of not having access to it when needed freaked me out. Luckily, the trip flew by and I did not focus on not being able to consume as much as I thought I would. My body surprised me by responding well to this little break. I filled my time with things that brought me joy like journaling, reading and spending time with the ones I loved. When I returned home I felt recharged and was excited to jump back into my pot loving routine. But once again, my body surprised me! After my first post-tolerance break sesh, I noticed a change. I didn’ t need to finish a whole 1g doobie or multiple dabs (my usual go-to’s) in order to feel the effects I was looking for. Now, even at a lower THC concentration and only a few puffs and I was high as a kite! Say whaaaaat?!
I also noticed that feelings of nervousness, doubt, and a bit of paranoia began to creep in when I would consume higher levels of THC. I was freaked out at the thought of having to work through these emotions because cannabis usually helps me navigate through these types of feelings, so why was it now betraying me and suddenly feeling like it was increasing these negative effects?? I had to take a step back and do some real self-reflection on my prior consumption compared to my post-break consumption and figure out why higher amounts of THC & certain terpenes may be contributing to negative patterns in my mood. When I consume consciously (by picking my cannabis based on the terps I enjoy and pairing that with lower doses of THC and higher amounts of CBD) the negative feelings I struggle with seem to have a less dominant place in my life and that makes me feel great!
I decided this was a good opportunity to switch up my consumption methods. I like to incorporate CBD into my daily schedule (for me, the more the better, but please be mindful that this may not be the case for you). Because there are so many ways to consume CBD on the market, it can feel a bit overwhelming. I recommend doing a bit of research on all products you may be interested in before consuming. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, most budtenders out there are eager to guide you towards something that will fit your needs. I gravitate towards ingestible oils and capsules. The CBD Omega Lemon Lavender Oil by Dosecann has been a nice addition to my daily routine. This oil has a pleasant taste and offers plant-based Omega benefits derived from the Ahiflower. I will say that with CBD you want to try and be consistent with your consumption as it will take a bit of time before you notice your body’s full response to it. While THC has intoxicating effects that you usually feel within a short window of time and will build up a tolerance to over time, CBD has the opposite effect; it is non-intoxicating and consistent use will not affect your tolerance, only enhance your experience.
Lately I have noticed that my body has more aches than before and baths are a great addition to my wellness routine. I have been enjoying adding a scoop of CBD Epsom Salts and currently living for the ones from Simply Soak by Fleurish into my bath. Made from all natural ingredients including Vitamin E and offering a nice high dose of full spectrum CBD per bag, these are quickly becoming one of my favourites! Bonus: I love that Fleurish is a local (Kemptville, ON), female led farm growing craft cannabis products. They focus on celebrating the unique energy and power within women and I am here for it!!!
I still like to have my daily toke throughout the day to boost my productivity. My go-to has been the CBD Runtz pre-rolls by Orchid CBD. These CBD dominant joints have been a game changer and provide me with a nice low dose of THC which helps with relaxation without the urge to want to melt into my couch and get lost in the rabbit hole that is TikTok. I find smoking flower with both THC and CBD creates an entourage effect and enhances my overall experience. Main terpenes present in this cultivar are Myrcene, which is so relaxing; Limonene to keep me smiling and feeling uplifted; and Caryophyllene, to help with reducing feelings of discomfort in my body.
When the day is done and I can enjoy something a lil stronger to help unwind before bed, I like to vape flower or dab concentrates with my Pax 3. Vaping allows for a better experience in terms of enhancing those terpene and flavonoid profiles cannabis produces and gives the ol’ lungs a break from all the byproducts that can be brought on by high temperature combustion (smoking a joint, bong or pipe). I tend to gravitate towards flower or full spectrum concentrates high in terpenes that have a more relaxing vibe like Myrcene, Linalool, Caryophyllene or Alpha-Terpinolene.
By making these small shifts in my cannabis consumption, I feel back on a clearer path while still reaping the benefits that cannabis offers. That small 7 day break was the reminder I needed to check in with myself often and listen to what my body is telling me.
Maybe you’re reading this and thinking “Oh hellllll no!! That won’t work for me” and you might be right!! Our endocannabinoid systems are unique and you know yourself better than anyone else on this earth. Listen to your body, try picking your next cannabis product based on their terpene profile, don’t be afraid to adjust your consumption and try something new if only for a short time. You might, like me, surprise yourself.
Happy Consuming everyone!
Spliff aka Tiff
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