Tolerance -
tolerance -
Tolerance - tolerance -
The art of tolerance
Tips to never need t-breaks again.
Taking control of your tolerance isn’t all that hard -
if you know how.
Taking on tolerance is tough.
Written by Aaryn Indica
If you're a person that partakes in the ‘Devil's lettuce’ quite often, then you've without a doubt heard, and even dealt with, tolerance in the world of weed.
Tolerance means the amount of cannabis you need in order to get high or feel its most prominent effects.
Though it’s absolutely possible to benefit from the therapeutic properties of cannabis without getting high, this method - ‘microdosing’ - isn’t where the magic is. Let’s be honest - if the majority of us wanted herbs that didn’t get us high, we’d go find a farmers market.
Over time, your tolerance grows the more you smoke, and the overall effects and high of the weed will feel weaker. This usually means you end up buying more and smoking it quicker. Before you know it, you’re burning through an eighth of bud almost every other day.
Tolerance isn't something to take lightly and if left unchecked it can really ruin your experience with weed.
The typical solution is a T-break.
A T-break - short for tolerance break - is simply an amount of time where you stop smoking in order to give your tolerance time to reset. The longer you take off on your t-break, the harder your weed will hit next time around.
But taking t-breaks isn't actually all that fun.
Plus for the routine or daily smokers - especially ones living with chronic pain, neurodivergency or other medical conditions - it can be downright torturous. Being able to actually feel the effects of your medicine is of the utmost importance. It’s time we say it - for some people, being able to take and feel the effects of cannabis every day can be a necessity. And on the other end of the spectrum, some people just like getting high, and they want to keep it that way. (Right on, man.)
So, how do you keep your tolerance in check without taking a t-break? Is that even possible?
I can attest that it very much is. Here are seven tips to control and cut your tolerance without a t-break.
1. Portion Out Your Pot.
Before you start your day, decide how much cannabis you want to use. Prep your pot beforehand.
If you have a scale, that's something you can use. If you don't, you can eyeball it like usual. Just measure out the amount of grams that you are planning to smoke, or the goal of lower consumption that you want to hit.
During your morning wake-and-bake, or even the night before, pre-grind your flower or pre-pack some cones so you set them aside throughout the day.
When you can visibly see how much cannabis you have left, it's a lot easier to be conscious of how much you're partaking. If you know you only have three J's to smoke in a day, chances are you're probably going to smoke those J's more deliberately, mindfully, and slowly. Plus, it helps resist the urge to roll a 2g fattie in the middle of the day.
Get ahead of your tolerance by telling it who’s boss. By deciding your intake and pot-prepping beforehand, you can really keep an eye on your tolerance. Just make sure to keep the rest out of sight.
2. Try Edibles.
Now this may sound wild, but did you know your edibles and smoking tolerances aren’t tethered to each other?
Even daily smokers can be sidelined by a particularly potent pot-brownie, and somebody who really loves their THC gummies can easily be laid out by a couple puffs off a joint.
You can thank science for that. Edibles require cannabis to be converted in the stomach and liver - instead of inhaled into the lungs. In the liver, it’s changed into a whole different compound - 11 Hydroxy-THC. This compound is different from the typical Delta-9 THC, hence why the high edibles give you feels drastically different than smoking.
Your edibles tolerance doesn't touch your smoking tolerance. Your smoking tolerance doesn't touch your edibles tolerance.
So if you're somebody who likes to smoke often, maybe find yourself some edibles you like to hold yourself over for a couple of days. Or dedicate a day of the week where you just use edibles. Even though they may not be our first choice in times like these, these edibles can definitely come in clutch.
3. buy weaker and cheaper.
Try out weaker weed. While it may seem simple, this is something that often doesn't cross people's minds.
If the high off edibles just isn't your thing, and you're a person who likes potent pot, then maybe it's time to pull back a little bit.
Those with high tolerance tend to go for flower that contain 25% THC and above - or ideally even 30%. When this becomes our norm, not only does it get expensive, but our tolerance shoots through the roof pretty quickly.
Take a step back next time you're at a dispensary. Give yourself a THC cap, buy flower that is between 20% and 25% and see how it makes you feel. If you buy from a dealer, ask if they have anything ‘lower-grade’ if you don’t want to say ‘cheaper’.
Sure, you may not get as high throughout the day, but you'll be smoking just as much, plus you can keep the stronger stuff around as a treat or a THC boost.
Over time our body will adjust to the new potency, because you’ll be intaking less THC. The technique gives your tolerance the time to naturally regulate itself without needing a cold-turkey t-break.
4. routinely rotate methods
Sure, most potheads have their preferences.
As a budtender, it's not surprising when I come across a co-worker who swears by glass or one who loves grabba and blunts. We all have that one method of cannabis consumption that we consider best.
But it's even better to not box yourself in.
If there are three things the truly seasoned stoner needs, it’s a good bong, a pipe for emergencies, and two hands to roll a damn good J.
Switch up your methods. Bong bowls typically use less weed than joints, so by switching to bong bowls on the weekdays, your beloved doobie can hit doubly as hard on the weekends.
If you typically like bowls, take some days off to smoke some dogwalker joints. If you like blunts, switch to spliffs. Sure, you may not get the full kick of the nicotine, but you can still tailor your ratio and experience, and you'll be using a lot less flower. If you go for the spliffs route, you might not even notice much of a difference.
And if you’re a seasoned smoker, maybe consider investing in a dry herb vape - or you can level up to dabs.
5. Time your sessions.
Starting your day with a quick smoke sounds fun - until smoking becomes your whole day. Instead of spending time fucking up your tolerance - consider the art of The Timed Sesh.
Whenever you’re going for a smoke, stop what you’re doing - and commit yourself to a smoke sesh. Set the scene, grab your green, put your phone aside - and start a timer. During that time, do nothing but enjoy your smoke.
Sink into your sesh.
It only takes 4:20 minutes to smoke a good bowl. If you like dabs, set it for 7:10 minutes and take as many as you want or can.
Sip a drink, listen to music out loud, and smoke up.
Once the timer runs out, you get up.
Don’t use your phone. Buy a timer - set it on the other side of the room or in a different room if you need to. Put your stash in a different room, so you can’t roll up without leaving your room. Only grab as much snacks as you need for the sesh, so eventually you have to go to the kitchen.
This is the important part: No matter what you do, obey the timer.
And always have another activity you’re ready to do right after.
6. Give Cbd a chance.
If your THC tolerance is doing you in, then maybe you should try its cousin, CBD. Especially CBD flower - hemp.
For the uninitiated, CBD is a cannabinoid - just like THC - and one of the compounds found in the entourage effect. Known for its anti-inflammatory and anxiety reducing effects, CBD is the driving force behind the therapeutic nature of cannabis.
And while CBD doesn’t get you high - (don’t worry, we’ll take about those plants in a second) - it does give an uplifted, focused, or centered feeling. Plus, it can help cut cannabis cravings.
If you find you had trouble sleeping or eating during t-breaks, consider CBD. Or, if you’re a user with chronic illness or neurodivergence, this is the best bet for you too. Hell, the dose of CBD to your body will be far beyond that of most cannabis flower - and that may help you feel even better.
Though the best thing about CBD is that it comes in almost every form THC does.
If you smoke carts, there’s no need to do anything fancy - there’s CBD carts. If you love rolling up like I do, there’s hemp that’s just as frosty and terp-y as top shelf bud. If you just want to spark up, grab some all-hemp cigarettes. Or if you need a longer lasting effect, the list of CBD edibles on the market goes on and on.
Try this: The H Break
For one week, agree to use a 1:1 ratio with your hemp (or herbal mix) and your cannabis. Mix an equal amount of ground hemp in with your flower while rolling or packing a bowl. To make this easier, pre-grind and prepare this mix before hand.
Doing this for a couple days, aka a H-break, can be a better option for you than the torturous T-break. In one week, you’ll be consuming the same volume of weed - but almost half the THC. And you’ll be saving half of your bud.
I like to use CBD flower in my j’s regularly. I not only love the way CBD influences my high, but this way my tolerance is constantly low. Doing this for a while, coming home to a completely-cannabis bong bowl is enough to have me floating. That’s all thanks to the CBD flower.
How does this kill tolerance, though?
Well, by mixing hemp into your average cannabis you're lowering the amount of THC you consume over time. Like buying lower THC products, CBD flower essentially ‘dilutes’ the flower you already have on hand. This is perfect because you can control the ratio of CBD in your joints, bowls or blunts.
CBD flower acts just like cannabis, so your daily routine won't be disrupted much at all. And when you’re mixing it in with your bud, because of the entourage effect - it can even influence your high in calming and zen ways.
7. Herbal mixes that get you higher. (No, really).
CBD flower may not be the easiest thing to get, but if you have a herbal apothecary store near you, there's so many more options that's available for those who like to smoke.
If you smoke pretty strong flower at night, instead mix some lavender into your bowl to settle you down. If you use cannabis for being social or arousal, add some rose buds in there too. Not only will you be cutting back on buds, but you might even better your high too.
This works because other plants have terpenes too. These natural terpenes interact with THC through something called the entourage effect.
Just like the terpenes in cannabis, these herbal terpenes can influence - and even enhance - your high.
Herbal mixes can be a very surprising addition to your normal smoke rotation. You can add them into your weed the same way you would hemp flower, that way you can have your own flower-based H-break.
Or, you don't need to do this at a particular time. By adding in herbal mixes as a routine thing, you get to tailor your cannabis experience while keeping an eye on your tolerance.
Different herbs can give different effects based on the terpenes they contain, so you can get really specific if you do your homework.
The best part is - some of those legal herbs might even be a little psychoactive too.
If you’re a smoker, you can look into herbs like Wild Dagga, Blue Lotus, or Mugwort if you’re looking for something relaxing and psychoactive. Wild Dagga is known for being particularly relaxing, while Blue Lotus and Mugwort are good for a euphoric, sleepy haze that’s great before bed - and known to give trippy dreams.
8. consider (legal) alternative plant medicines.
Don't be shocked. There are other safe, consumable plants that get you high - ones that are legal in the United States.
You just have to know how to educate yourself on them.
While cannabis is, without a doubt, the most popular plant medicine, you may have heard of esoteric ones such as Ayahuasca and San Pedro, or the classic psilocybin Magic Mushrooms. Well, those are the extremes. And many of them are also - unfortunately ‘illegal’.
So with a high tolerance to cannabis, and no access to those - what’s a pothead to do?
What if I were to tell you there are still many mood-altering and all-natural options that you can look into?
Of course, you should absolutely do your research into any natural option you begin to consider. Heavy emphasis on the word ‘natural’. Avoid non-natural products - ie, things like ‘legal high’ vapes and edibles.
The potency of these products are outright questionable and its safety depends entirely on the extraction process of some shady producer. To keep it clear: no, those ‘mushroom gummies’ don’t do shit.
Make sure to do your homework, which may take a little digging for some of the more uncommon ventures. For this, Reddit is a pretty good space for anecdotal experiences from other ‘Psychonauts’.
I consider myself a ‘pothead’ first, but ‘psychonaut’ comes as a close second.
For those interested in dipping their toes into the world of legal tripping and white-listed psychedelics, you’ve got a lot of options to choose from.
Like alcohol-free root teas with indica effects inside, South African flowers that gives you that sunny sativa feeling, or even legal mushrooms that are closer to LSD than psilocybin.
Though, if you want the exact details,
that’s an article for another day.
[- make sure to subscribe :) ]
Mixing in herbal blends and alternative plant medicines into your routine - safely, that is - is a great way to take control of your cannabis consumption.
Not only will you learn a lot more about cannabis and other plants, you’ll notice that you actually consume less over time. Or you may even find a new favorite herb to pair with your morning joint.
Do your research. Take it slow. If you're already experienced with cannabis and you like the idea of all natural highs, take it slow and try them out - and you might find that weed isn't the only herb you want to have in routine.
Adding alternative medicines and herbs to my routine totally changed the way I use cannabis - I save weed, get higher, and best of all - connect to weed even more. Always do your research though.
I’ve broken up with t-breaks.
There’s a lot of ways to make tolerance a thing of the past. It’s worked for me.
Creating a rotation of tactics that you can combine with cannabis - and use in its place - gives you the control over the way you consume. You don’t have to play catch up with tolerance every time.
Mix it up, manage your portions, try some of the gentler strains. Or try something entirely new. You never know where it’ll take you.
Whether you're a large-time smoker that's just trying to reduce how much they consume, or a daily user just looking to lower their tolerance, all of these are ways to do exactly that. If you take it slow and get a little creative, you may find that it totally transforms your cannabis consumption.
Not only can you reset tolerance, but you can manage it all the time. That way you'll never need another t-break on the horizon.
Notice Anything missing?
Cyphr Magazine is AD-free !
Right now, Cyphr Magazine is an
one-person passion project,
centered on accessible cannabis education
for the everyday stoner.
Wanna support Cyphr ?
image credits: RDNE Stock Project, Kindel Media,
Alizia Kozik, Freepik