How To Reset Your Weed Tolerance: Tips And What To Expect

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HealthlineSubscribeHow to Reset Your Cannabis Tolerance

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Sian Ferguson on March 12, 2020

Tolerance 101
T breaks
Other tips
Withdrawal
Prevention
Takeaway

closeup of woman lighting cannabis joint

Feel like cannabis isn’t working for you the way it used to? You might be dealing with a high tolerance.

Tolerance refers to your body’s process of getting used to cannabis, which can result in weaker effects.

In other words, you need to ingest more to get the same effects you once did. This can be particularly problematic if you’re using cannabis for medical reasons.

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to reset your tolerance.

First, here’s a look at how tolerance develops

Cannabis tolerance develops when you use it regularly.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. It works by affecting the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain.

If you ingest THC often, your CB1 receptors are reduced over time. This means the same amount of THC won’t affect the CB1 receptors in the same way, resulting in reduced effects.

There’s no strict timeline for how tolerance develops. It depends on a range of factors, including:

how often you use cannabis
how strong the cannabis is
your personal biology

Consider taking a ‘T break’

One of the most common ways to lower your cannabis tolerance is to take a break from using cannabis. These are often called “T breaks.”

Research shows that, while THC can deplete your CB1 receptors, they can recover over time and return to their previous levels.

The length of your T break is up to you. There’s no solid data on exactly how long it takes for CB1 receptors to recover, so you’ll have to experiment a bit.

Some people find that a few days does the trick. Most online forums advise that 2 weeks is the ideal time frame.

Other things to try

If you’re using cannabis for medical reasons, taking a T break might not be feasible. There are a few other strategies you can try.

Use cannabis products with a higher CBD-to-THC ratio

Cannabidiol (CBD) is another chemical found in cannabis. It doesn’t seem to lead to depletion of CB1 receptors, meaning it doesn’t cause you to develop tolerance the way THC does.

CBD won’t give you a “high,” but it does seem to have several potential health benefits, such as reducing pain and inflammation.

At many dispensaries, you can find products ranging from a 1-to-1 ratio to as high as 16-to-1.

Tightly control your doses

The less cannabis you use, the less likely you are to develop a tolerance. Use the minimum you need to feel comfortable, and try not to overindulge.

Use cannabis less often

If possible, use cannabis less frequently. This can help to both reset your tolerance and prevent it from coming back again in the future.

Be prepared for potential withdrawal symptoms

Many people who have developed a high tolerance do go through cannabis withdrawal when taking a T break or using less cannabis than usual.

Cannabis withdrawal isn’t necessarily as intense as withdrawal from alcohol or other substances, but it can still be quite uncomfortable.

You might experience:

mood swings
fatigue
headaches
cognitive impairment
diminished appetite
stomach problems, including nausea
insomnia
intense, vivid dreams

To help with these symptoms, make sure to get plenty of hydration and rest. You can also try using over-the-counter medications to deal with headaches and nausea.

Exercise and fresh air can help you feel alert and reduce any slumps in your mood.

The withdrawal symptoms might make it tempting to continue using cannabis. To keep yourself accountable, tell your loved ones that you’re taking a break.

While the symptoms are uncomfortable, the good news is that cannabis withdrawal symptoms usually only last for 72 hours.

How to prevent it from happening again

Once you’ve reset your tolerance, keep the following in mind to keep your tolerance in check moving forward:

Use lower-THC products. Since it’s THC that leads to the depletion of your CB1 receptors, it’s wise to opt for products that are a bit lower in THC.
Don’t use cannabis too often. The more you use it, the higher your tolerance will be, so try to only use it occasionally or as needed.
Use a lower dosage. Try consuming less cannabis at a time, and try to wait a bit longer before re-dosing.
Use CBD instead. You may want to consider giving CBD-only products a try if you’re looking to reap the potential health benefits of cannabis. However, THC does have some benefits that CBD doesn’t seem to have, so this switch isn’t viable for everyone.

Keep in mind that tolerance might be unavoidable for some folks. If you find that you’re prone to developing a high tolerance, consider coming up with a plan to take regular T breaks as needed.

The bottom line

It’s pretty normal to develop a tolerance to cannabis if you use it often. In most cases, taking a T break for a week or two will reset your tolerance.

If that’s not an option, consider switching to products that are lower in THC or reducing your cannabis consumption.

Keep in mind that cannabis tolerance can sometimes be a sign of cannabis use disorder. If you’re concerned about your cannabis use, you have options:

Have an open and honest conversation with your healthcare provider.
Call SAMHSA’s national helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357), or use their online treatment locater.
Find a support group through the Support Group Project.

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bonnet U, et al. (2017). The cannabis withdrawal syndrome: Current insights.https://www.dovepress.com/the-cannabis-withdrawal-syndrome-current-insights-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-SAR
Hirvonen J, et al. (2011). Reversible and regionally selective downregulation of brain cannabinoid CB1 receptors in chronic daily cannabis smokers. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2011.82
Mason NL, et al. (2019). Reduced responsiveness of the reward system is associated with tolerance to cannabis impairment in chronic users. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.12870
Ramaekers JG, et al. (2020). Blunted highs: Pharmacodynamic and behavioral models of cannabis tolerance. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.01.006
Volkow ND, et al. (2014). Adverse health effects of marijuana use.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4827335/
Zehra A, et al. (2018). Cannabis addiction and the brain: A review. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-018-9782-9

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Sian Ferguson on March 12, 2020

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