Should you take a tolerance break? You may be wondering when to take a tolerance break from delta-8. No matter what kind of cannabis user you may be, over time, you build up a tolerance to what you’re smoking or consuming. A cannabis, CBD, or delta-8 tolerance buildup is inevitable with frequent use, and it leads to some less-than-desirable effects.
A buildup means a lessened high and, in CBD’s case, lessened effects in general. It also ends up requiring increasingly higher doses to achieve even a semblance of the desired benefits.
Not only can it be frustrating – it can get expensive. A tolerance that’s too high isn’t something to brag about; it just means you require infinitely more products than those that aren’t frequent users, which can be a drag.
We want to focus on the effects and frequent use of d8, as well as both when and how you might benefit from a tolerance break. Let’s dive into the biggest reasons for when to take a tolerance break from delta-8, how long of a break is needed, how it can be used to be in full control of your smoking habits, and so much more.
Pros and Cons of Habitual Delta-8 Use
Frequent use of any cannabis product comes with pros and cons – even legal products like the delta-8 we derive from industrial hemp. We want to show both the advantages and disadvantages of using delta-8 as part of your habitual routine.
Pros of Using Delta-8 Products Regularly
- Ideal for social gatherings and social activities, Delta-8 does what many cannabis strains can’t.
- D8 products have a trend of providing a boost in energy levels and mood, with the high being much more energizing and alert.
- The impacts are also considered a milder and more user-friendly experience when compared to traditional delta-9 THC.
- Delta-8 may help consumers feel more alert and energized. That’s without the anxiety and paranoia that comes alongside high-THC strains for some users.
- Though it depends on the person, those negative symptoms are why some people have to quit consuming the plant. That makes d8 a good alternative and solution.
- The lethargy when coming down from a delta-9 high is palpable and something most of us cannabis users can probably resonate with. Fortunately, delta-8 users report that the end of their high doesn’t often come with an energy-zapping crash. The end of the high is much smoother, so you don’t have to plan your day around it.
Cons of Habitual Delta-8 Use
No matter how many benefits d8 has, it does get outshined by cannabis in just a few areas. It always comes down to preference because the cons for some may be the biggest benefit to others.
- For example, the lower potency is the biggest complaint among some, as delta-8 products are less potent than the delta-9 THC in cannabis. (This is a benefit to some, however, as the less-intense high helps you stay focused and not get cloudy-headed.)
- Likewise, some people have to quit smoking regular cannabis because of the intensity of their high, so this is an ideal alternative.
How to Successfully Take a Cannabis Tolerance Break
There are some tips and tricks to surviving a delta-8 or cannabis break. For the frequent users and everyday smokers among us, it’s not always the easiest feat. It is rewarding, though, and while it may be easier said than done, follow the advice below to get through your T-break more efficiently.
There are several ways to take a cannabis tolerance break successfully.
1. Know that You are in Control
While it may not be a simple walk in the park, you are fully capable of taking this tolerance break – and that’s what you must keep reminding yourself.
If you’re ready for a T-break, you’ve likely been using D8 for so long that you’ve built up a tolerance you can’t keep up with anymore. Consuming more Delta-8 might provide that quick relief you’re looking for at the moment, but it won’t be nearly as intense as it can be.
2. Test Your Willpower
Look at taking any tolerance break as what it truly is: a test of your willpower. Stand strong as you pass through 24 hours, the first week, and even as you go one month without it. We’ll talk about how long you should take your T-break a little later on, but you get the idea.
You can do this, especially when it comes to Delta-8 and CBD products that you know will benefit you more if you hold off for a long enough time.
3. Make a Strategy
Have a plan of action for how you’re going to take a break, what you’re going to do – and stick with it. If you need to, use the buddy system and have someone help you stay on track.
Remind yourself why you’re taking a tolerance break and how valuable waiting will be.
4. Keep Yourself Busy
Keeping yourself occupied is the easiest way to unlearn old habits and routines. Part of your plan of action should include the slices of time you would otherwise spend smoking or using delta-8 to get high.
Reading, watching a movie or new show, learning a martial art, a sport, or an instrument, you name it – there are countless ways to fill up your time, so make sure you keep yourself busy.
5. Rely on a Friend
If the cravings are particularly intense, it may not hurt to lean on friends to help you through this. Whatever you’re doing, you need to stay busy, so interact with more of your colleagues and acquaintances to make that a more likely option.
Keep a social calendar with events and gatherings with your friends who don’t partake to make it even easier on yourself. Surrounding yourself with a positive support system can be the make or break for many trying to complete a tolerance break successfully.
6. Get Some Exercise
Exercise releases endorphins throughout the body that help to improve the mood. For regular cannabis users, this might come in especially handy during a T-break. If you’ve ever taken one before, you know it’s easy to get grumpy when you don’t have your Delta-8.
Try exercising to improve your mood and exhaust yourself. General exercise is also an excellent remedy for those who have trouble going to sleep without a serving of D8. Exercise can tire you out and make you feel happy all at the same time.
7. Meditate
Meditation has been around for a long time, and there is a reason for that. Few ventures can offer the serenity and peace of mind that meditation has accomplished.
Often, when people take a tolerance break, side effects like anxious thoughts or irritability can creep in. Meditation offers a way to help calm the mind and unwind some of the reliance we have on our plant of choice.
If you find yourself struggling during your tolerance break, allow your mind to do a little self-maintenance with some proper meditation techniques. Once you get the hang of it, you may be blown away at how much better you feel.
When to Take a Tolerance Break from Delta-8
With a better understanding of how to get a tolerance break going and how to maintain it, it’s time to think about when you should start.
Anyone who is considering a tolerance break will probably have a reason already in mind. That doesn’t mean everyone will, and some people might be looking into tolerance breaks for the first time.
For people who may be questioning the when more than the what, we have put together a list of some of the most popular reasons that people decide to take a step back. Why don’t we go ahead and take a look at those below?
1. It just doesn’t hit the same.
You may notice that the feelings and effects you usually experience have tapered off. Feeling like your Delta-8 just isn’t packing the same punch that it used to is a good indication that it is time to step back for a little bit.
2. You end up using way too much for way too little.
Hand in hand with the above point, you may need to use more D8 just to feel what you are used to. When you couple that with it not feeling the same as when you started, it really starts to paint a picture that something is off.
3. It’s providing shorter, less potent effects.
If you are noticing that Delta-8 THC is not lasting near as long as it should be, that is a clear sign that you are building up a tolerance. The effect can compound so far that you may notice it lasts half the time it used to or even less.
4. You feel like you “need” it.
This isn’t in the sense of “I need this to live” or anything so drastic. It is more like relying on it as a crutch for certain endeavors. Creativity is a good example of this. People aren’t creative because they use a substance of some form; they are creative because they have a talent and can use it.
When it starts to feel like you “need” Delta-8 to achieve something, it might be time to step back and take a break to recenter yourself.
5. You’ve been saying you’ll quit.
You may have been wanting to quit or take a break for a while now. It could be something that you bring up with yourself or others fairly regularly. That can turn into a constant tinge of guilt for some people.
Anyone who feels like they need to stop, or have priorities that need to be focused on, maybe all too familiar with this feeling. There is no shame in wanting to change things up a bit and taking that step away to figure out what you want and need. It is completely normal.
If you find yourself feeling this way, it’s more than likely time to gear up for a break. Otherwise? Keep doing what you’re doing!
How Long Should the Break Last?
How long your delta-8 break should last is mostly determined by your tolerance level as it currently is. What you’re looking for when you take a break from any cannabis product is for your cannabinoid receptors to repair to where they’re reproducing on their own again.
The surge of phytocannabinoids can put a damper on your body’s natural ability to produce endocannabinoids, so the tolerance break helps your body naturally start producing those endocannabinoids again.
Let’s look at various tolerance levels and see how long each person of that level should wait during their T-break.
-
Beginner or Low Tolerance Level: 1-week Delta-8 Break
The first level is for those who already have a relatively low tolerance. Typically, this is where beginners and very casual smokers usually fit. And, while they’re rare, there are even the daily smokers who still manage to have an incredibly low tolerance (which they can probably just thank their endocannabinoid system for).
If you’re in this category, it’s best to hold off on using any delta-8 products for at least a week. The reward means such a better D8 experience once you’re back to taking advantage of its properties again.
-
Intermediate Tolerance Level: 2-week (or 10-day) Delta-8 Break
The mid-tolerance level delta-8 user may enjoy it a few times a week but not daily. You could use D8 as a stress reliever to pass the time when you get off work.
Intermediate users usually reserve their time using the product in the evenings to help stimulate better sleep or in the mornings to help them kickstart their day. Delta-8, and cannabis in general, have been shown to help with both depending on what time of the day you take the product. Someone could build up a routine for this without having to use the product every day.
If your tolerance is in this area, give it a minimum of 10 days for your break. If you can swing it, try to go for two weeks. The high and added benefits when you come back make it so worth it.
-
Advanced or High Tolerance Level: 3-week Delta-8 Break
Finally, for the heavy hitters – you know who you are. These are our daily smokers, our regular Delta-8 users who have built up such a high tolerance that they can barely even feel the products anymore.
Not only is it a shame, but it also gets expensive. If you’re in this category, it’s best to take at least a 3-week break, or longer if you can handle it. Your wallet and cannabinoid receptors will thank you, and you’ll be rewarded with a more powerful high when you do return to D8.
So – How Long Should You Wait?
In the end, though, it’ll come down to your preference. How long do you want the break to be? Regardless of how long you wait, your CB receptors will have at least started to repair and reproduce at the rate they were before you started smoking frequently.
While it’s always best to wait as long as possible, you’re likely to feel effects from your T-break even if you don’t complete the full cycle.
Why Does the Body Need a Tolerance Break?
As we mentioned, consuming cannabis and any of its derivatives means the natural cannabinoid receptors in your body start to dampen over time. These receptors are part of our endocannabinoid system and are what naturally produce endocannabinoids. This system is responsible for a large spectrum of biological and physiological functions.
- The body requires tolerance breaks from any substance from time to time.
- Just like with caffeine or sugar, a break from delta-8 or other hemp derivatives does the body good.
- It also makes the product more enjoyable when you do come back to it, and you have to use significantly less of it to get your desired results.
Taking a break from d8 will give your body’s cannabinoid receptors time to become sensitive to the compound again.
How to Prevent a Cannabis Tolerance in the Future
In reality, it’s hard to prevent a tolerance buildup if you use Delta-8 products every day.
- Lessening the frequency of use is always an option, but not one that everyone will favor. That’s why tolerance breaks come in so handy.
- You can get the most out of your Delta-8 items by spacing them out periodically or taking short T-breaks to give your body time to recharge.
What to Do When Your Break is Over
When you’ve reached the finish line, and you’re done with your tolerance break, be sure to browse our d8 products to discover your next favorite. Between Delta-8 brownies, dark chocolate, gummies, oils, and more, there’s something special waiting for you at the end of your T-break!
In this guide, we were able to tackle when to take a tolerance break with delta-8. Do you still have questions about the trending cannabinoid? Fortunately, we have answers to your inquiries. We have a blog dedicated to spreading knowledge about the industry we’re in. Even better, we have a narrowed-down delta-8 THC section for you to browse through at your convenience.