Many people are consuming a little too much cannabis as a way to deal with the stresses of modern life, and could probably benefit from reducing how much they consume.
But determining when to reduce your use is easier said than done.
Here are some key signs to look out for to know when it’s time to take a break from weed.
Cannabis tolerance explained
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis.
When THC enters the body, it activates cannabinoid receptors in the brain, specifically the CB1 receptors. Activation of these receptors produces the psychoactive effects associated with cannabis use, such as altered perception, changes in mood, and altered memory and concentration.
As a person continues to use cannabis, the CB1 receptors in their brain become exposed to THC on a regular basis. In response, the body starts to downregulate, or decrease the number of, these receptors in order to compensate for the constant presence of THC.
This means that there are fewer CB1 receptors available to bind with THC and produce its psychoactive effects. As a result, a person will need to use more cannabis in order to achieve the same level of psychoactive effects that they experienced when they first started using the drug.
This is known as cannabis tolerance.
Downregulation of CB1 receptors is one of the ways in which the body can adapt to the regular presence of a foreign substance, such as THC. It’s a normal physiological response that helps to maintain balance in the body’s systems.
However, in the case of cannabis tolerance, it can lead to the need for a person to use increasingly larger amounts in order to achieve the desired effects, which can increase the risk of negative side effects and potential negative consequences.
Why would you need a cannabis detox?
There are many good reasons to take a break from cannabis. The most obvious reason is to simply lower your tolerance as you just don’t get as high as you used to. High tolerance is a feature many long-term smokers will experience so they may wish to take a break every now and then.
Additionally, if your tolerance is high, you may find yourself consuming a lot more weed than you would like to. And this can be very expensive. Switching to a dry herb vape may help you be more economical with your stash but a detox is still a useful way to reduce the amount you consume and, therefore, save some money.
Compulsive cannabis use, also known as cannabis dependence or cannabis addiction, could also be a good reason to take a break. For more information on establishing a healthy relationship to cannabis, check out my book Overcoming Cannabis Dependence.
7 sign it’s time to take a cannabis detox
1. When you feel like it’s “needed” for different activities
If you can’t go eat, go for a walk, or even go out with friends without the need to smoke a joint, then this is probably a good sign that you need to have a break.
Moreso if you are continuing to consume cannabis at work, home, or school, even though it’s causing problems with your performance or relationships.
2. When you’ve started to “hibernate”
This happens to many of us, but weed can heighten how lethargic you are throughout the day, and sitting on the sofa watching films and eating snacks sounds much more appealing than doing anything productive.
Of course, lazy days with some cannabis can be really fun, but if it’s happening every day then it might be time to evaluate whether weed is helping you or hurting you.
3. Getting stoned when you know you shouldn’t
Another important red flag is when you’re getting high in places where it’s socially unaccepted or just plain illegal.
For example, if you try to smoke weed in a country with strict cannabis laws, or if you’re driving whilst being extremely high.
If you find yourself doing these things regularly, it’s an important sign that you need to change your behaviour and relationship with weed.
4. It’s making a big dent in your finances
One very easy way to spot when it’s time to cut down on your cannabis habits is by looking at how much you’re spending on it.
If you’re spending a lot more money on cannabis than usual, it either means that you’re getting super high more often, or your tolerance is increasing.
If it’s going above what you can reasonably afford, have a break.
5. It’s getting in the way of your responsibilities
No, cannabis isn’t responsible for all of your laziness, but another tell-tale sign of when it’s time to take a break is when you’re not fulfilling your responsibilities.
Maybe you said you’d go to the gym, tidy your house, or work a little longer. But instead, you decided to get stoned instead and put off all your responsibilities and leave them for another day.
6. You feel guilty about it
Let’s be honest here, cannabis is meant to be a pleasurable experience. So if you’re not getting any pleasure from, only guilt, then what’s the point?
Maybe you want to take a break, or you’ve been thinking about quitting for a while, but you just can’t seem to go through with it.
There’s no shame whatsoever in taking a break from cannabis, or cutting it out completely, if it’s getting in the way of your life.
Your mental health and happiness are what’s most important in your life. If cannabis is disrupting that, then you need to take the first steps and give it a break.
7. Loved ones show concern
If your friend, lover or parent tells you they think you’re smoking too much, most of us will get defensive and deny it. However, chances are they’re onto something.
Try not to respond emotionally and consider what and why they are saying what they are. Loved ones want the best for you and by bringing this up with you, they are doing what they think is best.
Be grateful you have such a person in your life, take their concerns seriously, and don’t be afraid to ask them for help.
How long does it take to detox from weed?
How long detox should last depends on a number of factors, such as your goals, how much you consume, your height and your weight. The minimum amount of time that is needed in order to reset tolerance to THC seems to be about two days, according to most reports. Heavy consumers may need a bit longer, however.
The study backs this up, finding that there was no difference between the prevalence of CB1 receptors between the smokers and non-smokers after just two days of abstinence from cannabis.
If you struggle with compulsive behaviours or just wish to make sure your tolerance is completely reset, you may choose to do a longer detox. Two weeks to a month is a popular duration for not only resetting tolerance levels back to pre-smoking levels, but also re-establishing healthy levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.
If you are facing a drug test, you will probably want to hold out for at least a month so that all the THC being stored in your body’s fat cells has purged.
Tips for a successful weed detox
So now that you know how cannabis tolerance works and why you might consider doing a detox, here are some tips that will help you to successfully manage the process.
1. Set a goal
If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t know when you’re there. Therefore, the first step to a successful weed detox is to set yourself a realistic goal. For example, 48 hours with no weed, 3 days with no weed, etc. Without a clear goal, you’re set to fail.
2. Prepare
If you have taken a break from weed before, then you probably know how you handle it and what you’ll be up against. If you haven’t, be prepared for possible sleepless nights, irritability, loss of appetite, cravings, and more.
You can prepare for these issues by choosing to detox when you have a few days off work or nothing important/stressful going on at the same time. Get a few good books in or line up a new series to binge watch.
3. Get rid of all your weed
Out of sight, out of mind. The last thing you need when trying to abstain from weed is a big, shiny bag of frosty nugs sitting in your house somewhere. To make sure you don’t give in and light up on the first night, remove all cannabis from your house. Give it to a friend, sell it or flush it down the toilet.
Whatever you do with it, knowing that it’s not in easy reach when the cravings kick in will help you to overcome them and to continue your detox.
4. Put your glass and other devices and accessories away
The same goes for any glass, rigs, vapes, or even papers and grinders – put it away and out of sight. Put it in storage for the duration or give it to a friend to hold on to. This will help you to avoid thinking about using it.
5. Tell your friends
If you usually smoke with your friends, tell them before you start your detox that that is what you will be doing and that you need the support. Explain that you won’t be smoking/vaping/dabbing with them for a short amount of time and ask them not to tempt you off the wagon.
Good friends will understand and do their best to help. You may even persuade one or two to join you taking a detox, which will give you even more incentive to complete it.
6. Pick up healthy habits
One way to make the transition from regular cannabis consumption to abstinence easier is by eating healthy, exercising and meditating. These practices will help you to feel good and will also help reduce any negative symptoms you may experience.
Home-cooked meals are recommended, while avoiding any processed and high-sugar foods is also important.
7. Find a new hobby
Consuming weed is a time-consuming hobby. So, when you give it up for a period of time, you will want to find some other activity to fill up all the free time you will have. Joining a team is especially effective. You could also read, learn to cook, or start a project of some sort.
8. Keep busy
Keeping busy in general will be a major help to your detox. Meet up with non-smoking friends, go out for the day, or visit some relatives. Keeping busy will help keep the cravings at bay and tire you out enough to help you sleep at night.
9. Use CBD
Using a form of cannabis to help you not use cannabis may sound like a contradiction, but CBD is nothing like THC. First of all, it won’t get you high as it does not bind to the CB1 receptor like THC does. Second, it is very effective at reducing anxiety and promoting rest and sleep.
This full-spectrum 20% CBD oil from Brown’s CBD would be ideal for reducing cravings and irritability, promoting relaxation and sleep, and stimulating appetite and motivation.
What if you use cannabis for medical reasons and can’t take a break?
Many people use cannabis for medical reasons and are unable to stop using it in order to lower their tolerance. In these cases, reducing your dose, vaping rather than smoking, and avoiding binge sessions may help to up-regulate CB1 receptors and lower your tolerance.
For example, try vaping half of what you would usually smoke in a bowl and then wait two hours before having the same dose again. While this may not be enough to be effective to start with, after some days your tolerance should reduce and you should find yourself higher on less weed for longer.
Again, CBD can also help.
Conclusion
If you’ve found yourself consuming more weed than you’d like, and if the signs mentioned above resonate with you, it may be time for a detox.
2-30 days is a good range to aim for. And be prepared as you may experience symptoms that make a weed detox difficult to complete. Having some high quality CBD oil on hand will help.
But don’t let that put you off. With the above helpful tips you will be well on track to successfully completing a weed detox and, when you do return to the herb, you will be in for a high that you haven’t felt since when you first started smoking weed.
Enjoy it. You deserve it.
Read more: 10 Tips For A Healthy Relationship With Cannabis
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