Can a tolerance break help me save money?

Voted “Best Budtender in Chicago,” Lorena Cupcake has answered hundreds of questions from cannabis buyers and patients during her time as a budtender. And now they’re turning that experience into a monthly advice column. Ask a budtender. Have a question for Cupcake? Send your questions to askabudtender@weedmaps.com.

dear cupcakes,

I use edibles regularly. Over time I’ve built up such a high tolerance that I feel like I’m wasting money on products that don’t provide the benefits I’m used to. Should I take tolerance breaks? For how long?

Are there other ways to get more bang for my buck?

— Not a cheap date

Life is easy when a standard 10 milligram THC gummi gets the job done, Cheap Date. Take it often enough and you will find that the effects will diminish over time as your sensitivity to THC decreases.

Taking a tolerance break is a proven way to restore some of your body’s original response to cannabinoids; but for those of us who have incorporated cannabis into our daily routine, it’s often easier said than done. To encourage and inspire you as you take a T-Break, I spoke to cannabis educator Emma Chasen, co-owner and operator of Eminent Consulting, a cannabis consultancy that works with brands, corporations and industry professionals.

With a degree in medicinal plant research, Chasen has the academic bonafides to inform her work and create educational programs for new budtenders. Perhaps just as important, she has her own lived experience of using cannabis to unwind and relax—a practice that includes taking breaks when needed.

“Actually, I just finished a tolerance break of about 2 to 3 weeks,” Chasen noted. “I took this recent tolerance break because I noticed that a food I eat often was causing panic attack symptoms. That was my sign that I needed to step away from cannabis for a while, let my body regenerate, and then come back when I felt ready.”

Why should you take tolerance breaks?

“With chronic use, the body can build a tolerance to the intoxicating effects of THC,” Chasen explained. “This is because the receptors in our central nervous system to which THC binds to induce psychotropic effects (CB1 receptors) become desensitized to THC over time with repeated exposure. Tolerance breaches allow CB1 receptors to recover and reset.”

Saving money when stocking up at the pharmacy is one reason to take tolerance breaks, but by no means the only one. Daily use has downsides, such as increasing the chance of developing cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a difficult-to-diagnose condition that can cause severe nausea and vomiting in response to cannabis use.

According to Chasen, the important role played by CB1 receptors and the endocannabinoid system in modulating the gut-brain axis means cannabis can have both positive and negative effects on nausea, appetite, and gut motility. “Therefore,” she said, “taking a break from THC use will not only allow your body to restore the high you once felt from lower THC doses, but also signaling between the CB1 receptors without the influence of THC.” regulate.”

How long does a T break last?

The good news is that even brief pauses in tolerance result in rapid changes in CB1 receptor availability. dr Adie Rae, resident subject matter expert in cannabis science and pharmacology at Weedmaps, suggests taking two days off each month to keep your endocannabinoid system sensitive to THC.

According to a 2017 study of frequent cannabis users, those two days of abstinence result in a significant upregulation of CB1 receptors. If you stick through a full four weeks of abstinence, most of the tolerance you’ve built up will be erased; However, you probably won’t regain the sensitivity of someone who has never used cannabis.

How to save money if you have a high tolerance

While I think you could benefit from a quick reset, Cheap Date, you’ll likely still have a tolerance on the high end, meaning you’d have to spend a small fortune on microdosed mints to get a decent high. One way to save money is to swap commercial edibles for full extract cannabis oil (FECO), a highly concentrated whole plant extract similar to RSO (Rick Simpson Oil).

You may be familiar with the entourage effect, a term used to describe how cannabinoids (like THC and CBD) work synergistically with terpenes and other phytochemicals to increase therapeutic benefits. To standardize effects and dosage, many edibles manufacturers rely on distillates, which are highly refined extracts that strip THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids of all foreign compounds.

“Typically, products that contain a variety of compounds in addition to THC are most effective for people with a high tolerance,” Chasen suggested, “may result in a more intoxicating experience due to the broader array of compounds present in the product.”

A 1 gram syringe of FECO can contain the same amount of THC found in about seven packets of gummy bears, making your regular repetition a significant savings on your wallet. Because the active ingredients are already decarboxylated, FECO is ready for oral use. If you don’t like the taste, try adding it to any recipe where a semi-solid, flavorful oil (like cold coconut oil) might go missing. While some heat may be necessary to loosen the super viscous, gooey goo, use caution; THC rapidly degrades to CBN at temperatures above 392°F.

“Other examples of product types with a variety of compounds include rosin, living resin, full-spectrum CO2 extract… and of course, flower,” Chasen said. With so many options available, there is probably a way to get high that works for your body and budget, even with an increased tolerance.