{"id":48126,"date":"2019-10-17T21:20:14","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T21:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/stoned-sex-can-your-love-life-tolerate-a-thc-tolerance-break\/"},"modified":"2019-10-17T21:20:14","modified_gmt":"2019-10-17T21:20:14","slug":"stoned-sex-can-your-love-life-tolerate-a-thc-tolerance-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/culture\/stoned-sex-can-your-love-life-tolerate-a-thc-tolerance-break\/","title":{"rendered":"Stoned Sex: Can Your Love Life Tolerate a THC Tolerance Break?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to Stoned Sex<\/em><\/u><\/a>, the column where I\u2019ll be exploring the intersection of sex and sativas, intercourse and indicas, often through first-hand experience and interviews with experts.<\/em><\/p>\n

For this week\u2019s edition, we\u2019ll be diving into the ups and downs of tolerance breaks and how to go about your dating life while taking a hiatus from Mary Jane. ‘Stoned Sex’ will be running every other week, so make sure to stay tuned for the next dose.<\/em><\/p>\n

Once upon a time, 10mg of THC got you so high that doggos on the street made you sob at the mere sight of their cuteness. But now, that same dose barely dulls your social anxiety. Perhaps it\u2019s time for something called a \u201ct-break,\u201d also known as a tolerance break. That\u2019s when you take a hiatus from pot (gasp!), and it\u2019s meant to reset your system so you don\u2019t have to smoke an eighth of weed, or eat a whole bag of edibles, just to get your desired buzz.<\/p>\n

And, while cannabis isn\u2019t physically addictive, it can cause psychological dependence. So, rather than throwing up or shaking, you may feel anxious<\/a>, unlike yourself, and awkward in social situations without cannabis. Research suggests<\/u><\/a> that our tolerance increases with time. So taking a break is a great way to find elevated joy from those delicious 10mg edibles again. <\/p>\n

That said, tolerance breaks aren\u2019t for everyone, and they\u2019re much easier said than done. Plus, even if it\u2019s something you know your brain (and wallet) needs, removing the ganja glasses can make dating more difficult, especially if cannabis is your preferred social lubricant. So, that\u2019s what this week\u2019s Stoned Sex is all about: how to survive a tolerance break without destroying your relationship(s).<\/p>\n

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Why Take a Tolerance Break?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

There are plenty of reasons why people take breaks from our goddess Mary Jane \u2014 too many to name, in fact. Many abstain from weed for a bit simply because they\u2019re frustrated with how much weed they have to consume to get stoned. That situation can make toking with friends difficult because one person requires a dose of THC that will get everyone else blitzed \u2018till next Tuesday. At that point, a high tolerance starts to impact social situations and the ability to vibe on the same level as others, which isn\u2019t fun.<\/p>\n

Also, weed isn\u2019t free. So, the more THC someone needs, the more money they spend, which won\u2019t be easy on the wallet. For instance, puffing through a full $60 vape cartridge every week will add up to more than $3,000 a year. Yikes.<\/p>\n

For those prone to the munchies, taking some time off inevitably leads to less cannabis and<\/em> Cheetos, which is an easy way to re-adjust your diet and health. Even without quitting cold turkey, people can make efforts towards a more nutritious lifestyle by stocking up on healthier snacks such as fresh fruits, or veggies and hummus. <\/p>\n

Munchies can be distressing, especially if you have a history of an eating disorder. But remember that they can also be a good thing. If you have a low appetite or trouble keeping on weight, cannabis can help you consume the calories your body needs by stimulating your appetite. So, as with any supplement or medication, before you stop using cannabis entirely, take a conscious inventory about how and why you use the plant.  <\/p>\n

Some have to take breaks because of drug testing at work or because they won\u2019t have access to weed while traveling to non-legal states or countries. While cannabis is safe, it\u2019s still a substance. So some people press pause just to give their bodies a chance to regulate on its own. <\/p>\n

\u201cCannabis is already in my day to day life, so it naturally works itself into my love and sex life,\u201d said High Times<\/em> columnist Gaby Herstik<\/u><\/a>. \u201cI recently took a tolerance break for about two weeks. My heart was feeling physically weird and my lungs were feeling a little unhappy.\u201d After two weeks, she welcomed cannabis back into her life with clearer lungs, an open heart, a sharp mind, and<\/em> a lower tolerance.<\/p>\n

The good thing is that there are no rules around how long a tolerance break should last. You can chill out from weed for a few days or six months to remove THC from your system, depending on your goals. Two weeks or 10 days is a popular length for a t-break. If you need to pass a urine test for work, it generally takes around 30 days for THC to become undetectable in your body, if you\u2019re a semi-regular user. But how to pass a drug test<\/a> is a topic for a whole different story. <\/p>\n

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How Does a Break From Weed Affect Your Love Life?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a medical patient or not, cannabis reduces anxiety and can help you relax before a date. \u201cI\u2019ll smoke a little before to make me less nervous. Sometimes it has the opposite effect, though,\u201d Herstik said. \u201cBut, for the most part, I like to smoke to feel more in my body.\u201d <\/p>\n

Cannabis makes dating (and life in general) way easier. It calms nerves, and can even help you bond with your partner in a positive manner because it reduces negative bias<\/u><\/a> in emotional processing. Marijuana is an established aphrodisiac \u2014 emotionally, mentally, and physically. In addition to calming bedroom anxiety (of course, too much THC can induce anxiety) weed increases blood flow, reduces inflammation, and eases pain. Cannabis users have solid reasons for loving stoned sex. You don\u2019t even need a partner. \u201cI use it for masturbation,\u201d Herstik said. <\/p>\n

So when you take all of that away, you\u2019re faced with the prospect of dating (and fucking) without your medicine, which is more than daunting. It\u2019s worth noting that, for many people, cannabis is a very real medicine. It\u2019s ill-advised to stop taking it suddenly, the same way abruptly taking a break from using SSRI antidepressants is not recommended. So, ultimately, tolerance breaks aren\u2019t for everyone.<\/p>\n

Gallery \u2014 These Bongs Serve Multiple Purposes, Right?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n