Puff, puff... pause
The art of the cannabis break
What do halftime at a basketball game, a paid vacation, an encore at a concert, and a rest stop on the interstate have in common? No, they aren’t all places Matt has smoked— although if you know where to catch a buzz at halftime, let him know. All of these are intentional breaks built into our lives in order to make the entire experience better. Basketball players get to recharge and strategize. Workers get to mentally reset. Musicians can grab a quick swig of water before closing with the big hit their fans have been waiting all night to hear. The weary traveler can… well, you know.
All of these examples illustrate how taking a break from the thing we love can actually make it better in the long run.
High Spirits took a little break last week. Life got a bit overwhelming, and we missed our usual Wednesday blog. And you know what? It was OK! Sometimes it feels appropriate to pause, catch your breath, and come back with fresh eyes.
We’re a cannabis-positive community here. We love the plant, we love what it can do for people, and we love that you’re part of this journey with us. But loving something also means being honest and thoughtful about the place it occupies in your life. A well-timed break can help improve your relationship with cannabis — and yourself.
Why might someone take a break?
People step away from cannabis for all kinds of reasons, and all of them are valid. Here are some of the most common:
Drug testing
Whether it’s a new job opportunity, a random workplace screen, or a legal requirement, mandatory drug testing is one of the most straightforward reasons to pause. THC can be detected in urine for anywhere from a few days to over a month depending on how frequently you use, your body composition, and metabolism.
Planning ahead with a well-timed break is much smarter and healthier than buying sketchy concoctions off the Internet in attempts to cheat the test. If you’re a heavy, daily user, you might want to take a full month off — especially if it’s high stakes.
Clearing your head for a big moment
A major presentation at work. A big creative performance. A race, a competition, a board exam, a dissertation. There are times in life when you want to bring every bit of your sharpest, most unfiltered self. Some people find that a temporary break helps them feel more mentally present and focused when it counts.
Health & medical reasons
Upcoming surgery is one of the most common medical reasons to pause. Cannabis can interact with anesthesia and affect respiratory function, so many medical providers ask patients to stop use for a period before procedures. Other health situations — managing a new medication, a respiratory illness, a pregnancy — may also call for a break. When in doubt, always talk with your doctor.
Resetting your tolerance
If your go-to dose just isn’t hitting the way it used to, your body may have built up a tolerance. With regular use, CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system become less sensitive to THC, meaning you need more to feel the same effect. A break gives those receptors a chance to recalibrate. Research shows that even 48 hours of abstinence begins the process of receptor recovery — and a break of two to four weeks can create a meaningful reset.
If you use cannabis daily or multiple times per day (no judgment here!), your tolerance will completely reset between 21 and 28 days, based on factors like how much body fat you have and how quickly your body metabolizes cannabinoids. No matter how much you used to smoke, your tolerance will reset to zero within one month.
Resetting your tolerance keeps your buzz fresh and makes the subtle effects of cannabis more noticeable. People with high tolerances often complain about the effects being more muted than when they first started. Taking even a few days off will keep the taste, smell, and nuance of the bud front of mind and ready for the fresh CB receptors.
Finally, resetting tolerance makes you a cheaper date. Even a few days away from high-strength (and spendy!) edibles, concentrates, or drinks allows you to consume less for the same effects. If you’re a fan of higher-dose products, try taking 2-7 days off, cut your usual dose in half, and see what happens. We predict you’ll feel really good!
Checking in on your relationship with cannabis
This one takes a little honesty and a lot of self-compassion. It’s worth pausing to ask yourself: Do I like the role that cannabis plays in my life? Is it adding joy and sparkle, or is it numbing me? Am I using it to hide from something I’d rather avoid? If the idea of taking a break feels almost impossible, that’s valuable information right there.
Customers often ask Matt about how much is “normal” when it comes to consumption. The truth is, there’s no universal answer. Some people’s normal might look like a lot to others, while for some stoners, a small taste is exactly right. What matters more than quantity is the quality of your relationship with the plant. If you miss it, feel like you need it to function, or are experiencing health complications, it’s worth taking a few weeks off to recalibrate.
Monica thinks about this a lot. When she made the switch from alcohol to cannabis, she was determined not to trade one problematic habit for another. She maintains a healthy, balanced relationship with the plant by setting personal boundaries around when, where, and why she uses it — and periodically checking in with her therapist. After a particularly stony weekend, she took a few days off to enjoy the brightness and clarity of sobriety. It all felt good — the absence as well as the return.
Those of us who have used chemicals or alcohol to self-medicate know that relying on a substance to avoid genuine human emotions can be a dangerous way to live. If you’re going through a particularly hard time, don’t expect cannabis to make those troubles disappear. Coping with life in healthy ways — whatever that looks like for you — is essential, because suppressing difficult emotions often creates more problems than it solves.
Matt learned this firsthand after Alex Pretti was killed by ICE in the street. He took a break — five days of deep heartache, pain, anger, and resolve. Those were exactly the feelings that moment called for, and there was nothing foggy, hazy, or dulled about his memories or emotions from that time. Ending the break surrounded by new friends fighting for their neighbors made that first hit feel like the very first time.
A voluntary break, however it comes about, can be a powerful mirror for self-reflection — and a reminder of just how good the return can feel.
What Happens When You Take a Break?
Taking a break can come with some adjustments, especially if you’re a regular user. Knowing what to expect makes it much easier to navigate.
Sleep may be tricky and weird
If you’ve been using cannabis to help you fall asleep, you might find yourself battling your old enemy, insomnia, without your weapon of choice. You may find it takes longer to fall asleep, or that you wake up more during the night. This is common and typically improves within two to three weeks. You’ll probably need to pull out the arsenal of wellness tips like sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding screens before bed, meditating, and trying herbal supports like chamomile or melatonin.
Once you do fall asleep, buckle up — things are going to get weird. Regular cannabis use suppresses REM sleep, the stage where vivid dreaming happens. When you stop, your brain rebounds, often dramatically. You might find yourself in the middle of technicolor, cinematic, absolutely wild dreams that you haven’t experienced in years.
For some, these dreams are a delightful rediscovery and voyage into a magical world of imagination. For others, they can be a bit unsettling. During her last THC break, Monica needed a nighttime rescue from her husband after a particularly vivid dream in which she was trying to carry a baby bird to safety through a maze of kaleidoscopic, color-changing walls. Matt noticed that during his T-breaks, he talks, moves, and remembers dreams as if they are happening in real life.
Rest assured that the wacky dreams are temporary and a normal sign that your sleep architecture is resetting. Grab a dream journal and enjoy the ride.
Mood and irritability
Some people experience a temporary dip in mood — irritability, mild anxiety, or a general restlessness — especially in the first week. This is your brain adjusting to natural neurotransmitter levels without the assistance of cannabis. Exercise is one of the best antidotes; it naturally boosts dopamine and endorphins, helping to level out your mood during the adjustment period. Exercise also helps release the THC stored in your body fat, and it can sometimes contribute to an “exercise high” when you work out. Whee!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from the people in your life. Let them know you’re stepping back from THC and might need a bit more kindness and grace in day-to-day interactions.
Appetite changes
Without THC’s well-known appetite-stimulating effects, some people notice a temporary decrease in appetite. Others don’t notice much change at all. Eating regular, nourishing meals and staying hydrated can help your body stay stable while it recalibrates. If you’ve developed some unhealthy munchies-related habits, this is a great time to hit your mental reset button and let that stuff go.
Mental clarity and presence
On the upside, many people report noticeable improvements in mental sharpness, short-term memory, and focus during a break. For those who use cannabis daily, this enhanced clarity can feel almost revelatory — and it can be a useful reminder of what your baseline feels like. When you do return to cannabis, you may find you have a greater appreciation for how it shifts your state of mind. Self-awareness is a gift; try to appreciate and hang on to it.
A new, open space
Removing cannabis from your routine can clear up time and mental space for other activities. Maybe you’re going for a walk after dinner or reading a novel instead of melting into the couch to watch TV. Maybe you’re catching up and making plans with old friends who aren’t 420-friendly but whose company you enjoy. Maybe you’re bored and trying something completely new to fill your time.
You might find some extra money in your bank account, since you’re no longer buying cannabis and related items like late-night DoorDash deliveries. And when you return with a lower tolerance, you’ll likely need less to achieve the effects you want — meaning your budget stretches further.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Break
Whether your break is two days or two months, a little intention goes a long way.
• Set your intention. Know your “why”. The clearer you are on your reason for taking a break, the easier it is to stay committed. Write it down if it helps.
• Choose your timeframe. Pick a timeframe that feels challenging but doable. Two days, a week, a month — there’s no single right answer. Even short breaks produce meaningful changes.
• Plan for your usual moments. Identify the times of day or situations where you typically reach for cannabis, and have a plan for those moments. A walk, a cup of tea, a good book, a creative project — whatever works for you.
• Consider CBD as a bridge. CBD doesn’t build tolerance the same way THC does, and many people find it helpful for managing pain, anxiety, and sleep during a break from THC.
• Move your body. This is especially true in the first week. Physical activity is one of the most effective tools for managing mood, improving sleep, and reducing cravings.
• Expect some adjustment. Sleep disruption, vivid dreams, mood dips — these are normal. They peak around days three to five for most people and improve steadily from there.
• Tell someone. Having a friend, partner, or community who knows what you’re doing makes a real difference. You don’t have to white-knuckle it alone.
• Return with intention. When the break is over, resist the urge to immediately return to your previous dose. Start low, go slow, and savor the reset.
A final word from your buds
Cannabis is a remarkable plant. We believe in its benefits, its complexity, and its ability to genuinely enrich people’s lives. Part of that belief is trusting our community to approach it thoughtfully — to use it with intention, and to step back from it with equal intention when the moment calls for it.
Taking a break isn’t a failure. It isn’t a judgment. It’s just good stewardship of your relationship with something you value.
We’ll be here when you get back — just like we were after our own little break last week. And we’re pretty sure both you and cannabis will be happy you took the time.
Your buds,
Matt and Monica