Dear Overtoker, 

At the end of the day, this is one of those questions that only you can answer. There is no definitive right answer to how much weed you “should” smoke, but I’m happy to share with you my perspective on tolerance breaks and the feeling of smoking “too much.” Remember that the most important person to listen to here is yourself. 

If you purely want to boost your tolerance, taking a scheduled t-break is probably your best bet. It takes approximately 21 days for THC to leave your system, so if you want to be completely sober (or pass a drug test – though that’s another column entirely) you’ll want to take about a month off, but even a few days can give you a necessary perspective shift that allows you to enjoy the full spectrum of life’s highs and lows while fully sober. While there are plenty of other herbal options you can smoke to ease your oral fixation, my key to a successful t-break is to just try and keep your head where your feet are, find something fun to invest yourself in, and remember why you wanted to take some time off from weed in the first place.  

If you feel like you’ve been smoking more than you’re comfortable with, though, and you want to regulate your use long-term, quitting cold turkey might not be the best option for you. Like many of us, I’m intimately familiar with addiction –  and, since the disease is so stigmatized and societally viewed as a personal failure – I can be hyper-vigilant and hard on myself for anything that might be considered dependent behavior. Often, though, this self-criticism only leads me to feel worse – and drives me even further towards an escape from that demanding voice in my head. Usually, if you find yourself in a place where you feel like all you want to do is escape, there’s something you need to heal from. By focusing only on chastising yourself for your coping mechanisms, you might be missing out on what the problem really is. When you’re having trouble getting high and want to regulate your use without cutting it out entirely, try slowing down and entering the sesh with an intention, drinking plenty of water, then just taking it hit by hit. Keeping a cannabis journal is a great way to re-evaluate your relationship with the plant, too. Remember that progress does not always mean perfection. 

I must caution you, though, against trying to rely solely on weed to “get through” your life. Mostly because it won’t work – you take yourself with you wherever you go, even to your high – and it can cloud you from enjoying all that’s around you without it. Weed can be a fantastic tool to help guide you towards a change in perspective, a decrease in anxiety, and an abundance of gratitude, but you need to know that you already have everything you need at your core. It just helps you see it. 

Alright, it’s time for me to step out of the therapist's office and into the smoker’s lounge. Thank you for the brave question – if you decide to take a full-blown t-break or just spend some time getting in touch with your toking habits, know that I’m proud of you and I want to hear all about your experience! Please write in with all of your t-break thoughts, comments, and concerns so we can keep the conversation going. 

Until next week, 

Stoner 

Got a burning question or pot topic you want to discuss with our Stoner-in-residence? Write into hello@sackvilleandco.com with the subject “ASK A STONER” or DM us on Instagram @sackville.and.co for a chance to be featured.