Why Is My Weed Tolerance So Low? Understanding the Causes

• • Low weed tolerance can be caused by a variety of potentially-overlapping factors. You may have recently started using cannabis and haven’t built up a tolerance yet, or you could have taken a weed tolerance break, which “resets” or lowers your tolerance.

• • Additionally, your body may naturally be more sensitive to cannabis because of your unique ECS presentation known as e-tone.

• • Combined cannabis and alcohol or prescription drug use may enhance your high, lowering your tolerance.

• • Some users appreciate a lower tolerance to save money and experience stronger therapeutic effects, though others may find that a low tolerance increases the risks of side effects like nausea and anxiety.

Does one puff of a joint or a little nibble of an edible make you feel sky-high? You probably have a low weed tolerance. If your weed tolerance is low, it means your body reacts strongly to small cannabis doses. This can happen if you’re new to cannabis, recently took a tolerance break, or have a naturally sensitive endocannabinoid system.

A low weed tolerance isn’t inherently good or bad—it all depends on your preferences. Some people aim to keep their tolerance low to bring their cannabis spending down, but for others, a lower tolerance increases the chances of experiencing unpleasant side effects.

You might assume that low weed tolerance always points to inexperience with cannabis, but that’s not always the case. It’s true that many people with low tolerances are either new to using cannabis or haven’t used it in a while, though other factors, such as individual internal differences and alcohol or prescription drug use, can also contribute.

Get the low-down on low weed tolerance and how you can build it up safely (if you want to), with insights from TeleLeaf.

What Is Weed Tolerance?

Weed tolerance describes how well you can tolerate the effects of cannabis, or more specifically, its main psychoactive component, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to relieve pain, uplift mood, and more. It mimics your natural endocannabinoids (compounds your body makes all on its own), allowing it to attach to endocannabinoid receptors in the brain.

Your weed tolerance depends on how many endocannabinoid receptors the THC can bind to and activate. Receptor numbers regularly fluctuate, known as up-regulation and down-regulation:

• Up-regulation happens when more endocannabinoid receptors become available for activation, usually during times of stress: for example, when you’re sick or dealing with depression. When up-regulation occurs, it means your body is trying to return to a state of internal balance, or homeostasis.
• Down-regulation occurs when endocannabinoid receptors “hide” within cell walls, preventing cannabinoids from activating them. This typically happens after repeated THC consumption, again as a way to maintain homeostasis.

Generally, when your receptor numbers are high, your weed tolerance is low, because the THC can bind to more receptors and produce stronger effects. What does a low tolerance mean for you?

Pros and Cons of a Low Weed Tolerance

If your weed tolerance is low, you likely only need to use small amounts of THC products to feel potent psychoactive and pain-relieving effects. This can have both advantages and disadvantages. Here’s why:

• You can save money – When your weed tolerance is low, you don’t have to use as much product to achieve your desired effects. And when you don’t have to use as much, you don’t have to buy as much, either.
• It’s easier to use “too much” – It is extremely difficult to overdose on marijuana, and no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose. That said, using more than your tolerance can handle may cause you to feel some adverse effects such as nausea and anxiety.

Low Weed Tolerance? 4 Possible Reasons

Now, let’s look deeper at what factors might be causing your low weed tolerance; it may be more than one.

#1: You Recently Started Using Marijuana

Many times, when you start a new medication, your doctor will put you on a lower dose to help your body adjust to it—in other words, building up your tolerance. Your body also needs time to adjust to cannabis.

As explained above, it takes consistent, repeated use to build up your endocannabinoid receptor levels and weed tolerance. Your body will react more strongly to cannabis during your first few uses than it will after weeks or months of use.

If you’re new to using cannabis and feeling deterred by intense highs or unpleasant side effects, remember a low tolerance is usually temporary. Don’t give up on your treatment; you can always consult your medical marijuana doctor for the best dosages and products for your current tolerance level.

#2: You Took a Tolerance Break

Experienced cannabis users can also develop a lower tolerance (or maintain a tolerance level they like) if they stop using cannabis for a certain period of time—known as a tolerance break, or T-break.

Cannabis users who have developed a high weed tolerance often take T-breaks to “reset” since a high tolerance can make your usual cannabis doses less effective. T-breaks can last for days or even weeks if you choose; typically, cannabinoid receptors up-regulate after a two-day T-break. Potential benefits include:

• Increased cannabis potency, enhancing therapeutic effects
• Less need to buy cannabis, saving you money
• Increased cannabinoid receptor count which can prevent mood, pain, and sleep issues

Both recreational and medical cannabis users intentionally take T-breaks periodically (one to three times a year) to maintain their desired tolerance levels. But if you took an unintentional T-break because you ran out of supplies, for example, know that you can build your tolerance back up again—if that’s what you want, of course.

#3: Your Endocannabinoid System Is More Sensitive

Everyone experiences cannabis uniquely because everyone has a unique endocannabinoid system (ECS). Your body’s individual response to cannabis is known as your endocannabinoid tone, or e-tone.

Many aspects of your ECS can impact your e-tone, including:

• How many cannabinoid receptors you have currently (remember, they fluctuate)
• Where your cannabinoid receptors are located
• How quickly your ECS degrades cannabinoids
• How your ECS responds when receptors become activated

If you have a lower weed tolerance, your e-tone may be more sensitive, though you can’t exactly measure your e-tone to find out for sure. E-tone is still a relatively new concept; as experts learn more, it may offer deeper insights into weed tolerance and how it changes.

#4: You Drink Alcohol or Take Prescription Drugs

Do you notice that you feel more high if you use cannabis with other substances? Alcohol and prescription drugs like opioids can interact with cannabis compounds and heighten their effects.

Some people enjoy “crossfading,” or using alcohol and cannabis at the same time. Alcohol potentially causes your body to absorb more THC than usual, leading to a stronger high. Not everyone appreciates this result, however. If you’re using cannabis as a holistic treatment for chronic pain or other medical conditions, getting high might not be your priority.

Additionally, combined prescription drugs and cannabis use can have a doubling effect, causing an undesirably high “high.” Drugs that have been known to interact negatively with cannabis include:

• Opioids
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like ibuprofen and aspirin
• Sleeping medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Blood thinners

Always use caution when using multiple drugs or substances. Alert your doctor to any other medications you take that may be affecting your medical cannabis use.

How to Build Up Your Weed Tolerance

If your low weed tolerance is impacting the effectiveness of your medical marijuana treatment, build it up safely by following these tips:

• Use cannabis consistently – If you only use cannabis occasionally, your body won’t grow used to its effects as quickly. Speak with your healthcare provider to develop an individualized treatment schedule that will help you build your tolerance and minimize adverse side effects.
• Avoid substances that interact with cannabis – As described above, alcohol and other prescription drugs can increase cannabis potency, which lowers your tolerance. Consider limiting your use of these substances or avoid them altogether to maintain your normal tolerance.

Weed tolerance fluctuates constantly. Luckily, you can manage it easily, no matter which end of the tolerance spectrum you’re on. If, after building it up, your tolerance becomes too high, you can bring it back down by taking a T-break or using low-THC products.

Explore Your Relationship to Medical Cannabis with TeleLeaf

For more personalized guidance on weed tolerance and proper cannabis dosages, connect with one of TeleLeaf’s state-licensed medical marijuana clinicians from the comfort of your own home.

During your virtual appointment, your doctor will assess your symptoms to see if you qualify for a medical marijuana card. If you do, you’ll gain almost instant access to medical cannabis pharmacies for safe and holistic treatment. You’ll also enjoy continued guidance from TeleLeaf’s care network—product recommendations, dosage advice, and more.

With only a few clicks, you can set up your appointment and receive a medical recommendation that same day. Don’t wait—start healing today.

Sources:

Weedmaps. “THC tolerance: what is it and why does it happen?”
https://weedmaps.com/

Marijuana Policy Project. “Effective Arguments for Medical Cannabis Advocates.”
https://www.mpp.org/issues/medical-marijuana/effective-arguments-medical-marijuana-advocates/

CannaKeys. “Endocannabinoid Tone.”
https://cannakeys.com/

Healthline. “What Really Happens When You Mix Alcohol and Weed?”
https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol-and-weed

Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics. “Is mixing prescription medication and marijuana safe?”
https://www.salemhealth.org/you-matter/post/is-mixing-prescription-medication-and-marijuana-safe