The Tolerance Factor
The struggle is real. Consuming cannabis regularly for an
extended period of time will inevitably raise your tolerance, however it’s
easily reversible.
A 20-year-old study conducted by Dr.
Mile
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he struggle is real. Consuming cannabis regularly for an extended period of time will inevitably raise your tolerance, however it’s easily reversible.
A 20-year-old study conducted by Dr. Miles Herkenham at the National Institute of Mental Health concludes, “The effect … is time- and dose-dependent, and is reversible, and thus appears to be cannabinoid-receptor mediated … ‘The result [of the study] has implications for the consequences of chronic high levels of drug use in humans, suggesting diminishing effects with greater levels of consumption.'”
Herkenham was the first to discover the mechanism behind cannabinoid tolerance.
Physical cannabis addiction may be a work of fiction, however tolerance is a real phenomenon. This is due to the non-toxic qualities of cannabis. “[Indications of receptor regulation in other neuronal systems] stand in stark contrast to the massive and homogeneous changes in cannabinoid receptor levels found in the present [animal] study. The magnitude of the present effect, like the striking behavioral tolerance, may stem in part that, unlike other psychoactive agonist drugs, cannabinoids can be administered in very high doses. It is ironic that the magnitude of both tolerance (complete disappearance of the inhibitory motor effect) and receptor down-regulation (78% loss) is so large, whereas cannabinoid dependence and withdrawal phenomena are minimal. This supports the claim that tolerance and dependence are independently mediated in the brain,” Herkenham explained, adding
“The effect is selective to D9-THC (ruling out changes in second messengers), is time- and dose-dependent, and is reversible, and thus appears to be cannabinoid-receptor mediated. We propose by extension that cannabinoid tolerance in vivo results, in [addition to behavioral factors], from cannabinoid receptor down-regulation.”
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a cannabis enthusiast to some degree. Try alternating strains as well to avoid cross-tolerance. A full cleanse takes 30 days or more. Don’t worry, cannabis won’t be going anywhere.
