What Is Weed Burnout?

Weed burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion that can develop after frequent and prolonged cannabis use. This type of burnout goes beyond the occasional tiredness, embedding itself into your daily life and potentially impacting your overall well-being.

But what really causes this phenomenon, and more importantly, how can you bounce back?

Let’s explore.

Weed burnout can subtly sneak up on you, morphing from occasional bouts of tiredness to a constant state of exhaustion.

Weed burnout symptoms include:

• Persistent fatigue and lethargy
• Difficulty concentrating and brain fog
• Feeling overwhelmed and unable to keep up with daily tasks
• Reduced motivation
• Depressed mood or mood swings
• Inability to experience the usual positive effects of cannabis
• Headaches
• Lack of appetite
• Irritability
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia

Weed burnout isn’t the same as a weed hangover, which generally occurs the day after heavy use and shares some symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. While a hangover from cannabis is temporary, burnout from weed involves a more chronic, everyday exhaustion.

Weed burnout is not a sudden occurrence; it’s the gradual consequence of prolonged and heavy cannabis use, particularly with THC-rich products. But what leads to such excessive consumption in the first place?

For many, using cannabis becomes a repetitive coping mechanism. A study spanning from 2016 to 2022 observed a steady increase among U.S. high school students using cannabis to cope. By 2022, about 53% of teenagers reported using cannabis to:

• Manage feelings of anger or frustration
• Escape from problems
• Simply “get through the day”

As users consume cannabis regularly, their bodies naturally develop a tolerance to THC, the main psychoactive component. This tolerance means that over time, more cannabis is needed to achieve the same effects, leading to increased consumption.

This escalation significantly impacts the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is essential for regulating functions like sleep, appetite, and mood.

When the ECS is overloaded with THC, it begins to malfunction, leading to a host of symptoms associated with weed burnout. These include disrupted sleep patterns, decreased appetite, mood fluctuations, and reduced dopamine production—a crucial neurotransmitter for motivation and pleasure.

The first and often most effective approach is to take a break from cannabis. Known as a tolerance break or “T-break,” this pause allows your body to reset.

Depending on your usage habits, a break can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. During this time, your body’s ECS has a chance to regain its natural balance, which can help reduce tolerance and make cannabis feel more effective if you choose to resume.

Look closely at how much and how often you’re using cannabis. Tracking your consumption can help you realistically understand where your use is.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of burnout, consider:

1. Reducing the amount of times that you use in a day and/or quantity of cannabis used in one session

2. Switch to cannabis products with lower THC concentrations

While you can choose to try and manage your cannabis use on your own — remind yourself that you don’t have to. It’s completely okay to seek help.

Reaching out to a therapist or substance-use counselor can give you compassionate guidance and support. They’ll offer personalized strategies tailored to meet you where you are and help you get to where you want to be. This support can make a significant difference in effectively managing your relationship with cannabis.