Dosage Rules For Cannabis Edibles

Cannabis edibles have become increasingly popular as people accept the benefits offered by THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids.

Edibles come in various shapes, colors, sizes, and types including baked goods, savory treats, beverages, mints, gummies, oils and butters, and many more edible options.

Marijuana’s legality in many states makes it easier for cannabis product providers to make edibles and sell them. Some people don’t like to smoke or can’t because of medical reasons, making cannabis edibles an ideal option.

While it may be easy to eat cannabis, there are many considerations to keep in mind to have a safe and fun experience.

Before you ingest edibles, read the label so you know the total dosage. There are dosage rules for cannabis edibles.

The creators of cannabis-infused edibles have to account for dosage in order to remain compliant with state rules and regulations, and you do as well for safe consumption.

Ingestion

Smoking marijuana is the most common method of cannabis ingestion. You could light up a joint or a glass pipe or bong and be quickly rewarded with a fast-acting and noticeable high, depending on how much you consume, how often you consume, the cannabinoids included, and the potency of the product.

With cannabis edibles, you have to wait for the onset of effects of THC or other cannabinoids. It can usually take an hour or two and sometimes longer, depending on several things such as how often you ingest cannabis, the amount consumed, your weight, and THC content.

The peak of the effects can come between the 2- and 5-hour mark after consumption. The effects can subside after 6 to 12 hours.

Novice marijuana users sometimes become impatient while waiting for the high to take effect and think it’s not coming, only to eat more edibles and then discover the paranoia and other adverse effects are too much to handle.

In some smoking circles, this is called “greening out.” You don’t want to go there. If you do happen to overconsume cannabis edibles, there are plenty of ways to reduce the negative effects.

Generally, when you eat a cannabis edible, it goes through your digestive system and is metabolized in the liver. There, the THC is converted into its more potent and longer-lasting metabolite: 11-hydroxy-THC.

When taken sublingually (under the tongue), edibles like tinctures and oils are instantly absorbed through the membranes into the bloodstream. Sublingual products can take effect in as little as 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Its effects can last up to 3 hours.

Nanoemulsions such as oils and isolates also produce fast-acting effects since they are able to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach lining instead of being metabolized in the liver. Nanoemulsions can take effect in 10 to 15 minutes.

Let’s look at how the dosage rules for edibles can make a difference in your experience.

What Impacts the Edibles High

Metabolism

There are various things that contribute to how people react to cannabis edibles. Metabolism is one thing that plays an integral role. For example, someone with a faster metabolism may feel the effects of THC in cannabis edibles much faster than the average person.

Empty vs. Full Stomach

Another thing that impacts an edible’s high is whether you’ve eaten or not before ingesting an infused edible.

We don’t recommend ingesting cannabis edibles on an empty stomach, especially for first-time users, due to the intense and unpredictable effects.

You don’t need to eat a huge meal, per se, but you should have some food in your stomach, even if you have to munch on something.

Cannabinoid Content

The type and amount of cannabinoid in the edible also affect how you experience the effects. For example, an edible with a high dose of THC produces the intoxication characterized by euphoria, relaxation, focus, creativity, and pain relief.

However, some users may be more prone to its side effects, which include change in time perception, impaired coordination, increased anxiety, short term memory loss, and fast heart rate.

If you don't want to experience the intoxication of THC, you can go with an edible that has primarily CBD. CBD does not have any intoxicating effects. Instead, the cannabinoid produces relaxing and clear-headed effects. In fact, CBD is preferred by users with anxiety due to its stress-relieving properties and minimal side effects.

Homemade vs. Prepackaged Edibles

Homemade and pre-packaged edibles can produce different experiences depending on how they were made.

Making cannabis edibles at home may not yield as precise results as edibles made using commercial machinery and procedures. Edibles manufacturers must create edibles that contain a specified range of cannabinoids to remain state-compliant

First, determining the potency per serving is difficult to do when making edibles at home. Primarily, distributing the cannabis oil or butter evenly across the edible is important. Stirring the cannabis thoroughly into the mixed ingredients ensures proper homogenization.

Ultimately, the effects of homemade edibles tend to be a bit more unpredictable than edibles from a licensed dispensary.

10 mg Dosage Rule

There’s an old saying among experienced cannabis users: You can always eat more, you can never eat less. Make sure you use marijuana strains with lower THC levels if you’re a first-time or low-tolerance user. It’s best to start with 2.5 to 5 mg (or less) instead of a 10 mg dosage. It should be reduced if the THC is at a higher level. Most cannabis edibles have at least 2% THC.

If you are experienced with ingesting infused edibles, then you’ll probably be able to handle a 10 mg dosage of cannabis edibles. If you want to have more, then wait for an hour or two before consuming another 5 mg or 10 mg dose. Taking a lower dosage of THC is best when you have already consumed 10 mg.

Experienced edibles chefs balance the effects of THC by mixing edibles with CBD into the menu. Mix a couple of CBD gummies with your THC gummies and you may get the best of both worlds.

Products with a 1:1 CBD-to-THC may provide balanced effects that minimize THC’s adverse effects. However, overconsumption of these products can still produce negative effects.

Edible Dosage Chart For All Tolerances

If you're looking for a handy dosage chart, we’ve got you covered. Check it out below to determine a dose size for your desired effects.

THC Dose	Effects	Tolerance Level
1 – 2.5 mg	Mild pain, inflammatory, stress, and anxiety relief; improved concentration and creativity	For first-time users and users who microdose
2.5 – 15 mg	Moderate pain, inflammatory, and anxiety relief; increased euphoria; mild impairment in motor skills and perception	For patients with sleep issues or those with symptoms that aren’t relieved with smaller doses
15 – 30 mg	Strong euphoria; moderate impairment in motor skills and perception	For regular users, medical patients with a tolerance for THC, and experienced users with sleep issues
30 – 50 mg	Very strong euphoria; significant impairment in motor skills and perception	For high-tolerance users and those with a compromised gastrointestinal system
50 – 100 mg	Very significant impairment in motor skills and perception; increase risk of side effects including pain, nausea, and fast heart rate	For seasoned and high-tolerance users and patients with severe symptoms and conditions such as cancer and inflammatory disorders

Other Dosage Rules For Cannabis Edibles

When you are buying cannabis edibles, you should pay close attention to the instructions on the label and packaging. If you buy a chocolate bar or brownie, and it contains 80 mg THC, it means you should not consume it in just one sitting.

You should only eat a small portion (5 mg or 10 mg) and leave the rest for another time. Don’t be greedy!

The delicious taste may tempt you but maintain some discipline and resolve. One more thing: don’t drink alcohol when eating cannabis edibles. The impact could be more than you can handle.

In addition, avoid buying and consuming edibles from unlicensed sources since these are not tested for potency and purity. Only licensed products are required to be tested by a third-party laboratory for cannabinoid and contaminant levels.

Safety First: Cannabis Education for Safe Consumption

At Cannabis Training University, we believe cannabis education should be accessible to everyone.

Our online marijuana training program provides students of all skill levels from around the world with access to a complete curriculum that allows them to use cannabis safely and minimize the risks.

The affordable programs feature in-depth lessons and videos, all found online and available 24/7. Learn at your own pace on any device with 12 months of access to all cannabis courses, more than any other cannabis college.

Our online learning platform includes, but is not limited to, the following courses and information:

• History of medical cannabis
• Medical cannabis programs in the U.S. and Canada
• How to become a medical cannabis patient
• The endocannabinoid system
• Conditions treated by cannabis
• How to safely use cannabis as a medicine
• How to make cannabis oil
• How to make edibles

If you want to learn more, visit the Cannabis Training University to enroll.

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