How to Effectively Microdose Cannabis

With all the touted benefits on microdosing you might be asking for the best way to microdose cannabis, if there is one that is.

While microdosing is not an exact science, there are a few tips and tricks that may guide you to that perfect “sweet- spot” or the minimum effective dose of cannabis that works for you. This is what microdosing is all about. And in case you didn’t know it, this can be an elusive affair as there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to microdosing on cannabis.

What is Microdosing Cannabis?

Microdosing is the art and science of finding the lowest dose of a compound that will produce a desired (therapeutic) effect. When it comes to cannabis, microdosing involves finding the smallest dose that can give you a desired effect say anxiety relief without causing undesirable side effects such as paranoia.

As you might have already put two and two together, this is going to be saving you some weed and money at the need of the day. Apart from this, microdosing helps you avoid some of the unwanted negative side effects associated with the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Microdosing allows patients to enjoy the positive properties of THC while avoiding the negative effects. This means that users can go about activities of the day while medicating on cannabis.

How to Effectively Microdose Cannabis

Generally, 10mg of THC is considered as a standard dose for this cannabinoid. Consequently, anything less than this amount could be considered as a microdose. That said, most people will use extremely low amounts of THC when microdosing regularly to achieve the desired effect. Typically a dose of 1-3 mg of THC is considered an effective starting dose for microdosing cannabis.

Several factors affect how THC is metabolized in the body. This includes a person’s age, gender, total body fat, and individual physiology. Additionally, factors such as tolerance, frequency of use, and method of consumption will also come into play.

All factors considered, a dose of 2mg of THC is considered an ideal starting dose for microdosing.

Users are advised to start with the lowest possible dose and adjust upwards until they find the dose that works best for them without causing undesirable negative effects.  After starting on the lowest possible dose you should maintain for three days to give the cannabinoid enough time to start producing noticeable effects. If you see no change you can slight increase the dose and observe for another three days. Once you find an optimal dose you can maintain that as your microdose.

It is recommended that those who have developed a level of tolerance for cannabis go on an initial two day “fast” before starting on a microdosing program.

Is Microdosing Cannabis for Everyone?

As much as microdosing cannabis has several advantages, it is not for everyone. Those who use cannabis for medicinal reasons should consult with their marijuana doctor before starting on a microdosing regimen. This is because some conditions such as the management of severe pain require high amounts of THC.

Generally, patients have used microdosing for the following conditions:

• Mild pain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Poor appetite
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• PTSD
• Hormonal imbalances

Which Cannabis Products are Ideal for Microdosing?

When selecting products for microdosing consider the concentration of THC in the product as this will make it easier to find an optimal microdose.

Remember that you are targeting doses as low as 1-3mg of THC. Putting this in perspective, capsules and gummies usually come in low doses that start from at least 5mg. So in this case you are talking about half a capsule or gummy.

Taking a puff or two of cannabis may be an effective way of microdosing. However, this method may not allow you to find the optimal dose that works best for you. The same applies to vaping cannabis.

Cannabis tinctures may be helpful for microdosing. A cannabis tincture containing 5mg of THC per mL may be the best option for microdosing.

Generally speaking, low-dose marijuana products are ideal for microdosing. Low-dose cannabis products range between 1-5mg THC. This may come in the form of edibles, capsules, or tinctures.

When using cannabis edibles you should wait around 2 hours before increasing the dosage. This is because the effects take a bit longer to kick in, at least as compared to smokable forms of cannabis. On the flip side, the effects from edibles will last longer in the body.

Are There any Disadvantages of Microdosing Cannabis?

Microdosing helps to minimize the negative side effects that are associated with taking high amounts of THC. Of course it also creates efficiency going by the principle of less is more? Perhaps the major setback with microdosing is that it may not work for recreational users since euphoria is not achieved at such low doses. If you are looking for that spacey or intoxicating feeling you are better off trying higher doses of THC.

Hopefully you've gained a greater understanding of how to effectively microdose cannabis. To learn more about the medical benefits of cannabis, enroll in Cannabis Training University's marijuana classes today!