Cannabis edibles are one of the most popular—not to mention one of the most delicious!—ways to reap the benefits of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. But even for seasoned patients calculating an edible dose can be challenging, leading many to have a less-than-optimal first-time edible experience.
As D.C.’s #1 family-run medical marijuana dispensary, we’d like to help you avoid a potentially unpleasant experience. In today’s post, we’ll discuss THC dosing in edibles, the best way to take edibles, and other topics relating to edible dose questions. Ready? Let’s dive in!
What Are Edibles, and What Do I Need to Know?
Edibles are nothing more than familiar foods or beverages—chocolates, cookies, or iced tea, to name a few—infused with cannabinoids (the “active ingredients”) from the marijuana plant. While they’re an easy and intuitive way to access those beneficial compounds, they work slightly differently than they do in smoked or vaped cannabis.
When you consume an edible, the cannabinoids are processed through the liver and stomach as opposed to the lungs. While the bioavailability—or amount of cannabinoids actually accessed by your body—decreases, the apparent dosage increases. In simple terms, this means that the THC dosage in edibles feels stronger than it does for an equivalent amount of smoked or vaped cannabis.
What’s more, the experience typically comes on much slower than smoked cannabis (approximately 30 – 90 minutes versus to one to five minutes when inhaling) and it lasts much longer (approximately two to six hours as opposed to one to two hours).
Is There a Recommended THC Dosing?
Of course, there’s no FDA-recommended THC dosage guide. But while everyone reacts slightly differently to THC, it’s possible to formulate a few basic guidelines and principles for determining an edible dose:
THC Dosage: 1 – 2.5 mg
Typical Effects: Mild relief of symptoms including pain, stress, and anxiety; heightened focus and creativity. Great for first-time consumers, or more experienced consumers interested in microdosing.
THC Dosage: 2.5 – 15 mg
Typical Effects: Stronger relief of symptoms; euphoria; impacted coordination and perception. Great for stubborn symptoms not affected by smaller doses; potential treatment for insomnia.
THC Dosage: 30 – 50 mg
Typical Effects: Strong euphoria; significantly impacted coordination and perception. Great for consumers with a high tolerance for THC, or whose GI systems don’t absorb cannabinoids well.
THC Dosage: 50 – 100 mg
Typical Effects: Seriously impacted coordination and perception; possible unpleasant side effects including nausea and increased heart rate. Best for patients managing serious symptoms and conditions, or for those with a high THC tolerance.
First-Time Edible Experience: Top Tips
While the effects of having too much THC can be unpleasant, it’s important to know that they’re rarely dangerous. In the great majority of cases, unwanted side effects subside after a couple of hours at the very most.
That said, we’d like you to have as positive a first-time edible experience as possible. This means that you should consider taking a low edible dose to start for a more rewarding experience. Remember: You can always take more cannabis later, but you can’t take less!
There are other factors to consider as well, including your body mass index (BMI), your age, your experience level with cannabis, and your recent food intake. If you’re familiar with cannabis’s effects, you’ll be better prepared for a positive edible experience. Similarly, a recent meal will tend to slow down the onset of the THC, an experience that many people find more pleasant and manageable than a fast onset.
Edibles at Takoma Wellness Center
Do you have other questions about the THC dosage in edibles (or anything else in the world of cannabis?) Just ask! We’re always here to help.
We’d love to see you at our DC dispensary to help you find the right edible for your needs, stop by today to speak with our helpful team or browse our menu online from the comfort of home! Either way, we look forward to serving you!