6 Tips for Taking the Right Amount of Cannabis

If you are a seasoned cannabis user, you know how tricky it can sometimes be to get the exact dosage you are looking for. Cannabis dosing takes time, practice, and a little experimentation to get it right. For new users, it can be especially problematic when you want to avoid getting too high, but at the same time want to get enough to reap the benefits.

So just how many milligrams of THC are you really getting when you take a hit off a bong? And much CBD are you absorbing from your sublingual drops? It can be hard to say for sure. Here’s what you need to know about dosing and what you can do to get it right.

Why Does Cannabis Dosing Seem so Tricky?

Cannabis is not as cut-and-dried as other substances. It’s hard to quantify precisely how much you are inhaling through joint or a vaporizer. Another issue is that cannabis contains hundreds of different chemicals that interact together to create effects that science is just beginning to figure out. The variation in potency of different strains and the variety of ways to take it makes being exact with dosage difficult. And to top it off, your mental and physical state can alter the way cannabis makes you feel at any given time. Yikes!

So, how do we deal with the complicated issue of cannabis dosing?

There aren’t any simple answers. But there are a few different ways to tackle this problem to help ensure you are getting the results you want from cannabis.

A Guide to Cannabis Dosing

The first thing to remember about cannabis dosing is that there is no standard protocol and it all depends on the individual consumer. Some people need large amounts to get the results they are looking for while others only need a little bit.

Cannabis is often biphasic, which means that it can have two completely different effects at low and high doses. Smaller doses can have a stimulating effect, while larger doses can be sedating. Whatever your goals, it’s always best to start with a small amount and observe how that dosage makes you feel before taking more.

Keep these helpful tips in mind when you are experimenting with finding the right dosage:

1. Figure out how you want to take cannabis. Methods like smoking and vaping work faster and have a higher bioavailability — and therefore stronger effects — than oral or sublingual ingestion and edibles.
2. Begin with a low dose. It’s especially important to start with small doses if you are new to cannabis or tying a product for the first time.
3. Experiment with microdosing. Try taking multiple small doses throughout the day rather than one large dose and see which you prefer.
4. Find a ratio you like. Many cannabis products come in measured ratios of CBD to THC. So even if you are not sure exactly how much is getting into your system, you’ll feel confident that it’s a ratio you like. CBD can also help reduce some of the adverse side effects of taking too much THC.
5. Don’t overdo it. You might get the urge to take more when the euphoric effects kick in. Remember that if you want to increase your dose to do so in small steps.
6. If you take too much, don’t panic. Cannabis is generally safe but taking too high a dose can make you feel anxious, faint, or just plain weird. Try not to panic. Find a quiet place to take it easy and let it wear off.

Need help finding products with dosing that suits your needs? Stop by Have a Heart and we’ll help you learn all about your options!