Edible Dosage Guide for Recreational & Medical Consumers

Cannabis edibles offer a discreet, delicious, and long-lasting way to experience the effects of cannabis. Correct edible dosage is vital because edibles take longer to kick in than smoking or vaping and can produce more intense effects.

Understanding the complexities of dosing your weed edibles is the key to an enjoyable experience. Whether you're a seasoned cannabis enthusiast or a beginner, knowing how to consume edibles will empower you to make informed decisions about your edible consumption.

How Much THC Do I Need to Get High?

The amount of THC each individual needs to get high will depend on factors like their tolerance, body weight, and metabolism. For many adult and medical marijuana users, consuming edibles is among the best ways to consume weed due to their intense and long-lasting effects. 

The following guidelines (measured in milligrams) can help you make informed choices when searching for the ideal edibles dose:

Low Doses Are Perfect for Beginners

Low doses or even a microdose may be enough for a first-time THC edibles consumer. It’s best to start with a low THC dose to gauge how you feel before consuming more.

Microdose: 1-2.5 mg THC

A microdose may be enough for novices or individuals looking for regular but small doses. Try taking a half dose of chewy and sweet edibles like gummies to keep your intake low:

Who Should Take a Microdose?	What to Expect
Beginners Regular consumers who want to stick to a very low dose	Some relief of pain, stress, or anxiety.  Some individuals may notice increased focus, motivation, or creativity.  You're very unlikely to feel intoxicated at this dose.

Low Dose: 3-5 mg THC

A low dose is a fairly standard recreational amount to consume. A low dose may be enough for many recreational users or for MMJ patients who need more than a microdose to take the edge off their symptoms:

Who Should Take a Low Dose?	What to Expect
MMJ patients whose symptoms aren't relieved with a microdose.  A low dose may also be effective in promoting sleep for patients or adult-use consumers.	MMJ patients will feel stronger relief from pain and anxiety symptoms.  Some people may experience slight feelings of euphoria or even feel minimally intoxicated.  5mg is unlikely to impair motor skills or coordination.

Moderate Dose: 10-15 mg THC

A moderate dose could be perfect for individuals who have already dabbled with edibles or for MMJ patients looking for relief from various ailments:

Who Should Take a Moderate Dose?	What to Expect
Recreational and MMJ patients with an established routine and who are accustomed to the effects. Newcomers may feel some adverse effects at this dose.	A moderate dose may offer effective pain relief for many people and go some way to countering nausea and anxiety.  Some individuals may experience altered perception and impairments in coordination plus some psychedelic effects.

A 2020 study by Schlienz et al. into the effects of edibles at different concentrations found that a 10 mg dose of THC in an edible caused noticeable effects and elevated the subjects’ heart rates. However, it didn’t alter their cognitive or psychomotor performance. 

This is significant as 10 mg is the standard “serving size” for edibles in the United States. Always read the label on your product as some edible products contain more than one serving and there could be up to 100 mg of THC in a ten-piece packet.

High and Very High Doses

A high or very high dose should be reserved for only the most experienced consumers with very high THC tolerance to avoid unwanted or unpleasant effects:

High Dose: 20-30 mg THC

Who Should Take a High Dose?	What to Expect
Adult-use consumers or MMJ patients with significant experience and high THC tolerance	Strong euphoria and significant cerebral effects Some may experience nausea or vomiting at this dosage.

Very High Dose (50-100 mg THC) or Extremely High Dose (100-500 mg THC)

Who Should Take a Very/Extremely High Dose?	What to Expect
Only very experienced consumers with high tolerance to THC should consider ingesting very high doses of THC in an edible.  MMJ patients suffering from cancer, chronic inflammatory disorders, or other conditions that require very high doses to treat could benefit from high doses if they have built up significant tolerance to THC.	Significant impairment in coordination and perception Increased risk of side effects including nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, and anxiety

Things to Take into Account When Dosing

Knowing how many milligrams of edibles you should take can be complicated as each person will have an ideal dose that offers the desired effects. The strength of an edible can affect individuals in different ways depending on:

• Dosage: Some edibles contain a higher dosage of THC than others. Read the label carefully to check the dosage per unit.
• Tolerance: A beginner to the edibles world will likely have a lower tolerance than a regular consumer.
• Body weight: Higher body weight tends to correlate with a higher tolerance to THC.
• Metabolism: Your metabolism impacts how quickly your body processes THC. Individuals with faster metabolisms might appreciate the effects more quickly than those with slower metabolisms.

Homemade Edibles vs Store-Bought Edibles

Cannabis dosing is more complicated when consuming homemade edibles than when consuming edibles purchased in-store. This is because commercially produced edibles are lab-tested and therefore provide a consistent level of THC and CBD throughout the product.

Homemade edibles can have an uneven distribution of cannabinoids, meaning some parts of the edible are more potent—and have more psychoactive effects—than others. For more control over your dosing, purchase a lab-tested edible from a licensed dispensary like ours in Seattle.

Effects of Over-Consuming Edibles

Slight or moderate overconsumption of edibles is mostly unpleasant and uncomfortable. For example, the above-mentioned study by Schlienz et al. reported adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting when consuming more than the 10 mg THC “serving size.”

Slight accidental overconsumption of edibles is unlikely to cause serious health consequences for adults. However, a 2019 study into the causes of hospitalizations due to cannabis consumption found edibles to be a more common cause of hospital visits for psychiatric, intoxication, and cardiovascular symptoms (symptoms associated with overconsumption) than inhaled cannabis products, which more commonly led to hospital visits for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. This underlines the importance of careful and considered dosage and patience when waiting for the effects to kick in.

It’s also vitally important to keep cannabis edibles out of the reach of children. Cases of accidental cannabis poisoning have been reported in children and could potentially have harmful effects. 

What to Do If You Over-Consume Edibles

Overindulgence in edibles will often be a case of simply waiting it out. However, there are some ways to get unhigh from cannabis edibles, for example:

• Deep breathing exercises
• Taking CBD isolate
• Avoiding excessive stimuli
• Taking a shower
• Chewing on lemon rind, black pepper, or pine nuts

These suggestions are largely based on anecdotal evidence. Remember, the best way to avoid overconsumption is to start low, go slow, and wait patiently before adding to your initial dose.

Nail Your Edible Dosing for the Perfect Experience

Navigating the world of edibles requires a mindful and informed approach. By understanding the factors influencing dosage, starting low and going slow, and being patient, you can nail your THC edible dosage and enjoy the ride.

Consuming cannabis in an edible will mean a longer onset time than other cannabis consumption methods. Proceed with caution and enjoy the journey while you find your ideal dose.