Edible products such as infused food and capsules are a safe and exciting way to enjoy everything marijuana has to offer. However, dosing cannabis edibles can be a confusing process of trial and error. Knowing the exact edible dosage required to produce the effects you want can take time and requires a little bit of guidance. As a result, overconsumption can happen with edibles, and as many have experience firsthand, consuming too much edible THC can be an unpleasant experience.
While overconsumption isn’t harmful to your physical health, it can produce unpleasant effects. Carefully managing your THC edible dosage is key to an enjoyable marijuana edible experience. So let’s dig in!
The Right THC Dosage For You
Not everybody responds to edible THC in the same way. One person’s response to the same THC edible dosage can be much different than someone else’s.
Several different factors play into the way somebody reacts to edible THC. A high tolerance to THC from regular consumption and a slow metabolism can significantly reduce the intensity of an edible, for example.
Additionally, the sensitivity of an individual’s endocannabinoid system can also play a role. For those who are more sensitive to the effects of THC, a smaller edible dosage is more effective.
Finally, your height and weight both have a part to play in determining your THC tolerance. Generally, the larger you are, the more THC it takes to trigger your desired effects.
How Long Does it Take to Feel Cannabis Edibles?
Before you determine the right dose of edibles for you, you need to understand how THC edibles work. Edibles function a little differently from smoked or vaped THC. The main difference? Onset time.
When you smoke or vape THC, it passes directly from your lungs into your bloodstream. As a result, you’ll feel the effects of inhaled THC very quickly. However, that’s not how edible THC works. Edibles take longer to kick in than inhaled THC does. In fact, it can take up to an hour (or longer) before you feel the effects of edibles.
When you take a marijuana edible, it has to pass through your digestive tract before it reaches your liver. Once there, your liver metabolizes it into another compound called 11-hydroxy-THC. This new compound can pass through the blood-brain barrier, unlike regular THC. As a result, 11-hydroxy-THC often provides more powerful effects than regular THC does.
So, if you’re not familiar with how a THC edible will affect you, it’s a good idea to go low and slow with your dosage. In addition, it’s a good idea to wait at least an hour between edible doses. That way, you don’t accidentally consume more than you would like.
What Can You Expect From Your Cannabis Edible Dosage?
What kinds of effects should you expect with each dose? While most people experience different psychoactive effects at different dosages of THC edibles, here are some general guidelines.
1 – 10 MG THC
At this low dose, the effects of THC should be mild. You may experience mild relief of stress or bodily discomfort. This dose is ideal for microdosing or for first-time edible experiences. It may also be a great choice for medical patients who want to utilize THC’s possible benefits, but don’t want to necessarily feel intoxicating effects. This is also the point where you should avoid operating vehicles or heavy machinery.
10 – 20 MG THC
At this dosage, you can expect even more effective symptom relief and may even experience very mild euphoria. You may experience a slight boost to social interactions, such as becoming more talkative, engaging, and creative. You also may catch a serious case of the giggles! This is the perfect marijuana edible dosage to enjoy mild psychoactive effects and it is also great for maintaining sleep throughout the night. A great choice for restless sleepers or medical patients with persistent, chronic problems. A single one of these macadamia nut balls from Ceres are a great way to reach this dose.
20 – 30 MG THC
The cerebral and physical euphoria will likely be a lot more noticeable at this dosage. This much THC may also impact coordination and perception. This marijuana edible dosage is more appropriate for experienced consumers and those seeking relief from more moderate symptoms. If you’re a seasoned cannabis lover and have already developed a tolerance to THC, this dosage may be the right choice for you.
30 – 50 MG THC
If you do not regularly consume THC, this much edible THC will likely produce strong euphoric and psychoactive effects. You can also expect stronger stress and pain relief, an increase in appetite and deep sleep. This dosage is recommended for those who consume cannabis regularly and that have already built up a tolerance to lower doses. It may also be an option for medical patients who know that their digestive tract and liver don’t absorb THC very well. A few of these sour jellies marijuana edibles from Journeyman can help you reach this THC dosage level.
50 – 75 MG THC
This high dosage is likely to cause intense euphoria and potent symptom relief. This dose is very likely to significantly impact perception and coordination. This marijuana edible dosage is not recommended for beginners or occasional consumers since it may trigger feelings of anxiety or fear for those unfamiliar with the effects of THC. Instead, it may be an appropriate dose for medical patients suffering from severe symptoms like chronic inflammation, crohn’s disease, or cancer.
100+ MG THC
Regardless of your tolerance and consumption habits, this dosage can be expected to produce strong cerebral and physical euphoria. At such a high dosage, some users may experience anxiety and paranoia—even experienced ones. This dosage is recommended for very regular consumers of cannabis and those who are using it medically. You’d need to consume an entire package of these cherry fruit chews by Chill to reach this level of potency.
Other Considerations
Although THC is the main active ingredient in cannabis, it’s not the only one. Some edibles may also feature other minor cannabinoids, like CBD or CBN. Thanks to a phenomenon called the entourage effect, these extra ingredients can have a significant impact on how a marijuana edible makes you feel across all THC dosage ranges.
For example, CBD may actually work to lessen the effects of THC. As a result, if an edible has both THC and CBD, you’ll need a higher dose to achieve your desired results. Long story short, make sure you check the ingredients on your edibles before you eat them–you want to be sure you know what’s going into your body!
Finally, it’s important to keep the potential side-effects of edibles in mind. While THC is extremely safe–you may notice some side effects.
The most common include sleepiness and hunger (the notorious munchies). This can also lead to a feedback loop. You eat an edible, get hungry, and eat another one as a snack. While we’ve all done this at some point, it can get expensive! Make sure you have non-infused snacks on hand to combat the munchies.
THC Edible Dosages: The Takeaway
Edibles are a popular and enjoyable way to consume cannabis. Developing a basic understanding of marijuana edible dosages and how to avoid over-consuming edibles is a great way to begin your journey.
Want to taste test some edibles? Visit our Seattle dispensary! You can see what edibles we have in stock on our online menu, and our staff is always ready and able to assist. We look forward to serving you!
