How Much Should I Take? Dosing Your Cannabis.
The first thing to know: you can’t overdose on cannabis. But, if you take too much of a THC-rich strain cannabis (which has psychoactive effects) it can get very… let’s just say uncomfortable. You can become sleepy or act irrationally. Finding the right dose of marijuana can be challenging. As described in our Ways to Consume section, there are different methods of consuming cannabis. Each has its own recommended dosage. The frequency of use depends on the method and the symptoms. In some cases, lower dosage causes one effect, while a higher dose can result in the opposite.
The bottom line is that it’s still early days of the medicinal marijuana movement, so standard dosage is not yet an exact science. To get you started, here are some baseline dosage recommendations to give you an idea of a general range for each method. You should always ask your medical practitioner to make sure you are taking the right dose for you. If you need a doctor who is experienced with medical cannabis, find a doctor near you using our doctor locator.
Inhaled (Smoking) – medicinal compounds pass through the lungs into the bloodstream.
Recommended Dose for This Method: Low
Onset of Effects: Rapid (5-10 minutes)
Duration of Effects: 2-4 hours
Dosage: Joint or Bong: 1g to 4g per day(approx. 0.5-1g/joint)
*Take smaller doses for concentrates such as hash, concentrated oils or waxes.
https://erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_dose.shtml
Inhaled (Vaporizing) – medicinal compounds pass through the lungs into the bloodstream.
Recommended Dose for This Method: Low
Onset of Effects: Rapid (5-10 minutes)
Duration of Effects: 2-4 hours
Dosage: Vaporized hit:1g to 4g per day (approx. 0.5-1g per vaped dose)
*Take smaller doses for concentrates such as hash, concentrated oils or waxes.
** Some vaporizers with poor efficiency may require up to twice as much for the same delivery.
https://erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_dose.shtml
Ingestion (edibles) – medicinal compounds absorbed through the intestinal tract (digested with the butter, oil or food) into the bloodstream.
Recommended Dose for This Method: High
Onset of Effects: Slow (1-2 hours)
Duration of Effects: 4-6 hours
Dosage: Edible: 5-10 mgs two times per day (to start – for new users) * **
*Potency depends on the specific item. Estimates for edibles can vary by a factor of 10, due to potency and the recipe used. Capsules often can provide more standardized dosing.
** Some people with a tolerance may use up to 100 mg/dose.
Sublingual (tincture/spray) – medicinal compounds absorbed through mucosal surfaces (usually under the tongue) into the bloodstream.
Recommended Dose for This Method: High
Onset of Effects: Moderate (15-30 minutes)
Duration of Effects: 2-4 hours (4-6 hours if swallowed)
Dosage: 2 to 50 drops: 5-10 mg 3x/day * **, or 5-10 mg in a lozenge or mint.
*Potency of tincture can vary widely (0.01 to 0.5 g/ml = 20 drops). For consistent dosing, try to use the same recipe or product repeatedly.
** Spray 2-4 times into the mouth, or use a few drops up to a dropperful, and wait a few seconds before swallowing (Drops can be mixed into a small amount of water or juice to improve the taste).
Topical (lotions, salves, balms, rubs, etc.) – medicinal compounds absorbed through the layer of the skin. Preparations containing DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) are absorbed through the skin more effectively.
Recommended Dose for This Method: High
Onset of Effects: Moderate (3 to 30 minutes, depending on the solvent)
Duration of Effects: 4-6 hours
Dosage: Apply as needed up to 4 times per day
