How to Dose Edibles

If you’re confused about how to dose edibles, you’re not alone. Edibles work differently from other types of cannabis. Even the most experienced cannabis users can feel unsure of how much of a cannabis gummy, brownie, or chocolate bar they should eat. But though edible dosing can be confusing at first. Figuring out your ideal dosage is easy once you understand what makes edibles unique. Also what you should expect from different THC levels in edibles.

Ready to figure out which edible dosage would be right for you? Read on to learn everything you need to know about dosing edibles! Below, we’ll go over what makes edibles different from other consumption methods and how that can affect your dosage. Then, we’ll share some edible dosage guidelines and go over our handy edible dosage chart.

Understanding Edible Dosage: Edibles vs. Other Cannabis Products

Understanding what makes edibles different from other cannabis products is important. These differences can affect your ideal dosage and your overall experience.

Edibles are unique among cannabis products because of how they’re absorbed and processed by the body. When you smoke or vape, the cannabis you’re using is absorbed through your lungs. But when you eat an edible, your body absorbs the cannabis in that edible through your digestive system. This difference in absorption has a major impact on a cannabis user’s experience. Edibles kick in much more slowly than other types of cannabis. Also they last for far longer, and may feel more intense. Additionally, you may not feel the full effects of an edible at the onset point. The effects of an edible can further intensify as your body continues to digest it.

Two of these differences in how edibles work can make them particularly tricky to dose. First is the potentially stronger effects and second is a slow onset time.

Dosing Cannabis Edibles: Considering Strength of Effects

Many people who use edibles find that they produce stronger effects when compared to other consumption methods. Cannabis users often describe edibles as having a very strong “body high” and more intense psychoactive effects.

Wondering why cannabis edibles could produce different effects than other consumption methods? Some research has shown that marijuana edibles may produce stronger effects. The reason is the way cannabinoids are processed when they’re digested. Research has found that the body may convert more of the cannabinoid Delta-9-THC to the cannabinoid 11-hydroxy-THC when cannabis is ingested, rather than inhaled. 11-hydroxy-THC is thought to be a particularly potent form of THC. So, it makes sense that having more of it in the body could lead to stronger psychoactive effects and more of a full body effect.

Since edibles can feel stronger than other consumption methods, cannabis users often prefer a smaller edible dose. That is important to remember when you’re trying edibles for the first time. Even if you have a good idea of how many milligrams of THC works for you when you’re smoking or vaping. You may want to consider going with a lower dose when you first start out with edibles.

Dosing Cannabis Edibles: Considering the Slow Onset Time of Edibles

It’s easy to overdo it with edibles because it takes a long time to feel the effects of an edible. When you smoke or vape, you’ll feel effects quickly. Typically, you’ll feel the effects of smoking or vaping within 2 to 10 minutes. Edibles, on the other hand, typically kick in within around the 30 to 60 minute mark. But it can also take up to 3 hours to kick in.

It’s very common for people to overconsume edibles. The reason is that they didn’t wait long enough to feel the effects of an edible they took. Often, a person will take an edible, feel little to no effects after waiting a while, and take a second dose. Then, when both of their doses take effect a short while later. They’ll realize that they just didn’t wait long enough for the first dose to kick in. Now  they have to wait out the unpleasant, overwhelming effects of their double dose.

When you’re first experimenting with marijuana edibles, be mindful of their delayed onset time. It’s not a good idea to assume that you took too small of a dose and take another dose when you’re still within the first few hours of taking an edible. Take it low and slow with edible dosage if you want to avoid overconsuming.

How to Dose Edibles: Edibles Dosage Chart

Now, let’s talk about edible dosage guidelines. The chart pictured above can give you a good idea of what to expect from different edible dosages (and who typically takes these different dosages). It can help you figure out what dosage range may work for you.

Note that the information in our chart is best used as a starting point to help you understand the average effects of different dosages. Different people can react differently to the same edible dosage, since everyone’s body is unique. A person’s reaction to an edible dosage can vary. It depends on the baseline sensitivity of their endocannabinoid system, their gastrointestinal environment, and their history of cannabis use. Remember that it’s always smart to go low and slow with edibles. Start with a lower amount of THC than you think you might need. Then, if you don’t get your desired effects from that dose, you can simply go up incrementally until you find the right dose for you.

How to Dose Edibles: Milligram Ranges

Dosage: 1 mg to 2.5 mg THC

Typically For: Microdosers, First Time Cannabis Users

Expected Effects: Mild Symptom Relief, Improved Creativity, Improved Focus

The 1 mg to 2.5 mg dosage range is typically ideal for cannabis users. The ones who like to microdose and for first time cannabis users. This low dose range usually provides mild symptom relief from symptoms such as pain, stress, and anxiety. It may also provide the user with improved creativity and focus.

Dosage: 2.5 mg to 15 mg THC

Typically For: Standard Recreational Use, Consumers With Persistent Symptoms, Consumers Who Want to Ease Sleep Issues

Expected Effects: Stronger Symptom Relief, Euphoria, Altered Perception, Impaired Coordination

The 2.5 mg to 15 mg range is typically best for standard recreational use, medical marijuana patients who are looking to address persistent symptoms, and cannabis users who would like to try using cannabis for sleep. This dosage range is a good starting point for many people who have tried cannabis before, but have not built up a tolerance to THC.

Dosage: 15 mg to 30 mg THC

Typically For: Experienced Consumers With a Tolerance

Expected Effects: Strong Euphoria, Altered Perception, Impaired Coordination

The 15 mg to 30 mg range is typically for more experienced cannabis users. Those who have developed a tolerance to cannabis. Including both recreational users and medical patients. For consumers with a higher tolerance level, this dosage range can produce strong euphoria and it may help sustain sleep. For consumers with a lower tolerance level, this dosage range can produce negative effects, such as nausea and paranoia.

Dosage: 30 mg to 50 mg THC

Typically For: High Tolerance Consumers, Consumers With Absorption Issues

Expected Effects: Very Strong Euphoria, Altered Perception, Impaired Coordination

The 30 mg to 50 mg range is typically for cannabis users that have a very high tolerance to THC. It can also be for consumers who have poor absorption in their GI tract. A small percentage of people can’t absorb cannabinoids well through their digestive system. Some cannabis users with absorption issues take a higher dosage. They do it in order to achieve their desired effect. Since their body does not absorb all of the cannabinoids they consume.

This dosage range typically provides strong euphoria in users with a high tolerance to THC. Also a negative effects in users that do not have a high tolerance to THC. At this dosage range, significantly impaired coordination and altered perception becomes highly likely.

Dosage: 50 mg to 100 mg THC

Typically For: Certain Medical Patients & Very High Tolerance Consumers

Expected Effects: Seriously Altered Perception, Seriously Impaired Coordination; May Cause Rapid Heart Rate, Nausea, Pain, & Other Negative Side Effects

The 50 mg to 100 mg dosage range is typically only for cannabis users with an extremely high tolerance to THC or for medical marijuana patients with certain conditions. A medical provider may prescribe patients with cancer, certain inflammatory disorders, or other medical conditions very high doses in order to help manage their condition.

Within this dosage range, the risk of negative side effects from overconsumption greatly increases. This dosage level can cause negative symptoms such as nausea, paranoia, pain, and rapid heart rate.

A Note on Dosages Over 100 mg THC

Once you pass the 100 mg THC dosage mark, the risks of negative side effects from consuming too much cannabis dramatically increase. Even consumers who have extremely high tolerances are likely to feel the symptoms of overconsumption at this very high dosage level. Therefore, taking an edible with a THC content of over 100 mg is typically not recommended. There can be exceptions to this rule, including instances in which a person is instructed by their medical provider to take a very high dosage that is over 100 mg THC. However, know that a dosage of over 100 mg THC would be more unpleasant than beneficial for most people.

Final Thoughts on Dosing Cannabis Edibles

There you have it: our complete guide on how to dose cannabis edibles! We hope that this guide has been helpful if you’re trying to figure out the right dosage for you. If you have any questions about edibles that were not answered in this guide or questions about the edible products we carry at Essence, please feel free to reach out! You can get in touch with us through our website by clicking here or by calling your closest Essence Dispensary location.