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Edible Dosage: What’s Right for You?

If you’ve ever considered trying edibles or you’ve already purchased and tried some, you likely know the importance of dosing edibles correctly. The problem is that there’s a lot of conflicting information out there. How much is too little? How much is too much? In this guide, we’re going to talk about edibles dosing, and we’re also going to give you a chart to follow when choosing how much THC you should consume at one time in your edibles.


What is Dosing for Edibles?

Dosing for edibles simply means you’re factoring in how much THC is in a serving, how much you want to consume, and the type of experience you’re looking to have.

To dose cannabis edibles, you need to look at the product packaging. It will tell you how much THC is in the entire product and how many servings are in the package. This makes calculating how much THC is in a serving easy if the package doesn’t list a per-serving amount (it should). Once you know how much THC is in a single serving, you can dose properly using our edible dosage guide.

Follow Our Edible Dosage Guide

Here’s the thing about edibles—it’s always better to start low and slow. Always. While you won’t necessarily hurt yourself if you choose not to follow that method and end up exceeding your tolerance levels, it will create an unwanted experience. To avoid this, we designed this edible dosage guide to be applicable to most cannabis enthusiasts who are new to edibles.

That said, depending on things like your weight, gender, cannabis consumption history, endocannabinoid system, and more, you may find you need to adjust to a different range to get the experience you’re looking for. Here’s how we break down dosing edibles purchased at a dispensary*:

1-2.5 mg THC: Microdose

While this amount may not create the psychoactive effects common with higher potencies, it can still cause effects in the body that last longer than smoking or vaping. Microdosing can be popular with people who need to be able to get things done during the day but still want to consume cannabis.

3-5 mg THC: Low dose

For a true edible newcomer that wants a psychoactive experience, this is where you should start. You will notice the more traditional effects of THC—especially if you opt for 5 mg—but it should not feel overwhelming or hinder your ability to function. If you feel either of those two things, you should drop your THC to a microdose the next time you consume edibles.

5-15 mg THC: Moderate dose

If you’re a regular cannabis consumer, this is going to be your sweet spot. You’ll be able to feel the psychoactive effects caused by THC while still enjoying yourself. If you’re new to cannabis, this is not the dose for you.

15-30 mg THC: High dose

This dosage should only be consumed by true cannabis connoisseurs. We’re talking about people who are consuming cannabis throughout the day regularly and have developed a high tolerance for THC. Even with that veteran cannabis experience, most consumers will find it hard to do much more than simply enjoy the intoxicating effects of their edibles.

30+ mg THC: Macrodose

Dosages at this level are reserved for two types of consumers: highly experienced cannabis consumers and medical marijuana patients. With this much THC, the risk of side effects is significant. We don’t recommend ever taking this amount without having a good reason for it.

*You may have noticed that when we introduced this chart, we stated it was for dispensary-purchased edibles. This is because edibles made by industry experts are significantly more consistent in their dosages than homemade edibles. When mixing your cannabis-infused batter at home, it’s possible more THC ended up on one side of the pan than the other. With homemade edibles, always go slow and don’t assume the dosages are evenly distributed by cutting a nine-by-nine pan of brownies into three-by-three squares.

Tips for Dosing THC Edibles

While our dosing chart is going to be a great starting point for anyone ready to venture into the world of edibles, there are a few additional tips we always tell our customers to keep in mind. They include:

  • Start low, go slow: If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a hundred times. It is always easier to consume more. You cannot un-consume too much, however. By starting low and going slow, you may need a couple of sessions to find the perfect dosage for you, but you’re not going to create an unpleasant experience that may keep you away from edibles for the long term.

  • Remember edibles are stronger and last longer than other methods: Edibles, whether digested or absorbed sublingually or buccally (under the tongue or through the cheek) are stronger than your average flower. Plus, they hang out in the body longer too. This one-two-punch means you need to opt for a lower dosage for edibles than you may think is appropriate, and you should wait a minimum of an hour before consuming more.

  • Eat a little bit first: Edibles and an empty stomach are not good bedfellows. Sure, you may feel the effects faster, but having food in your stomach will also create a more consistent experience. This means that you won’t be overpowered by your edibles, and you won’t accidentally consume too much because you’re hungry.


To preserve the potency of your edibles, we also recommend knowing how to store edibles. Check out our guide for more information.


How Long Does It Take Edibles to Work?

The time it takes an edible to work depends on two important factors—how it is consumed and your endocannabinoid system. Because edibles can be absorbed through the mouth or via digestion, the time to feel the effects can vary. The THC in a lozenge will likely enter the bloodstream, thanks to the thin walls of your mouth, far faster than a brownie that needs to be swallowed, digested, processed by the liver, and then sent into the bloodstream. Once the cannabinoids are in your system, it’s all about how your endocannabinoid system interacts with them.

In general, we recommend waiting for at least an hour for edibles and as long as four hours if you’ve eaten a big meal and you’re waiting for your cookie edible to digest. Finding the right dosage may take a couple of tries, but it’s definitely worth the patience.

Find Your Right Edible Dosage

Your edible experience is about your body, your tolerance levels, and the intoxication level you’re looking for. Think about how much cannabis you consume already because that will help you make a determination of where you should start on the dosing chart. Once you’ve got a good idea, come in and talk to our budtenders about the edibles we have in stock. They’ll be able to help you find something you enjoy and answer any questions you have about the product.

 


Recreational Cannabis is not available in all states. Cannabis is for medical use only and may only be used by certified patients in Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and medical marijuana patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations.