What is Microdosing

An overview of microdosing with cannabis

Credit: wweek.com

Questions have been coming in about microdosing with cannabis . We have been covering a lot of topics in psychedelics, especially via the magic mushroom microdose series. But we haven’t been as thorough on cannabis so- this one is for that.

For those like me: the lover of being high on a potent strain/ dose, microdosing may not be of interest. For those that want all the benefits and little to no high, microdosing could be for you. Microdosing looks a little different for everyone- there isn’t a scientific method.

What is Microdosing

Generally, microdosing is associated with psychedelics like LSD and Psilocybin; however, CBD and THC microdosing have become popular topics. Overall, micro-dosing is consuming small amounts of Cannabis for the benefits of THC/CBD, while avoiding potential psychoactive effects that can interfere the duties of the day.

Michelle Ross, Founder of IMPACT Network, says: “Microdosing is something that is very personal. There is no magic bullet for all patients; it is different for each one.”

Who/ What is Microdosing Good For?

For those that have zero experience with Cannabis, and interested in edibles and tinctures, microdosing may be good for you. Cannabis impacts us differently; I can wake and bake with a potent gram of flower and still work all morning. If I dab in the morning- I’m out in la la land the whole day. I know plenty of people that dab in the morning and work just fine.

So, body type, the day, mood, appetite, tolerance, and sleep habits are all considerations for the way Cannabis consumption will impact each of us. According to Dustin Sulak, an osteopathic physician, licensed in Maine, patients are now turning to microdosing in order to treat conditions like: depression, stress, anxiety, pain, and to help improve focus and promote sleep.

Microdosing with Cannabis

Smoking and Vaping: when dosing flower and/or vape cart, using the “1 puff at a time” logic is best. One puff/inhale every 4-6 minutes to see how you feel before consuming more is recommended. Smoking Cannabis means the impact is felt very close to immediately.

My experience with vaping- it’s a little delayed in impact so- 1 inhale every 10-12 minutes is recommended. It may take 1 inhale, it may take 4 inhales, but dosing in this way allows you to see how much is actually needed for the reason you are consuming.

Tinctures: this gets a little tricky because depending on the body, oil can take up to 2 hours to feel. Using a 1000 MG tincture as the example- means that each full serving is 33.33 mg of Cannabis oil. When microdosing cannabis tincture oil serving, start with a 3-4 drops under the tongue. Because oil generally has a longer waiting period to feel the impact, 3-4 drops every hour- hour and half is recommended.

Edibles: like tinctures, edibles are a bit tricky because of the impact time. Generally, the impact starts to release into the body between 30 minutes to an hour. However, an edible can take up to 2 hours to feel. Generally, when buying an edible from a dispensary, the maximum milligrams allowed by law is 100 mg. That one edible will be divided into pieces and/or marked by sections in 10 mg dosages. For someone that is microdosing, 5 mg is a good place to start. Then increasing by 2.5 mg each hour.

In Closing

Microdosing isn’t for everyone. Cannabis microdosing is not for me, but could be for you. If the goal isn’t to get high but to relax, relieve pain, or simply for the medicinal properties- then microdosing cannabis is great. It isn’t a good idea to start the process on a work day so, it’s recommended that you start on a- Netflix and chill day. It’s ok to go slow because though Cannabis isn’t a plant that harms you- too much Cannabis in one dose can potentially create an unpleasant experience.

This piece was originally written by the author and published in Oklahoma Chronic Magazine. Slight edits have been made since the original publication of this piece.