Microdosing Marijuana: Everything you need to get Started

Freya Ried

3 years ago

How To

Cannabis 101

Microdosing Marijuana: Everything you need to get Started

Micro-dosing is an increasingly popular technique of consuming small doses of cannabis to experience the subtle effects of THC, rather than a full blown high. Micro-dosing allows you to achieve a relaxed, yet focused "high"- making it ideal for practicing throughout the day.

In an article written by New York Magazine regarding the topic of microdosing psychedelics, users say “they are using it not to escape their everyday lives but to enhance them: If you’re micro-dosing, you might even forget you’re doing drugs in the first place. The amounts are sub-perceptual…They’re still themselves, users say, only a little better.”

Micro-dosing marijuana isn’t for patients who lean on cannabis for chronic severe pain relief, but more for those who use it to combat anxiety, loss of appetite, and depression, for example.

There have been studies that suggest the effects of THC and how it reacts with anxiety are highly dose-dependent. It was observed that low doses of THC helped to reduce nerves during a public speaking task, but at higher doses, however, test subjects actually experienced increased levels of anxiety.

How to Start Microdosing

If you've decided micro-dosing suits your needs and lifestyle, it's key that you start small. Your environment, state of mind, hydration and nutrition affect your experience, too.

You'll want to take into consideration your current tolerance, and your relationship with cannabis as well. If you're used to smoking copious amounts of weed to feel stoned, you'll need to adjust your mindset before you start micro-dosing.

An article by CAFE about micro-dosing also highlights how critical mindset is to your micro-dosing experience. "Part of micro-dosing is also the mindset: if you’re used to consuming cannabis just to get high, you’ll want to change your mindset to one that acknowledges that that part of cannabis consumption is not what you’re going for when micro-dosing."

We recommend starting with 1 to 2 mg of THC. This is a good starting point, but if you need more, you can increase your intake slowly. Remember, you shouldn’t feel high at all. If you do, you’ve done too much.

There are several ways that you can consume cannabis to micro-dose:

concentrates
flower
edibles
drinks and teas
topicals

A really great way to start micro-dosing is with cannabis infused teas. Wesley Tea Company has the most soothing blends, sitting at 2mg per bag. Their Sunny Claritea blend uses organic herbs like fennel, peppermint, and ginger.

If you do try to micro-dose by smoking or vaping, you will need to look at the THC contents beforehand. We recommend using strains with less than 15% THC.

Remember, the goal to start is 1 to 2 mg, so if labels aren't clear or you don't understand how much THC is in your edible or topical, ask your bud tender or delivery driver when you are purchasing. Also take into consideration the amount of time it takes to start feeling the effects of an edible. We recommend waiting up to 2 hours before trying more.