August 29, 2023

When you begin using cannabis for medicinal purposes, it's crucial to keep track of how much you're taking. This helps you understand the right amount of cannabis your body needs and how often you should take it to experience positive effects.

Discovering your perfect dosage isn't a one-size-fits-all process. It involves trying different amounts until you find what works best for you. This trial and error approach is necessary because everyone's body is unique, and the Endocannabinoid System plays a significant role in determining how cannabis affects you.

Several factors contribute to finding the right dose, including:

• Sensitivity to cannabinoids: How your body responds to cannabis compounds.
• Severity of your condition: The seriousness of the health issue you're addressing with cannabis.
• Your biology and how it reacts to cannabis: Your body's natural characteristics and how they interact with cannabis.
• Body weight: How much you weigh can influence the ideal dose.
• Metabolism: How quickly your body processes substances, affecting how cannabis is absorbed and used.

WHAT IS THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE?

To grasp the endocannabinoid system (ECS), it's useful to know a bit about a core concept in biology called homeostasis. Think of the story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" – this tale helps explain homeostasis. The idea is that the best outcomes often lie somewhere in the middle, not too extreme. It's like wanting things to be just right, not too hot or too cold.

Homeostasis is the idea that many biological systems are actively controlled to keep conditions within a narrow range. Our bodies don't want things like temperature or blood sugar levels to be too high or too low. They need to be just right for our cells to work their best. Our bodies have developed intricate mechanisms to bring conditions back to this "Goldilocks zone" if they go off track.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) in our bodies plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis. It helps our cells stay in their optimal range, just like Goldilocks seeking the right porridge temperature. The ECS is so important that it's found throughout the animal kingdom. Its main parts evolved millions of years ago, and it exists in all vertebrate species.

The ECS has three main components:

• Cannabinoid receptors on cell surfaces that detect the presence of endocannabinoids.
• Endocannabinoids, which are small molecules that activate these cannabinoid receptors.
• Metabolic enzymes that quickly break down endocannabinoids once they've done their job..

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DOSE YOUR CONSUMPTION?

Determining the right dosage for therapeutic substances isn't quite the same as figuring out doses for pharmaceuticals, at least not at the moment. Ongoing scientific research is still in progress, and results differ due to the unique way each individual responds to THC.

This individual variation plays a significant role in how cannabinoids affect them. That's why it's crucial to approach dosing with patience and careful consideration, taking the time to find what works best for you.

Here are some factors to consider:

Navigating THC Tolerance for Optimal Results

A person's tolerance refers to how their body responds to THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. When someone needs to use more THC over time to feel the same effects, that's called tolerance.

But here's the interesting part: not all parts of the brain and body build tolerance at the same speed. Different areas adjust to THC in different ways.

Here's why this matters: as you use THC more, your body can get used to it, and you might need more for it to work as you want. That's why it's really important to start with a low amount and take it slow. This helps you figure out the right amount that helps with your symptoms without causing strong side effects. It's like finding the sweet spot – not too much and not too little – so you can get the best results. This way, you won't feel overwhelmed or disappointed by using too little or too much.

Related article: Marijuana Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, and 5 Tips to Take a T-Break - Monroe Blvd

IT CAN GET COSTLY

The greater the amount you use to achieve the high you want, the more cannabis products you'll end up buying. These purchases can become costly, particularly if you're getting them from dispensaries.

It's recommended to stick with strains that already give you the experience you're looking for. Learning about their background can help you understand why they work so well for you.

THE PRESENCE OF AN EXISTING CONDITION

If you're using cannabis to manage your symptoms, it's important to take it consistently to effectively improve how you feel. Figuring out how to divide a specific number of milligrams throughout the day will assist you in keeping a close watch on your consumption and your budget.

YOU CAN OVERCONSUME IN ERROR

Consuming too much, particularly with edibles, happens quite often. This is because THC changes into 11-hydroxy-THC, a smaller molecule that the liver absorbs instead of the lungs. This transformation makes THC stronger, more powerful, and its effects can take up to two hours to fully kick in..

Related Article: Marijuana Edibles for the First Time

What if you got too high? Like, TOO HIGH!

When you smoke too much cannabis, it is called ‘greenout’ and you may experience nausea, dizziness, or even vomiting. The best thing to do is to remain calm! You won’t die from too much THC.

If you or someone you know finds themselves in this situation, try the following anecdotes:

• Take a shot of freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice: Researchers say it can be due to the contribution of limonene, a common terpene found in citrus fruits that has anti-anxiety effects.
• Chew on peppercorns then spit them out: Researchers advise this is due to the release of caryophyllene, a common terpene that has calming effects
• Engage in deep breathing: This technique helps to calm the central nervous system
• Place yourself in a tranquil environment: It’s advised to watch tv, listen to music, or even take a nap
• Don't freak out: Please don’t call for medics to save you. Give your body the chance to process the high. It will go away, guaranteed!

Related Article: Marijuana and Anxiety - Tips and Tricks To Overcome Your Paranoia While You're High

Depending on your ingestion method and/or dose, you can start to feel relief within 1 to 24 hours.

The main rule in consumption is to “Start Low, Go Slow”! It is best to slowly increase your dose and track your consumption so you are aware of what does and doesn’t work for you. 

Are you a cannabis newbie? 

The best thing you can do is to be aware of the amount of cannabis your body can handle, no matter what consumption method you use.

Here are some tips that can help you make better informed decisions:

Establish an initial dose. Consider the following factors:

 

• How potent is the cannabis product? Ensure to read labels and ask questions if the milligrams/potency aren’t clear on the package.
• Ingestion method – ex: a full stomach can influence onset and duration (with edibles) 
• Drug interactions – if you’re taking prescriptions/supplements, you should consult with your healthcare practitioner about wanting to add cannabis to your health regimen.
•  Contemplate these general dosing recommendations:
• Inhalation – Take 1 puff, roughly 1 second long & gradually increase by 1 puff
• Consumption – 2.5mg-5mg and gradually increase by 2.5mg

Related Article: First Time Smoking Weed

Are you struggling trying to find the right does? 

As previously mentioned, finding the right dose is a trial & error process, so the best way to use cannabis is to start low and go slow. Tracking your dosing activity is key to helping you keep track of your consumption. People typically use sticky notes, a journal, apps, or a simple cannabis dose tracker worksheet.

Monitoring your cannabis intake is also a great way to learn about titrating, which is the concept of continuously adjusting your dosage as needed. 

There are 3 general dosing ranges to keep in mind when you’re ready to consume:

• Microdosing (taking small amounts of a substance): About 1mg-20mg of cannabinoids per day
• Standard Dosing: About 10mg-100mg cannabinoids per day
• Macrodosing (also called heroic dosing): About 50mg-800mg
• Very extreme dosing and not recommended to take without consulting with a trained professional 

What if the initial dosing doesn't work?

Here are some recommendations to follow in the event the dosage you begin with doesn’t provide the desired effect:

• You can split your daily doses throughout the day.
  Ex: instead of consuming 15 mg twice (total of 30 mg), try taking 10 mg three times
• If the dose is too high, you can decrease it and also split it if necessary
• Change the ingestion method or product 

CONCLUSION

Determining your ideal dosage is a time consuming process that will allow you to figure out what THC quantities are suitable for your condition and your body’s tolerance levels.

Take your time trying out ingestion methods, various THC products and documenting the process so you can reference what worked best for you. Keeping a record to track your dosing is ideal in helping you determine how you want to proceed implementing THC in your wellness routine.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share with us!

 

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