Finding your perfect cannabis dosage is no easy task. Your ideal dosage will depend on many different factors including your tolerance, the strength of your product, the desired effect, and much more. And with so many different variables in play, figuring out a dosage that consistently works for you can become very nuanced. Luckily we’ve got some tips to help you find your ideal cannabis dosage.
Know Your Cannabinoids
Before getting down to numbers, it’s important to understand exactly what you’re ingesting and what effects it will produce. A product that is high in THC will produce much different effects than its high-CBD counterpart. And both of these cannabinoids can produce different effects when consumed together than when consumed apart. Remember that different strains and different products can have different cannabinoid and terpene profiles. Make sure you know just how much THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are in your cannabis before trying to figure out a proper dosage for yourself.
Different Methods, Different Dosages
You should also be mindful of the consumption method you choose. A certain dosage that may work well with one consumption may turn out to be way too much or too little when using another.
One of the reasons why this happens is that different consumption methods have different bioavailability ratings. Bioavailability refers to the amount of a specific substance that actually makes it into your bloodstream after being consumed. As a result, less of the THC or CBD you consume will make it into your bloodstream if you eat it as an edible, than if you smoke or vape it.
Additionally, different products will contain different concentrations of cannabinoids. For example, 1 gram of a cannabis concentrate will likely contain much more THC or CBD than 1 gram of cannabis flower. Always be mindful of different concentrations and make sure not to accidentally overshoot your intended dosage when mixing consumption methods.
Establish a Baseline Cannabis Dosage
The first thing you want to do is to establish a baseline dosage that you know you are comfortable with. Once you know what to consistently expect from this dosage, you can begin to move it up or down in order to find your sweet spot. It’s important to start low. Work with a Green Goods pharmacist to determine a baseline dose. Take note of how you feel at this baseline dosage and think about which way to go in order to achieve the desired effects.
Increase Incrementally
It’s always important to go slow when moving your dosage up from your baseline. Increasing your dosage incrementally will help to keep you from accidentally going too high and experiencing undesirable side effects.
Journaling your dose changes can be a great way to keep track of how you’re feeling at a specific dose. As you move up, use your journal to keep track of different doses and the effects you experience.
Consumed Too Much?
It happens. If you’ve been increasing your dosage incrementally then it’s unlikely you will experience any overly unpleasant effects, but nevertheless, there are a few things you can do to bring yourself back down again.
If you’ve consumed too much THC, then consuming some CBD can help to counteract some of THC’s stimulating effects. You should also remember to keep as calm as possible and try to relax. Consider moving to a more relaxing place with dim lighting where you can enjoy some water and food.
