How Much is a Microdose?
Microdosing cannabis has become a relatively popular trend over the past decade or so. Many who support microdosing believe it offers a method of cannabis consumption without much or any intoxication due to the cannabinoid THC.
Many microdose for a variety of reasons ranging from health and wellness to minor cannabis potency experimentation. But just how much is a microdose?
The answer is relatively straightforward but does come with a bit of debate. In this article, we'll dive into what a microdose is, its potential benefits, and ways you can explore microdosing on your own.
Understanding Microdosing
In most cases, we associate THC consumption with large doses, often 10 mg or higher per serving. Microdosing is the opposite and just what its name implies.
Instead of a large serving, a microdose delivers a relatively small amount of THC to the consumer per serving. This is where the term microdose can get a bit debated.
A microdose is usually considered between 1 and 2.5 mg per serving. However, some will push the limit to 5 mg of THC.
In any case, the primary intention of microdosing is for the consumer to experience THC in a low enough dosage where they will experience little to no signs of intoxication, otherwise known as a "high."
While its ideal dosage is up for debate, scores of anecdotal feedback and a growing number of lab studies suggest that several mental and physical health conditions may experience some level of therapeutic benefit from consuming cannabis.
But with numerous medical conditions reportedly affected by various doses of THC and other cannabinoids, finding the ideal dosage can be difficult for patients or any health and wellness-focused consumers. Unfortunately, some trial and error is typically involved in finding the ideal dosage.
The Start Low and Go Slow Method
Many microdose when starting out their cannabis exploration.
In some cases, when starting with THC, a standard or above-average dose can overwhelm new consumers or anyone with a lower tolerance. These unwanted side effects of over-intoxication can ruin someone's otherwise positive perception of cannabis.
To avoid such a negative experience, consumers can explore their ideal dosage in incremental steps with a microdose. The "start low and go slow" method suggests that consumers start with a single dosage between 1 and 2.5 mg and then wait 30 to 60 minutes to determine if they require an additional dose to reach their ideal outcome.
Sometimes, consumers can up their next dosage to between 2.5 and 5 mg with a second dose. However, more often than not, the start low and go slow method suggests that consumers keep the dosage the same throughout a single consumption experience, only increasing the dosage at a later date or time.
Microdosing's Potential Benefits
The efficacy of microdosing THC continues to be explored in labs across the world. Early analysis has shown that the consumption practice has shown potential promise in treating a variety of medical and psychological conditions without the consumer experiencing intoxication effects associated with standard doses of THC.
Select research states that low doses of THC, somewhere in the 1.25 mg range, appeared effective in reducing stress 1. Additional studies have found that low doses of cannabis can improve a consumer's mental clarity and concentration, providing potential benefits for a range of medical consumers as well as professionals in many fields 2.
Still, additional research is required to understand better the relationship between microdosing and the body's myriad of physical and mental conditions.
Methods for Microdosing
Smoking and Vaping
In theory, consumers can microdose with any type of consumption method. However, microdosing is particularly difficult when smoking or vaping cannabis and its concentrated oils.
Some may say taking small puffs can result in the desired effect. On the other hand, consumers face a pretty wide margin of error with smoking and vaping, which could result in consuming much more THC than intended.
Unless using a specially designed vape product with microdose settings, consumers take a pretty big gamble on getting a microdose out of either consumption method.
Edibles
Edibles are much more effective at accurate dosing. When consuming legal, lab-tested products, the consumer knows what they're getting.
With these products, dosing and other essential information are clearly labeled on the packaging or the website, allowing the consumer to know the dosage before purchasing.
Tinctures
Tinctures allow consumers to dose themselves using a liquid dropper under the tongue. As long as the dropper has the measurements on the side, consumers should have little trouble understanding what their dose will be.
Distillate Powder
If a consumer wants only one compound in their consumption experience, they can also microdose using distillate powder.
This white, powdery substance is the end result of various extraction processes that reduce a cannabis plant and its compounds down to a singular entity. Consumers can weigh their powder on a scale or use a measuring device to microdose.
Factors Affecting Microdosing
Many factors can affect microdosing and its results. Some of the primary components of the experience include:
Bioavailability and Absorption
Bioavailability refers to the proportion of a substance that reaches the bloodstream. As such, bioavailability and its variety of factors can impact how much THC and other cannabinoids are consumed in the body 3.
Factors include but are not limited to:
- The digestive process
- Time of dosing
- Individual health status
- Body composition
Consumers should consider the varying bioavailability of cannabis products when microdosing.
For example, edibles have a lower bioavailability than traditional smoking and vaping methods due to their processing through the digestive system and liver. While this process takes longer to kick in, the effects can be much more substantial as cannabis is converted to 11-hydroxy-THC in the liver 4.
THC Potency and Product Variation
Potency can impact the severity and length of the effects felt once cannabis reaches the bloodstream. Even when various products are listed with the same dosage per serving, that does not mean the effects will be the same.
For example, how the product is produced and the strain used can deliver a variety of outcomes. Consumers should be aware that higher potency products will often deliver stronger effects, but they should also consider additional factors to determine what type of experience they may have.
Individual Variation
Similar products deliver different outcomes, and so is the case with consumers. A certain strain, dosage, or consumption method may produce the ideal outcomes for one consumer.
That does not mean it will do the same for the next person. A variety of internal and external factors will impact the effects, severity, and length of a consumer's experience.
Microdosing Tips
Many recommend journaling or tracking the data when microdosing. Doing so should allow the consumer to remember what dosage they consumed and the effects they felt, ideally helping them hone in on their ideal dosage and serving.
Choosing the Right Products
Buying the right products is critical to getting the ideal experience out of cannabis at any dosage.
Consumers need to be aware of what they're buying. That means understanding the dosage, the consumption method, and many other critical components.
For example, if a product is full spectrum, then the consumer will be ingesting THC as well as a number of plant compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and various other components that can impact the effects felt. Similarly, a product made from distillate will only contain THC or another singular plant compound, which will alter the effects.
Dosing is also a critical factor. That is especially true for anyone microdosing.
Most of the legalized products will come in 5 or 10 mg per serving doses. However, there are numerous microdosed products on the market.
Be sure to check out the packaging for all the details before purchasing.
Another must-do item is checking the product's lab results to confirm its contents and dosage. You can find these details on a QR code on the packaging or by visiting the company's website. If you cannot find the lab data, consider purchasing another item from another brand.
So, How Much is a Microdose?
Microdosing involves consuming small amounts of THC to reportedly feel the therapeutic effects of the plant without much or any intoxication in the process. That ideal dosage will vary by person.
In most cases, a microdose is somewhere between 1 and 2.5 mg of THC per serving. However, some consumers and brands push that threshold to 5 mg.
While there is some wiggle room with the term, anything above 5 mg should never be considered a microdose, that is unless you're dealing with someone with a significantly high tolerance for THC.
Speaking of tolerance, that's one of the main reasons people turn to microdosing.
Consumers can identify their ideal dosage by starting with a low dose and slowly increasing it. A microdose can reportedly allow the consumer to enjoy the effects without the standard High associated with them.
Keep in mind that additional research is required to confirm the effects of microdosing further and its impact on various medical conditions. Be sure to continue checking the news for additional reports and analyses to understand the connection between cannabis and microdose better.
