What is Microdosing?
Taking smaller doses of cannabis in order to feel the positive effects without feeling “high”.
Mycala McKay, March 21st, 2023
The Research
Some of these positive effects have even been the focus of clinical research. In 2017 Susan A. Stoner, PhD, a Research Associate Professor at ADAI, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine, published ‘Effects of Marijuana on Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders’. Some of of Dr. Stoner’s findings supports the benefits of microdosing.
“THC appears to decrease anxiety at lower doses and increase anxiety at higher doses.”
(Stoner, 2017)
Dr. Stoner also highlights that while low doses of THC may not be the ‘cure’ for anxiety, it can provide temporary relief for the user. With this in mind, let’s consider the goal of microdosing and how it can provide us with support of relief.
The Goal of Microdosing Cannabis
The overall goal of microdosing with cannabis is to use less than you would need to be high, but enough to experience the positive effects associated with cannabis. Microdosing can allow you to find comfort, ease of mind, and relaxation while maintaining a clear mind. We’ve already established that low dose cannabis can provide relief from anxiety, but other positive effect may include relieving aches, mobility, helping with focus, increasing energy, or just sparking creativity.
Positive Effects we Want while Microdosing
- Relieving aches for mobility
- Relaxing an anxious mind
- Sparking creativity
- Helping with focus
What we don’t want: the anxiety, hyper relaxation, or feeling of being “stoned”
Dosing your Microdose
A good rule of thumb for microdosing, is that no dose is one-size-fits-all. We all have different tolerance levels, which can be based on a number of factors like genetics, physical size, weight, and our personal level of consumption. Someone who is new to cannabis will have a very different tolerance than someone who has been smoking regularly for the past 10 years.
Dosage Recommendation:
1mg-2.5mg edible or tincture
Expected Onset:
30 – 90 minutes
Always start low, and go slow. You can start with a 1mg-2.5mg edible, and if you find that isn’t enough to provide you with the positive effects of microdosing, you can increase your dose. It’s okay to pace yourself. If you’re just starting out with microdosing, stay home while you test your doses, and try microdosing when you have nothing left to do with your day. This way, if you overshoot your dosage, you don’t end up stoned at Walmart.
2 of the best ways to microdose
Tinctures
This cannabis oil extract generally has measurements on the dropper and provides an easy-to-control dosing method which makes them great for microdosing. For the two tinctures we recommend, sublingual and water-soluble, dosing will be different for both.
For the water-soluble option, you should consider that you’ll be consuming your beverage over a period of time, so examine your tolerance with drinkables before trying this way.
Products we recommend
Treeworks Tinctures
These are what come to mind for most of us when we hear “tincture”, and oil taken sublingually (meaning under the tongue), and the Treeworks brand comes in flavorful Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid options.
Levia Tinctures
Levia Tinctures are water soluble, meaning they dissolve in water and can be added to any drink, but you should consider that this is something you will ingest over time and this may effect your experience.
Low Dose Edibles
There are many edibles that are made with lower dosages, which make microdosing a breeze, the best place to start for new users of the average consumer is with a 1mg edible. We don’t recommend breaking up edibles you currently have that are already in a larger dosage, as this makes it harder to know how much you are actually consuming. Instead search for low dose edibles, of which many are already on the market.
Products we recommend
Sweet Spots - 1mg
Sweet Spots are offered in Chill, an Indica chocolate, Energize, a Sativa chocolate, and Relief, a 1:1 with High CBD.
Do Drops - 2.5mg
Do Drop use terpenes for their experiences, offering Sativa, Indica, and Hybrids in gummies and chocolates. Some flavors offer higher CBD or CBN.
Happy Dosing!
As we mentioned before, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all method to microdosing, 2.5mg might be the perfect dose for some, and too much or too little for others. So don’t be discouraged if you feel that this doesn’t work for you right away, the most important thing to keep in mind is how much you consume now, and your tolerance and let that guide your decision making in terms of how much to start microdosing.
It is important to note that any decision you make regarding your health, both mentally and physically should be consulted with your doctor or a pharmacist regarding adverse side effects related to medications or other forms of therapy.
Information contained is provided by Staff of High Hopes Cannabis dispensary and is for educational purposes only. This should not be taken as medical advice.