Start with 2.5 mg THC. Wait 120 minutes before any second dose. Raise the dose by 2.5 mg on a later day, not in the same session. A 10 mg serving is the legal single-serving cap in several US states, so a 2.5 mg start sits below one standard serving.

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The First-Dose Rule

A first-time user takes 2.5 mg THC. A user with edible experience takes 5 mg. Both wait two hours. Edible onset runs from 30 to 120 minutes, and the peak lands near 90 minutes for many products.

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Why Gummies Hit Later Than Smoke

Inhaled THC reaches the brain in minutes. Swallowed THC moves through the stomach and liver. The liver converts THC to 11-hydroxy-THC, a compound with stronger effects. That step delays onset and lengthens the session. Effects can run 4 to 8 hours.

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A Step Plan for New Users

  1. Day 1: 2.5 mg THC. Record the time, the food you ate, and the effect at 2 hours.
  2. Day 2 or later: 5 mg THC if day 1 gave no effect.
  3. Day 3 or later: 7.5 mg THC.
  4. Hold at 10 mg THC until you know your response.

Food and Timing

An empty stomach can speed onset. A meal with fat can slow onset and raise absorption. Pick one pattern and repeat it. Do not add a second dose at 45 minutes because nothing happened. That window is a common cause of edible overdose.

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Read the Package Numbers

Packages list THC per package and THC per serving. A 100 mg package with 10 pieces holds 10 mg per piece. Half a piece is 5 mg. A quarter piece is 2.5 mg. Check if the label counts total THC or delta-9 THC alone.

CBD to THC Ratio

A 1:1 gummy with 5 mg CBD and 5 mg THC acts in a different way than 5 mg THC alone. CBD can soften some THC effects for some users. Test a ratio on a day with no plans and no driving.

Alcohol, Meds, and Sleep Aids

Alcohol plus THC raises impairment and nausea risk. Sedatives and sleep aids add to drowsiness. Ask a pharmacist about interactions with your prescriptions.

Signs You Took Too Much

  • Fast heart rate
  • Dry mouth and dry eyes
  • Anxiety or panic
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Slow speech or poor balance

Most cases pass in a few hours. Sit down, drink water, and stay with a calm person. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for severe symptoms. In the US, that number reaches a free, 24-hour service.

State Dose Caps

US states with legal adult use set serving limits. Colorado caps a single serving at 10 mg THC. California caps a package at 100 mg THC. Check your state rules before you buy a multi-serving pack.

Storage

Keep gummies in the child-resistant package. Mark the container with the dose per piece. Store the package away from children and pets. THC exposure in a child or a dog needs a call to Poison Help.

Skip the Higher Dose When

  • This is your first edible
  • You take a sedative or a sleep aid
  • You drank alcohol
  • You plan to drive in the next 8 hours
  • Your body weight is low or your tolerance is low