The short answer

There is no single medical cannabis dosage chart that fits every person. Clinical guidance converges on the same baseline: start at 1 to 2.5 mg of THC per dose, keep CBD separate from THC at first, and raise the amount only after you have held the same dose for 2 to 7 days. Your working dose depends on body weight, tolerance, liver enzyme activity, product form, and the symptom you are treating. Use any chart as a starting range, then adjust based on your own log and your clinician's input.

related article

What a dosage chart can and cannot tell you

A chart can give you a safe place to begin and a ceiling to stay under while you learn how your body responds. It cannot tell you your final dose, because cannabis effects vary widely between people and even between products with the same milligram label. THC content on a label is an average, not a guarantee. Edibles from the same batch can differ by a small margin, and homemade or unregulated products can differ by a large one.

Medical Cannabis Dosage Chart for Sleep Insomnia

This guide is educational. It does not replace advice from a physician, pharmacist, or cannabis clinician who knows your history and your other medications.

THC vs CBD Dosage Chart for Cancer Patients

Baseline starting doses by experience level

  • New to cannabis: 1 to 2.5 mg THC per dose, or 5 to 10 mg CBD per dose
  • Occasional use, a few times a month: 2.5 to 5 mg THC per dose
  • Regular use, weekly or more: 5 to 10 mg THC per dose
  • Daily use with established tolerance: 10 mg THC and above, reached through titration rather than a jump
  • Age 65 and older, or taking multiple prescriptions: begin at the lowest end and move in the smallest increments available

Dose ranges and onset times by product form

  • Inhalation (flower or vape): effects in 1 to 10 minutes. 1 to 3 mg THC per inhalation is a common starting point.
  • Tincture or oil held under the tongue: onset 15 to 45 minutes. 1 to 5 mg THC per dose.
  • Edible: onset 30 to 120 minutes. 1 to 5 mg THC per dose, then wait a full 2 hours before adding anything.
  • Capsule or tablet: onset 30 to 90 minutes. 1 to 5 mg THC per dose.
  • Topical balm or lotion: no meaningful psychoactive dose. Apply to the target area as needed.

Onset time matters more than milligram count when you are new. A 5 mg edible and a 5 mg inhalation dose are not the same experience, and the edible version keeps building for up to two hours after you swallow it.

Understanding the Right Dosage for Cannabis Pain Relief

Pick a THC to CBD ratio

  • 1:0 (THC only): strongest psychoactive effect, best reserved for users who already know their tolerance
  • 1:1: balanced effect, often chosen for pain and sleep support
  • 1:5 to 1:20 (CBD dominant): mild psychoactive effect, often chosen for daytime use or anxiety
  • 0:1 (CBD isolate): no psychoactive effect, used for inflammation, seizure disorders, and general wellness

How to titrate in five steps

  1. Record the product name, THC milligrams, CBD milligrams, and the time you take it.
  2. Take your starting dose at a time when you have no driving or work obligations for the next four hours.
  3. Wait the full onset window for that product form before you consider a second dose.
  4. Hold that same dose for 2 to 7 days. If side effects appear, drop back rather than pushing through.
  5. Increase by 1 to 2.5 mg THC or 5 to 10 mg CBD only when the current dose gives no relief and no side effects.

What to log after each dose

  • Time taken and time you first felt an effect
  • Peak effect time and how long it lasted
  • Symptom score before and after, on a 1 to 10 scale
  • Side effects: dry mouth, racing heart, anxiety, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea
  • Sleep quality that night and appetite the next morning

Fourteen days of entries usually shows a pattern. Most people find their stable dose inside the first two to three weeks when they titrate in small steps.

When to lower the dose or stop

  • Rapid heartbeat, chest tightness, or a feeling of panic
  • Severe dizziness or trouble standing
  • Confusion, paranoia, or intrusive thoughts
  • Vomiting, which can signal too much THC from an edible
  • Any new or worsening symptom that concerns you

Stay hydrated, sit or lie down, and give the effect time to pass. Edible effects can last six hours or longer. Contact a poison control center or seek medical care if symptoms are severe.

Talk to a clinician before you start

Bring your dosage log to your appointment. A clinician can check for interactions with blood thinners, sedatives, antidepressants, and seizure medications, and can help you set a target dose that fits your condition. Buy from licensed dispensaries where labels list THC and CBD content per serving, and keep your products locked away from children and pets.