There is no universal medical cannabis dosage chart. THC and CBD affect people differently, and a dose that eases one person's pain can cause anxiety in another. A chart gives you a starting range. Your actual dose comes from titration: start low, wait, then raise the amount in small steps until symptoms ease without unwanted effects.
How cannabis doses are measured
Doses are measured in milligrams (mg) of THC and CBD, not in puffs or joints. The label tells you mg per serving, and that is the number to track. Flower works differently. A strain labeled 20% THC holds about 200 mg per gram, so a 0.3 gram joint contains roughly 60 mg, though inhalation delivers only a fraction of that into your bloodstream.
Edibles are the easiest to measure and the easiest to overdo. A 100 mg chocolate bar cut into 10 squares is 10 mg per square. Cut each square in half and you have 2.5 mg pieces.
Typical starting ranges by method
- Inhalation (flower or vape): 1 to 2.5 mg THC per puff for beginners. Effects arrive within minutes and fade in 1 to 3 hours. Wait 10 to 15 minutes between puffs.
- Oral edibles: 1 to 2.5 mg THC is a common starting dose. Onset takes 30 to 120 minutes, peak effects hit around 2 to 4 hours, and the whole thing can last 6 to 8 hours or longer.
- Tinctures and oils: Held under the tongue, these absorb faster than edibles, often within 15 to 45 minutes. Start at 1 to 2.5 mg THC the same way.
- CBD dominant products: Doses tend to run higher, often 10 to 50 mg per day for pain or anxiety, though the research is mixed and CBD still interacts with some medications.
- Topicals: Lotions and balms act locally. They rarely produce a head high, so mg tracking matters less, but patch products with THC can still enter the bloodstream.
Titration is the only reliable chart
- Start at the lowest dose, usually 1 to 2.5 mg THC.
- Keep the same product and the same method for at least three sessions. Changing both at once tells you nothing.
- Increase by the same small amount every two to three days, not with every dose.
- Stop at the dose that eases your symptoms without side effects. That is your dose, even if it looks low on paper.
- Write it down: time, mg of THC, mg of CBD, method, effect, and side effects.
What shifts your number
Tolerance moves fast with daily use, so the same dose can feel weaker within a week. Liver enzymes matter too. Some people metabolize THC quickly and clear it in hours, while others feel a 5 mg edible for most of a day. Other medications, especially blood thinners, benzodiazepines, and seizure drugs, can interact with cannabis through the same liver pathways. Age, sleep, hydration, and whether you ate beforehand all change how a dose lands.
cannabis dosing calculator for weight
Signs you went too high
Racing heart, nausea, dizziness, spinning thoughts, or paranoia usually mean the dose was too large for now. Stay calm, drink water, and give it time. THC intoxication is uncomfortable but rarely dangerous on its own. Do not add more cannabis to fix the feeling.
When a chart is not enough
Talk with a pharmacist or clinician who knows cannabis if you take prescription drugs, are pregnant, have heart disease, or are treating a serious condition. Lab tested products from a licensed dispensary give you accurate mg numbers, which is what makes any dosage plan work at all.