The short answer
A medical THC capsule dosage calculator converts the THC figure on a product label into a number of capsules that matches your target dose. You enter two numbers: milligrams of THC per capsule, and the milligrams you want to take. The calculator divides the target by the capsule strength. A 5 mg target with 10 mg capsules gives 0.5 capsules. A 2.5 mg target with 5 mg capsules gives 0.5 capsules as well.
The math is simple. The hard part is picking the target dose and waiting long enough for the capsule to work before you take more.
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What the calculator outputs
- THC per capsule, taken from the label
- Your target dose in milligrams of THC
- Capsules per dose, usually a fraction
- Total doses in the package
- Daily THC total when you multiply by doses per day
Prerequisites
- A product label listing total THC per capsule in milligrams
- A target dose set by your clinician or by a titration plan
- Capsule count per package
- A written log for dose, time, and effects
- Two hours of free time after each new dose
How to run the calculation
- Read the total THC per capsule from the label. Use the total THC figure, which accounts for THCA converted during decarboxylation, not the total cannabinoid weight.
- Write down the package size, such as 30 capsules.
- Record your target dose in milligrams. A common starting point for oral THC is 2.5 mg.
- Divide the target dose by the THC per capsule. For 2.5 mg target and 5 mg capsules, the result is 0.5.
- Round to a number you can actually measure. Most capsules are not scored, so a 0.5 result means a half capsule only if the capsule splits cleanly. If it does not, buy a lower-strength product instead.
- Multiply capsules per dose by doses per day. The product is your daily THC total. Compare it with the ceiling your clinician gave you.
- Divide the package capsule count by capsules per dose. That is how many doses the package holds.
- Set a two-hour wait before any additional dose, then log the time you took it.
- Repeat the same dose for three to five days before changing anything.
- Adjust by no more than 1 to 2.5 mg at a time, and rerun the division with the new target.
Worked example
You have 10 mg capsules and a 2.5 mg target. The calculator returns 0.25 capsules, which you cannot measure. Two fixes exist. Switch to a 5 mg capsule and take half, or switch to a 2.5 mg capsule and take one. The second option is the cleaner choice because no splitting is needed and each dose is identical.
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Why oral THC needs different math than inhaled
Inhaled cannabis reaches peak effect in minutes. Oral THC passes through the liver and arrives slower, so a capsule can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to show its full effect, and effects can last 6 hours or longer. A calculator tells you the dose. It does not tell you when that dose peaks, so dosing again too early stacks two doses on top of each other.
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Common mistakes
- Using the flower weight in grams instead of THC milligrams
- Confusing total THC with total cannabinoids
- Redosing at 45 minutes when the first dose has not peaked
- Splitting an unscored capsule and assuming both halves are equal
- Forgetting to convert a per-package THC total into a per-capsule figure
Talk to a clinician when
You take prescription drugs that interact with cannabis, you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you have a heart condition, or you cannot hold a stable dose after two weeks of titration. Bring your log. Dose, time, and effect notes give a clinician far more to work with than a verbal summary.
This guide is general information and is not medical advice. Cannabis affects people differently, and oral THC is not appropriate for everyone.