What microdosing weed means
Microdosing cannabis means taking a THC dose small enough that intoxication is mild or absent. The usual range is 1 to 2.5 mg THC per dose. A standard edible serving in legal US states is 10 mg THC. A microdose is one-tenth to one-quarter of that serving.
No federal standard exists. Federal law lists cannabis as a Schedule I substance. State rules apply in states with legal adult use, age 21 and older.
Dose numbers
- 1 mg THC: the smallest dose printed on most commercial edibles and tinctures.
- 2.5 mg THC: a common microdose target. Many states sell 2.5 mg and 5 mg edibles.
- 5 mg THC: a low dose. Mild effects for people with low tolerance.
- 10 mg THC: the standard serving in Colorado, Washington, and other states.
Flower math
Flower at 20% THC holds about 200 mg THC per gram. A 2 mg dose equals about 10 mg of flower, or one crumb. Most kitchen scales do not read below 50 mg. Tinctures, capsules, and low-dose edibles give better control than flower.
Methods and onset times
- Inhalation: onset 1 to 10 minutes. Peak 15 to 30 minutes. Duration 1 to 3 hours.
- Oral edible or capsule: onset 30 to 120 minutes. Peak 2 to 4 hours. Duration 4 to 8 hours.
- Tincture held under the tongue: onset 15 to 45 minutes.
Oral absorption shifts with food, body weight, and liver metabolism. The same dose can act different in two people.
Timing
Take a microdose at a time when you do not need to drive. THC impairs driving. After an oral dose, wait 2 hours before you judge the effect. Do not take a second dose before that.
Tolerance
Daily THC use builds tolerance. Repeated exposure downregulates CB1 receptors. A common pattern is 2 to 3 dosing days per week, with 2 days off between doses.
Risks
Side effects at low doses include dry mouth, drowsiness, changes in short-term memory, and a faster heart rate. Cannabis use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is not advised. THC can interact with drugs processed by cytochrome P450 enzymes, including warfarin and some antidepressants.
Evidence
Clinical research on cannabis microdosing is thin. Study groups are small. Definitions of a microdose differ between studies. NIDA states that more research is needed on low-dose THC and its effects.