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Edible Dosage

Taking the right edible dosage can be the difference between a fantastic time and a bad trip. Learn how much THC to take with our edible dosage chart and guide.

Dosing edibles can be challenging since there are many variables to how they can be experienced. Purchasing edibles from dispensaries can help take some of the guesswork out of calculating a suitable dose but keep in mind that each individual edible could have inconsistent amounts of THC. Making edibles at home takes calculations to determine approximate potency but can allow you to have control over the amount of THC you are inputting into your edible as a whole.

As a good rule of thumb, new users, or a user with low-tolerance, should aim for a suggested dose of 2.5-5 mg THC. If there are no effects felt after two hours it is ok to take another dose of 2.5-5 mg of THC and wait for the effects to kick in. The standard dose for an edible is 10 mg of THC which can be ingested by an occasional user, or a user with average tolerance. Frequent users, or users with a high-tolerance, can start with 20 mg of THC. Check the chart below to determine how much THC you should start with when diving into edibles.

Edible Dosage Chart

User Type Suggested Dose of THC
New 2.5mg-5mg
Occasional 10mg
Frequent 20mg+

Edible Dosage Timing

A common mistake that new users to edibles make is dosing up too early. The effects can take as long as two hours to kick in so it is important to be patient as you wait for your buzz to arrive. If you’re curious about the typical timeline for edible usage read the How Long Do Edibles Last article.

Calculating Dosage Potency

If you purchase edibles from a dispensary there should be a label with the THC value equivalent to the entire package. Portion the total THC value appropriately so that you end up with the approximate dose you would like to ingest. Remember that the THC may not be evenly distributed throughout the entire edible so this methodology provides an approximation and not an exact dose. If you are making your own edibles use our potency calculator to determine how potent your cannabutter will be; you can then portion your homemade edible to be the approximate dose you would like to ingest.

Micro-dosing

If you’re new to edibles another way to test the waters is to try microdosing. Microdosing is the consumption of 3-7 mg of THC that stimulates the cannabinoid receptors improving mood, focus, and creativity without the feeling of euphoria.

Dosing Tips

Consider these tips as you start your journey with edibles, homemade or store bought:

  • It may take a while to determine how much THC from edibles works for you; always keep track of how much you ate, when you ate it, and how you are feeling.
  • Your smoking tolerance may not be the same as your edible tolerance so start with a low dose and dose up after a two hour wait period if you do not feel anything.
  • If you haven’t felt the effects after an hour but you want to eat more food, consider eating something without cannabis to kick start the digestion and absorption of the edible you already consumed and to satisfy your need for snacking.
  • If you haven’t felt the effects after two or more hours, consider waiting 24 hours and trying a slightly higher dose the next day, experimenting until you find the amount that works best for you and your body.
  • Do not try to “keep up” with someone who has more experience with edibles. Their tolerance is higher and they are more familiar with the sensations that come with edibles so they are more likely to know how much they can handle and when the effects are beginning to set in.

Overdosing Edibles and Symptoms

Sometimes users can devour too many edibles and end up with an overconsumption of THC. Greening out, or over-consuming edibles, can cause unpleasant side effects but do not require medical intervention unless there are pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease, pregnancy, or another serious condition. If you have any of the following symptoms you may have consumed more THC than your body was ready to handle:

  • Impaired attention and inability to concentrate
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Nausea
  • Very low blood pressure
  • Muscle contractions or spasms
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Rapid breathing rate
  • Slurred speech or mumbling
  • Panic attacks and severe anxiety
  • Mood swings
  • Hallucinations
  • Delirium

Relieving Edible Overdose

If you have found that you over-consumed edibles, consider these tips for relieving your symptoms:

  • Make sure that you are in or return to a calm environment where you feel safe. Having a friend or a loved one with you can be helpful as they can reassure you that you are safe and everything will be ok.
  • Make sure to stay hydrated with a beverage that does not have caffeine or alcohol.
  • Eat a light snack such as fruit, cheese, or nuts.
  • Consider a dose of pure CBD which can act as a partial antidote.
  • Some people suggest lemon oil, found predominantly in the rind and in lower amounts in lemon juice. You could also grate a tablespoon of lemon zest, chew it up, then swallow.
  • Chew on a blackpeppercorn or carefully sniff the odor of black pepper.
  • Drink some chamomile tea to help you relax.
  • Take a hot shower or bath to help relax you.
  • Distract yourself with entertainment such as playing video games, watching a funny movie, talking with your friends, or playing a board game.
  • Remember: there’s no such thing as a toxic level of THC consumption. Most people do not need emergency medical care unless they have pre-existing heart disease, pregnancy, or another serious medical condition. If you experience prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, intravenous rehydration may be necessary.