Without question one of the hottest cannabis trends in recent years is microdosing. This refers to the practice of consuming low doses of cannabis at regular intervals, rather than what most people have historically done—consume lots of cannabis in one sitting. People mostly talk about microdosing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but an increasing number of people microdose cannabidiol (CBD), too.
Many folks are now finding that microdosing gives them the health benefits they’re seeking without too much of a psychoactive experience. People can microdose marijuana throughout the day and still work and be productive. HelloMD Co-founder Pamela Hadfield swears by microdosing CBD, which allows her to keep debilitating migraines at bay while still being able to run a business and take care of her three children.
RELATED: MICRODOSING CANNABIS STOPPED MY CHRONIC PAIN
Here’s a roundup of our three most popular questions about microdosing cannabis and how it can help with pain, inflammation, anxiety and more. These Q&As appear on our Answers page, where anyone can ask a cannabis question that will be answered by someone from the HelloMD community—doctors, nurses, marijuana industry experts and knowledgeable cannabis consumers. We hope this information gives you a little more insight on microdosing marijuana and how it could be beneficial to you.
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Q. How long do you wait between doses when microdosing?
_ I don’t know my tolerance yet. I believe half a dose of Kiva Chocolates made me sick the other night, but I’m not certain the chocolate was the cause._
Answer: @Perry Solomon, MD Since microdosing is a small amount of, in this case THC, it can take some time for it to work. Any oral medication can take up to 1–1 1/2 hours to feel any effect. Since the dose is small you usually don’t feel the psychoactive high that you would normally get with smoking or vaping cannabis. It can be a subtle feeling that you might not even recognize until you say ” hey, I’ve been feeling/thinking/focusing differently since I’ve been microdosing!”
As for feeling sick, it may have been the chocolate, but I cannot say. Kiva also has various types of confections that don’t have chocolate, so you could try those and see how you go.
RELATED: MICRODOSING: A BETTER WAY TO TAKE CANNABIS?
Q. Hi! I have a 4:1 (CBD:THC) tincture and wonder how much you recommend for daily microdosing for inflammation and anxiety?
Answer: @jessicapeters I love the approach of daily microdosing with cannabis and especially with CBD-rich medications. With the goals of reducing both inflammation and anxiety, daily microdosing with a 4:1 tincture is a perfect choice. While dosing is of course somewhat dependent on individual response and tolerance, I’d consider just 1-2 drops (not droppers full) 2-3 times a day. If you know you are particularly sensitive, even 1 drop 2-3 times a day is a great way to get the most benefit out of your medication. Microdosing is best with lower dosing, of course, but also greater frequency. We find that 2-3 times a day is ideal to keep your medication metabolizing regularly and maximize the therapeutic properties of inflammation and anxiety reduction.
Q. CBD dosing
_ I am just starting to experiment with CBD. The product I have is a 25:1 CBD to THC tincture. How many drops would be a starting dose? I’m trying to understand the concept of microdosing._
Answer: @ddlim Typically when people talk about microdosing in the cannabis world, it’s in the context of THC. Micordosing is supposed to give you positive effects without the psychoactive effects you could feel at higher doses.
But as for your tincture…there is no set dose per person. After doing a quick search of your product online, it looks like 1 drop = 1 mg CBD. Keep in mind that you might not feel anything right away. I’ve interviewed many patients and experts on CBD dosing and those who see the best results take their CBD tincture every day—think of it as a vitamin. These folks have all said that it takes about one month for it to build up in your system. I’m not a doctor but if I was trying to figure out a dosing routine for myself, I’d do at least 5 mg of CBD 2 to 3 times a day for at least three days and then reassess. If I didn’t notice a difference I would opt for a different tincture or a higher dose.
Photo credit: Christin Hume
If you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it’s easy, private and 100% online.
