The importance of Dosing for Cannabis

We often get calls from potential clients who are looking to implement cannabis into their lives, particularly in their medical routines. But, many don’t know where to start, and a dispensary trip doesn’t always equal enough education to learn enough about dosing.

When it comes to edibles, there are many different products and dosage amounts in the Arizona cannabis market. There are also different cannabinoids to consider with your treatments, so it’s important to understand a few of them. There are over 100 cannabinoids discovered so far, so there’s a lot to learn, which is what we’re here for.

The cannabinoid most are familiar with is CBD, or cannabidiol. Known as the non-psychoactive cannabinoid, this is one of the first we recommend to our clients. It’s a great way to learn about how cannabis can help, without the “head high.” It’s been medically-proven to help people with anxiety, pain, and general relaxation.

The most frequently-used cannabinoid is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the psycho active compound in cannabis that gives you the buzz. Don’t let that scare you: with micro doses, which we recommend to start with, you won’t be on the couch all day or eating everything in the house. Studies on THC have shown that it helps with appetite stimulation (often used for cancer or AIDS patients), pain relief, and nausea.

Next up: The “mother of all cannabinoids,” CBG, or cannabigerol. It’s called the mother of cannabinoids because it plays a role in how the rest of the cannabinoids are produced in cannabis. While there is still a need for more studies, so farre search has shown the CBG could help with improving sleep, stimulating the appetite, and supporting brain health by protecting brain cells. It’s also been shown to help those with IBS (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Often, edibles and topicals contain one or more of these cannabinoids, and they work well on their own, but even better when combined. This is called “the entourage effect,” also called “full-spectrum,” and it works by combining cannabinoids so their effects can help patients even more. The entourage effect suggests that full-spectrum products, containing a few of these compounds, may be more effective at lower doses than isolated compounds.

Due to the effect of combined cannabinoids, dosing is crucial to get the most benefits, without feeling too high to go on with your day. The typical verbiage for finding the proper dose is “low and slow,” which means to start at the lowest dose possible, and waiting at least an hour before taking another low dose. If you don’t feel effects and take another dose too soon after the first, you may feel uncomfortable.

Working out the dosing that works best for you will take some time and patience. We recommend finding products with THC as low as 1 mg, especially if there are other complementary cannabinoids in the product. For example, a 1mg THC edible may feel differently with the same amount of CBD.

As you become more comfortable with one milligram, you can now graduate to a higher dose, if needed. Keep in mind that2mg is double what you’ve been used to, so be sure you’re comfortable and in a safe space when taking larger doses. Some of our clients stick with a milligram or two, while others may need something stronger.

Cancer patients or those with other ailments or chronic pain may need bigger doses, but starting small is still recommended. Once you’re used to small doses, and need bigger effects, it’s time to look for products with more THC. In Arizona’s legal cannabis market, most packages contain edibles with 10mg of THC. In this instance, you’ll need to cut each piece into quarters to get 2.5 milligrams per dose.

We also recommend keeping a journal of your edibles experience, so you can track not only the doses you’ve taken, but the effects of each. This is a great way to track your progress, and share with any healthcare professionals you’re working with.

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Remember: Start slowly, take your time, and track your medical cannabis dosing. In time, you’ll find what’s best for you on a daily basis to help with medical issues.

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