As more states pass legislation to legalize cannabis, its consumption becomes more mainstream for medical and adult use. People are incorporating cannabis into their daily routines to enhance their health and well-being, and with a wide variety of brands, products and consumptionmethods available, the options seem endless for long-term cannabis enthusiasts and novice users alike. But in an industry where potency is king, a different trend gained traction in recent years: microdosing.
What Is Microdosing?
True to its name, microdosing means a user consumes small doses of cannabis in order to reap the mental and physical benefits, but with minimal psychoactive effects. Originally correlated with hallucinogens like LSD and mushrooms, microdosing was eventually embraced by the cannabis community. Subscribing to the “less is more” ideology, microdosing contradicts the belief that you have to blast your system with high amounts of THC to harness its beneficial properties.
The Benefits of Microdosing Cannabis
- Health advantages without the high. Microdosing allows you to receive healing cannabinoids without impacting your mental clarity.
- Stay in control. By consuming tiny amounts of cannabis, you won’t get high or experience the anxiety and paranoia that can occur with larger doses of THC.
- Discretion. A lower dose of THC means you can effectively consume cannabis on the go.
How to Microdose Cannabis
THC affects everyone differently, so you should identify a routine that works best for you. To start, you may want to reset your tolerance if you’re a habitual user. Refrain from cannabis two days prior to beginning; this should be enough time to reboot your endocannabinoid system and optimize your microdosing experience.
Next, identify your goals and choose a product that aligns with your needs. It’s helpful to understand the various cannabis strains and their corresponding characteristics when picking your product. For example, Sativa can boost your energy and stimulate your mind, while Indica is known for its relaxing effects and hybrids are a blend of the two. The strain you choose to use in your microdosing practice should correlate to the benefits you hope to receive.
Once you know which strain you’d like to microdose with, you’ll then need to determine your preferred method of ingestion. Below we explore a few of the most common methods, and how well they can be adapted to microdosing.
Smoking or Vaping
Utilize caution here. It’s very difficult to gauge and control the exact dose of THC you’re consuming when you are using an inhalation method, so go with a strain that’s low in THC. Try taking one hit from your joint or vape, then waiting several minutes to see how you feel.
Edibles
Depending on the type you opt for, these may present a challenge; imagine trying to cut a brownie or cookie into an exact ten milligram serving. But other options like gummies, mints and hard candies are perfectly portioned out. Begin with one edible at a time and monitor the effects. You can learn more about how to properly dose edibles!
Tinctures
Tinctures are the simplest and most precise method for microdosing. Tinctures are great for first-timers, due to the ease of measuring one serving at a time. Begin with one or two milligrams per day and increase your dose after several days until you find a dose that unlocks the feeling you hope to experience.
Should You Add CBD when Microdosing Cannabis?
Microdosing is typically associated with THC, but introducing CBD into the mix may kick things up a notch. When paired together, THC, CBD and other compounds have a more powerful effect compared to a single cannabinoid (referred to as the “entourage effect”). Plus, CBD is known to counteract the psychoactive properties of THC, so it may ease potential anxiety or paranoia associated with consuming THC alone.
The best approach for your microdosing journey is to start low and go slow. Begin with the lowest effective dose and go from there. You’ll probably need to experiment and discover the right technique through trial and error, but take your time and be patient. Track your progress and write down how you feel (both mentally and physically) one hour after microdosing each day. Gradually increase the amount until you find the sweet spot of getting the maximum benefits at the smallest dose.
Purchasing your cannabis from a trusted dispensary can also go a long way to setting yourself up to experience the full benefits of microdosing. Garden Remedies is the only physician-led and woman-led dispensary in Massachusetts, Garden Remedies is changing the conversation about cannabis. Our plants are grown locally and indoors with super soil. Our products are available to a broad range of cities and towns in the Greater Boston area. For more information, visit one of three Massachusetts dispensaries, call us at (844) 344-2420.
Kimberly Tronic is an author, copywriter and content creator. She enjoys coffee, cleaning her apartment, cats, and nibbling on pencils.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4742341/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7324885/
