If you know anything about cannabis consumption, you probably know that not all cannabis is created equal! Different cannabis strains, cannabis dosages, and cannabis consumption methods will tend to deliver very different results and effects. So let’s help take the guesswork out of cannabis with a quick guide as to methods and dosages!
Cannabis Consumption: Understanding the Concepts of Sativa, Indica, and Cannabinoids
There are many strains of cannabis, but they can be divided into two broad categories: Indicas and sativas. In general, indicas deliver a relaxing, full-body experience. They’re great for melting away aches and pains or helping you get a good night of sleep. Sativa strains are more energizing. Many people trust them for creative inspiration and a gentle mood burst during the day.
Knowing whether a given cannabis product is an indica, a sativa, or a hybrid of the two tells us a lot about what effect it will have. But when we want to talk about cannabis consumption, it also helps to know a little about the natural compounds called cannabinoids.
You’re probably already familiar with the most abundant one: THC. It’s the cannabinoid responsible for the cannabis plant’s delightful euphoric “high,” as well as many other important medicinal effects. The more THC in a given cannabis dosage, the more you’ll feel the psychoactive high.
So, with that under our belts, let’s look at some specific examples of cannabis consumption methods and cannabis dosages to form an educated guess about what effects they’d have.
Cannabis Consumption: Predicting Dosages and Results
Knowing what we do about types of cannabis and cannabinoids, let’s begin with some numbers as to how different amounts of THC will affect us.
THC Dosage: 1 – 2.5 mg
Typical Effects: Mild relief of symptoms including pain, stress, and anxiety; heightened focus and creativity. Great for first-time consumers or more experienced consumers looking to microdose cannabis.
THC Dosage: 2.5 – 15 mg
Typical Effects: Stronger relief of symptoms, euphoria, and impaired coordination and perception. Great for stubborn symptoms not affected by smaller doses. Can help manage insomnia as part of an indica strain, though a sativa strain with this level of THC may lead to a sleepless night.
THC Dosage: 30 – 50 mg
Typical Effects: Strong euphoria, significantly impaired coordination and perception. Great for consumers with a high tolerance for THC or whose GI systems don’t absorb cannabinoids well.
THC Dosage: 50 – 100 mg
Typical Effects: Seriously impaired coordination and perception, possible unpleasant side effects including nausea and increased heart rate.
Cannabis Consumption: Predicting Dosages Based on Methods
Finally, let’s look at a few different cannabis consumption methods, and how each affects our bodies differently.
Flower: There are many different ways to consume flower. Rolled in a joint or a bowl are two of the most popular. While each delivers different amounts of cannabinoids, one rough calculation suggests that an average joint delivers roughly 90mg of THC. By comparison, smoking cannabis in a bowl tends to lose slightly more.
Concentrates: Again, the delivery method matters here. Tinctures deliver precise amounts of THC, typically in the 2.5mg to 10mg range. But if you’re inhaling a concentrate, 0.5 grams of wax or a similar product could deliver closer to 235mg of THC! That’s one of the many reasons we advise our customers to be very cautious with this consumption method. Always start low and go slow.
Vapes: Vapes tend to deliver lower dosages than smoking cannabis. A puff on a vape pen, for instance, will deliver roughly 4mg of THC. This depends, of course, on how long of an inhale you take.
Edibles: All cannabis-infused edibles are clearly labeled with the amount of THC in each unit. But because of the way our bodies process edibles, they tend to be more potent than flower or vapes. How much more potent? Some sources suggest that edibles are anywhere from 5 to 9 times more potent than inhaled cannabis, meaning that 5mg of THC in an edible feels more like 25 to 45mg.
Ready to start your cannabis journey? You can find a variety of high-quality products on our menu. Find your nearest dispensary location to get started.