Microdosing is the act of consuming small amounts of cannabis to experience the medicinal benefits of THC and other cannabinoids without the intoxicating effects that can interfere with your daily activities.
The goal of microdosing is to use the dose that minimizes an intoxicating effect. You’re not trying to get “high” or achieve total symptom relief.
Wondering if microdosing cannabis may be beneficial for your specific needs? The knowledgeable and compassionate pharmacists at Fine Fettle’s Connecticut dispensaries are happy to help.
Why Microdose Cannabis?
You might assume that the more cannabis you inhale or ingest, the more relief you’ll get. Though this may be true in some cases, more cannabis can lead to diminished benefits. For example, a small amount of cannabis may decrease anxiety, but a larger amount may induce paranoia.
“Microdosing with cannabis is a great way for cannabis naive patients (and even those with experience) to achieve symptom relief, while avoiding unwanted effects,” said Eric Halpern, Fine Fettle Pharmacist.
Many Connecticut patients who’ve added microdosing cannabis to their daily or weekly routine have reported feeling more creative, energetic, and focused. They also may experience better relational skills, reduced anxiety, and improved mood.
Best Cannabis Products to Microdose
You can microdose any cannabis product. Tinctures and edibles are great for easy, accurate dosing. When you shop at a licensed Connecticut dispensary, you can be confident that products are labeled accurately and tested for quality. Homemade edibles and tinctures can be inconsistent, leaving you wondering how much THC, cannabinoids, and terpenes you’ve actually ingested.
"If you are choosing to smoke or vape, taking one or two inhalations to start and waiting 15 minutes can give you a proper starting microdose,” suggests Halpern. “With ingestion, 2.5mg-5mg of THC and waiting up to 2 hours to feel the effects is an appropriate strategy for microdosing. Start low and go slow.”
Microdosing Cannabis for Specific Conditions
Cannabis microdosing can be potentially beneficial for most Connecticut qualifying medical conditions.
As an example, if you have multiple sclerosis or fibromyalgia, you’ll likely need a high dose to control the immediate symptoms. As symptoms subside, you may be able to reduce THC consumption to a maintenance microdose.
Microdosing can help keep your tolerance at a manageable level, so you feel the effects of higher doses as needed for tough days.
The European Journal of Pain conducted a study focusing on pain relief using low doses of cannabis. It concluded that desirable effects could be achieved at levels as low as 0.5mg and 1mg. This is well below most standard doses.
What is the Optimal Dose for Microdosing Cannabis?
The optimal microdose varies from person to person and depends primarily on your cannabis tolerance. If you’re accustomed to high doses of cannabis, your microdose amount will be higher. In these instances, many consider taking a “T break” for 48 hours before microdosing to reduce the body’s tolerance to THC.
A “standard” dose can range from 5mg to 10mg of THC. Microdosing can be anywhere from 1mg to 5mg. As with all cannabis products, it’s a good idea to start at the low end and work your way up to find your optimal dose.
“Often, low doses of THC can alleviate symptoms, but higher doses have the potential to worsen them,” said Halpern.
This concept of different results for the same substance taken in different doses is called a biphasic response. It can be used to represent the optimal dose range for an individual.
Let’s say you were to graph the effects of THC, starting with a small dose as the baseline and increasing as the dose and positive effects increase. The top of the curve would be where the desired effects are achieved, right before the increase in dosage causes the effects to turn negative.
Is Cannabis Microdosing Right for You?
What’s most important is that you find the relief you need when you need it. Not everyone will be able to comfortably lower their dose of THC, depending on their condition and symptoms, but many will.
Not only does microdosing help manage your tolerance and allow you to function more effectively, but it’s also cost-efficient.
The friendly dispensary staff and pharmacists at Fine Fettle in Connecticut can help you determine the best microdose for the results you’re trying to achieve, based on your symptoms, cannabis experience, tolerance, and product preference.
Fine Fettle is a premier medical cannabis dispensary with locations in Willimantic, Newington, and Stamford. We can’t wait to meet you and help you find the right products to fit your needs.