THC Dosage Guide: Find Your Perfect Dose

Dialing in the right THC dosage can be the difference between a perfect high and straight-up not having a good time. Too little THC can leave you wanting more, and too much can put you on the floor. Your mission is to find that “Goldilocks” dosage that is juuuust right. However, figuring out that perfect THC dosage involves a lot of factors, from your own biology to the way you like to ingest your THC. We have all the information you need here at the Green Dragon to make sure you get your THC dose right every time.

How to Find Your Ideal THC Dose

When it comes to THC dosing, there is no golden rule. No two people are identical, and neither are their ideal dosages. Because THC affects a person through interaction with their uniquely tuned endocannabinoid system, a variety of biological factors can impact how the body responds to a certain dose. These factors include:

• Body weight
• Tolerance
• Metabolism
• Sex and hormones
• General health
• Gastrointestinal factors

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People with more body mass can often tolerate a higher dosage of THC, and experienced users sometimes need higher dosages to achieve the desired high. A high-powered metabolism can increase the onset of effects and speed up the timeframe in which the body processes THC and returns to its normal state. When using THC medically, the bioavailability of THC can be altered by the disease you’re hoping to treat, so sometimes a higher dose may be necessary to experience the desired therapeutic effect.

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All of this is to say that finding your ideal THC dosage will require some thought and experimentation. A good way to get a feel for where to start is to assess each of the above factors for yourself. What’s your tolerance like, if you have one at all? How fast is your metabolism? 

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As you ask yourself questions like these, it’s also wise to take a look at the type of cannabis products you’ll be consuming. 

Understanding Different Methods of Dosing THC

While THC content may seem consistent across different product types, they can still affect you in different ways, meaning you may need to adjust your dose accordingly. That said, your next step is understanding the effects of cannabis products – and how those effects relate to personal factors like body size or tolerance. 

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There are a few main types of cannabis or cannabis-infused products out there, including:

• Flower
• Vapes
• Dabs and concentrates
• Edibles
• Oils and tinctures

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Take a look at the basics for each consumption method to understand how you may need to dose your products to get your desired results:

Inhalable products like THC flower or vapes kick in quickly, but their effects are shorter-lived. Meanwhile, edibles may take longer to work their magic, but their effects last for a long time. How long it takes your body to break down THC – and how much THC gets lost in the process – can both affect your dosage decision.

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Likewise, some products are easier to precisely dose than others. THC gummies, which usually contain a set dose of THC per gummy, are easy to measure and control. Flower, on the other hand, may not have consistent levels of THC throughout, meaning one puff could be a lot stronger than the next. 

THC Inhalables Dosage Cheat Sheet

You’ve done your homework and established your bases – now it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of THC dosages. Considering everything we’ve discussed so far, you can determine an optimal starting dose (based on mg of THC) and work your way up until you reach a point that meets your needs.

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Let’s first take a look at THC dosages for inhalable products, like THC flower or vapes. These may not always be possible to dose at a glance, but some basic math can often help you establish how many mg of THC you’re working with. 

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For example, a THC vape pen that contains 500 mg of cannabis concentrate with a 50% potency level has about 250 mg of THC total. The packaging notes that the vape cartridge contains enough liquid for 100 two to three second inhalations. So, you can estimate that each inhalation gives you roughly 2.5 mg of THC. 

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Here’s a look at what you can expect: 

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It’s important to note that these estimates are just that – estimates. When it comes to inhalables, there are many factors that could influence dosages and how efficiently you consume THC. Smoking vs. vaping, for example, could change how much THC you lose instead of use, and your inhalations may not always be the exact same each time you take a toke. 

THC Edible Dosage Cheat Sheet

THC edible dosages are, fortunately, much easier to navigate than inhalable dosages. When buying edibles, dosages typically come in 5 mg or 10 mg amounts, particularly gummies. Other types of edibles, like chocolate bars or baked goods, may come in much larger dosages that are intended to be broken or cut apart. Make sure you know the dosage you’re dealing with before diving in face first!

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Here’s a chart of edible THC dosages and what you can expect from them:

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Starting with a gummy or something you can easily parse out the dosage of is a great way to get familiar with edibles and how they affect you. Remember, everything from your metabolism to the hormones in your body can influence how you break down and react to THC. So, even if your experience seems different from others, it’s still valid.

More Tips for Dosing THC

Finding the right THC dosage is sometimes a process of trial and error, but it’s worth the effort. Here are a few more general tips to keep in mind to help you set yourself up for success:

• Keep a journal. The best way to know how to adjust your THC dose is by keeping track of how each one makes you feel. Set a timer after using your THC product as a reminder to come back and jot down your thoughts just as its effects peak. Are they strong enough? Too strong? Is there anything else about your experience you’d like to remember?
• Start low and go slow. You already know the benefits of starting with a low dose, but it’s also important to resist the urge to pile more THC on when a single dose doesn’t seem to be enough. Give yourself a solid 15-30 minutes after consuming THC (or up to 60 minutes for edibles) before you think about adding more, especially if you’re a beginner. It’s always possible to take a bit more, but not possible to remove any if it starts to overwhelm your system.
• Talk to your doctor. Before you start using THC or any kind of cannabis product, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor. THC can interfere with some prescription medications and may pose health risks to people with certain health conditions, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
• Review certificates of analysis. Take a dive into the third-party lab reports – also known as certificates of analysis – for your products before you use them. These reports allow you to precisely see how much THC is in your product, which may not always line up with the dosages advertised on your product’s packaging. 

Start Experimenting with Your Favorite THC Products from Green Dragon

If you’re ready to give edibles or any other kind of THC a try, this guide will put you on the right track so that you’re guaranteed to have a good time. The Green Dragon has everything you need, from flower to vapes to dabs, edibles, and more. 

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So, what are you waiting for? Shop our full selection of THC now to find your perfect product. Still not sure where to get started or how to navigate THC dosing? We’ve got your back. Contact us anytime for advice or for a free consultation!