How Many Edibles Should You Eat? Your guide to edible dosing

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.

Edibles are one of the most popular ways of consuming cannabis. They come in so many delicious flavors, from sweet to savory, even vegan and gluten-free versions. What’s not to love?

But for newbies, dosing cannabis edibles with THC can be tricky. The dosage makes the difference between a blissful experience and one that can approach a nightmare filled with paranoia, tachycardia, and anxiety. While marijuana is not dangerous, the effects of ingesting too many edibles can last for hours and traumatize some for long enough to stay away from it completely. That’s what we want to avoid, so let’s take a look at how to properly dose edibles.

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What to expect at different dosages

Whether or not you’ve smoked cannabis in the past, edibles are a whole different ball game. They’re notorious for taking much longer to kick in, leading many people to make the mistake of stocking up on their edibles and hitting it all at once. But unlike smoking or vaping, edibles you buy from a pharmacy are already pre-dosed, meaning you already know how much THC is in each gummy bear or piece of chocolate. That makes it a lot easier to understand.

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Regardless of how many edibles you take, wait at least 45-90 minutes to an hour before deciding to refill. Edibles must pass through the digestive system for the cannabinoids to enter the bloodstream, while smoking and vaping go directly to the lungs. The biological process for this takes time and is influenced by other factors, which we will discuss later.

That being said, here’s what to expect with various edible doses of THC:

• 1 – 2.5 mg THC: This dose is considered a micro-dose that even seasoned users take regularly if they want to stay focused and productive. You can expect some minor pain and stress relief while getting a boost of creativity and focus. This is also wonderful for social situations and people suffering from social anxiety disorder, as it helps reduce sharpness.

• 2.5-15 mg THC: For those struggling with persistent insomnia, stress, pain, and other ailments, this dose is recommended. You can expect greater symptom relief and blissful feelings, although this is strong enough to cause impairment. So make sure you don’t have to operate any machinery with this amount.

• 15–30 mg THC: Only experienced cannabis users and edible consumers are recommended to start dosing at this level, as well as medical patients who have already developed tolerances. This is also ideal for patients struggling with extreme, treatment-resistant insomnia as it delivers an intense head and body high that is sure to lull you to sleep. Driving is absolutely not recommended.

• 30–50 mg THC: Individuals struggling with gastrointestinal disorders that can affect cannabinoid metabolism and individuals with a high THC tolerance are ideal consumers for this type of dosage. You can expect an extremely strong euphoria that can leave you feeling extremely relaxed and, in many cases, couch locked.

Consuming more than 40mg of edibles at a time is not recommended unless you have years of experience with cannabis. Even then, the effects are strong and can last up to 12 hours or more.

Other considerations

The absorption time and intensity of the effects also vary due to many factors. One of them is the type of edible; One study has shown that candy and gummies result in a faster onset (within 15 to 45 minutes), while other types of edibles on the market can last up to 180 minutes in some cases. Individuals who already have a fast metabolism may feel the effects of THC much sooner than others because they can digest the edibles faster. Eating an edible on an empty stomach also ensures that the onset is quicker.

RELATED: How Long Do Marijuana Edibles Stay In Your System?

Also, keep in mind that in many cases, and depending on the type of food, THC may not be the only cannabinoid present. Many edible brands combine other minor cannabinoids such as CBN or CBD, which is beneficial for patients as it is therapeutic thanks to the entourage effect. This means that when you are consuming to treat or cure a specific ailment, the presence of other cannabinoids enhances the way each one works in the human body.

You should also prepare for possible repercussions. Usually extreme sleepiness, drowsiness, and hunger can occur. Therefore, preparation is key; The best way to do this while experimenting with THC edibles is to make sure you’re home, somewhere safe, and don’t have to do anything important or drive for the next 12 hours. Even better if you have a bed or couch where you can just soak it all up and relax.

RELATED: Why don’t some people get high from eating edibles?

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What happens if you take too much?

Let’s face it: sometimes newbie edibles just get too high. It happens to the best of us when we start experimenting with edibles.

RELATED: How to avoid going to the emergency room for a marijuana overdose

To avoid this, make sure you have a CBD product in your area. CBD has powerful anti-anxiety properties that can be used to mitigate the effects of too much THC. You can take CBD sublingually, by smoking or vaping it, or by taking a CBD capsule. Sublingual CBD would work the fastest, so it would be handy to have in your home before your first experiments with THC edibles.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.