How many milligrams of THC is too much?

Despite hearing it again and again, we often have to learn the hard way that there is truth in the phrase “having too much of a good thing.” While this adage is annoying when uttered by our concerned parents when we eat candy as children, it can be painfully true when it comes to marijuana use. What starts out as a deliciously edible and relaxing high can potentially lead to an overwhelming burst of anxiety, paranoia, and palpitations. This is where the “too much” part comes in.

When it comes to marijuana, an overdose in the classic sense may not be possible when you think of drug overdose and death from it, but you can certainly have so much that you wish you didn’t get high in the first place. So, in order to prevent an event that will drive you completely insane and/or paranoid, you probably should know how much weed is too much for you and how to avoid reaching that point.

Standard Dose Vs. Too Much

If you’re looking for a “serving size” of THC, you’ll quickly find that the number of milligrams for a “serving” will vary depending on who you ask and what condition you’re in. For example, scientists use 5 mg doses in most tests because that creates a standard, and often subjects in the study feel the desired effects at this level. Experts recommend starting with 2.5 mg THC and not exceeding 40 mg THC per day.

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In some states, you can get a single edible at 10 mg, implying that the serving size in those places could be 10 mg, while other states have a limited amount of edibles at 5 mg. Ten milligrams is often considered the standard serving for those familiar with THC consumption. In any case, as a rule of thumb, it’s best to go with the edible and wait. Exceeding 40mg could send you into another dimension unless you are an experienced cannabis user with a high tolerance, which can be problematic and even dangerous if you had no intention of entering that dimension.

Edibles are the dosages that you need to watch out for the most since they take so long to work. When it comes to smoking and vaping, it’s much easier to refrain from consuming too many mg of THC at once. All you have to do is take a few breaks and pay attention to your mind and body to see if you notice any warning signs that you may have had too much.

Warning signs that you should stop using

One of the best ways to know when it’s definitely time to stop using is when you start experiencing some of the negative side effects of marijuana. Sure, negative side effects can occur with any dosage, but if you’re experiencing more than one or more than usual, it could mean you’ve consumed too many milligrams of THC.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it says on its website that while fatal marijuana overdoses are unlikely, being aware of some of the negative side effects can keep you from entering a place that is beyond your control for several hours. The CDC mentions extreme confusion, anxiety, paranoia, a rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, hallucinations, and vomiting as important warning signs.

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You may experience one or two of these from time to time, especially if you have a low tolerance or are trying out a new strain, but experiencing multiple of these symptoms means it’s time to hit the brakes. Be sure to write down the amount of THC you’ve consumed and try to stop the next time you indulge and go from there.

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Dosage is individual, not science

Keep in mind that while following a self-paced THC dosing schedule can help you avoid negative experiences of feeling too high, there is no precise correlation between milligrams of THC and the level of your high. All sorts of factors play into how high you get from a given amount of weed.

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From exposure to time of day to your weight and what you ate for breakfast, these are just some of the variables that can make the difference between 10mg of THC being perfect or way too much. As we mentioned earlier, the dosage of each substance affects people in different ways. Factors like tolerance, body mass, mindset and more make a difference. So give yourself time to feel the effects before increasing your dosage.

Once you’ve figured out what works for you, it’s probably a good idea not to push the limits because often the only way to find out how many milligrams of THC is too much is through personal experience, and that’s an experiment you do should best be avoided.