Dosing Is Personal
There is no universal "right dose" of cannabis. Your ideal amount depends on your tolerance, body weight, metabolism, the specific strain, and your consumption method. What relaxes one person might overwhelm another. The goal of this guide is to give you frameworks and starting points for each method — not prescriptions. The single most reliable principle: start low, go slow, and pay attention to how your body responds.
Smoking & Vaping: Onset in Minutes
When you inhale cannabis, THC passes through the lungs directly into the bloodstream and reaches the brain within seconds. Effects are typically felt within 1–5 minutes and peak at 15–30 minutes, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Total duration is 1–3 hours.
Microdose: 1 small puff, wait 15 minutes.
Standard session: 2–4 puffs over 15–30 minutes.
Heavy session: Full joint or multiple bowls (experienced consumers only).
The fast onset makes inhalation the easiest method to dose precisely — you feel the effects before you can overdo it.
Edibles: Patience Required
Edibles are metabolized through the digestive system. THC passes through the liver, where it's converted into 11-hydroxy-THC — a metabolite that crosses the blood-brain barrier more efficiently and produces a more intense, longer-lasting experience. Onset takes 30–90 minutes (sometimes up to 2 hours on a full stomach). Effects last 4–8 hours.
Microdose: 2.5mg THC
Beginner: 5mg THC
Standard: 10–15mg THC
Experienced: 20–50mg THC
Colorado and other regulated markets set 10mg as a "standard dose." Beginners should always start at 5mg or below.
Concentrates: High Potency, Small Amounts
Concentrates (wax, shatter, live resin, diamonds) typically range from 60–90%+ THC. A single "dab" — a rice-grain-sized amount — is roughly equivalent to smoking an entire joint of high-potency flower. Effects onset within seconds and peak rapidly.
For reference: A 0.05g dab of 80% THC concentrate delivers roughly 40mg of THC in one hit. That's 4x a standard edible dose, delivered almost instantly. Concentrates are not recommended for beginners. Even experienced consumers should dose carefully.
Onset & Duration by Method
- Onset: 1–5 minutes
- Peak: 15–30 minutes
- Duration: 1–3 hours
- Easy to dose in real time
- Effects fade relatively quickly
- Best for precise control
- Onset: 30–120 minutes
- Peak: 2–3 hours
- Duration: 4–8 hours
- Must dose before feeling effects
- Effects are stronger and longer
- Best for sustained relief
If you don't feel edibles after an hour, you should take more.
This is the most common mistake with edibles and the primary cause of overconsumption. Variables like stomach contents, metabolism, and individual liver enzyme activity can delay onset to 2+ hours. A study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence (Vandrey et al., 2017) confirmed significant inter-individual variability in edible onset times. Always wait a full 2 hours before considering additional dosing. Many unpleasant edible experiences result from impatient redosing.
Microdosing: Less Is More
Microdosing means consuming sub-perceptual or barely-perceptual amounts of cannabis — enough to get subtle benefits without feeling "high." For inhalation, this is 1 small puff. For edibles, 1–2.5mg THC. Advocates report improved mood, reduced anxiety, enhanced creativity, and better focus without impairment. A 2012 study in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that the lowest dose of cannabinoids often produced the best pain relief with the fewest side effects. Microdosing is gaining popularity among professionals and daytime consumers.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Find Your Dose
Start with mild potency flower and take it one puff at a time. Our potency labels help you choose the right starting point.
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