In the early 1990s, Interesting science was discovered by researchers that led to thousands of people with health conditions turning toward the practice of microdosing herbe. Yet, even 30 years later, there’s still a lot to learn about the practice and the science behind it.
Scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system, which is present in all animals with a spinal cord, and found that it microdosing cannabis can effectively treat many medical conditions. The endocannabinoid system directly affects the body’s hormone production.
Endocannabinoids play a role in many bodily functions, including hormone regulation, mood, growth and metabolism. When the body is stressed by environmental concerns or other health conditions, supplementation may be necessary.
Cannabis plants produce natural chemical compounds called phytocannabinoids, similar to our body’s endocannabinoids. You can supplement these by microdosing THC throughout the day, a process that provides your body with support without causing any disruptions.
Quick Guide To Microdosing
As more and more scientific research comes out in support of pot’s health benefits, medicinal marijuana has become legal in 37 of the 50 United States. As a result, more medical marijuana patients are now trying microdosing THC.
What Is THC Microdosing?
Microdosing marijuana means taking a small dose that will give you the desired cannabinoids without making you feel high.
The phrase most associated with microdosing is “low and slow.” This means that a small amount can have significant effects, especially when it comes to modern marijuana strains that contain high THC levels. However, since you are still consuming THC, it’s important to experiment at first in order to figure out the right dosage for your individual body.
How Often Should I Microdose Cannabis?
Different cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, produce various effects in all of us. Additionally, medical marijuana patients often consume different strains to achieve their ideal dose of THC.
For example, some people might find that a microdose before bed can help them sleep well. Others may use it to address chronic pain and want to take it throughout the day. Those with mood disorders may prefer consuming medical marijuana only on days when they feel like they need it.
The best way to find your ideal consumption pattern is by starting slowly and then tracking your results for a week. Based on what you see, you can make necessary changes.
How Long Do THC Microdosing Effects Last?
Once again, everyone is different. The amount of time that a THC microdose will last generally depends on how much weed you take and how frequently you dose. Because the goal of microdosing is to take such a small amount that the “high” goes unnoticed, if done correctly, the effects can last all day long.
If you’re new to THC, be aware that your body may develop a tolerance to it over time. Therefore, it’s best to start with small doses. Similarly, when trying microdoses, think about why you’re taking them. For example, are you hoping cannabis will ease anxiety? If so, make sure to note the time of ingestion and how long until the next anxious thought pops into your head. This’ll help show how quickly your body absorbs cannabinoids from marijuana use.
How To Microdose Weed
The most challenging part of microdosing is deciding how much weed to take. If you can feel the light buzz that psychedelic drugs typically cause, then you’ve taken too much. Keep track of this information so you know how reduce your dosage next time.
When you smoke raw cannabis, it can be difficult to get your THC dosage just right. That’s why many medical marijuana patients prefer consuming one of the newer cannabis products on the market today. Here are some of the options you can consider when creating a health regime of microdosing.
Microdosing Cannabis Edibles
Cannabis edibles are snacks like candy, cookies, and other foods that have been infused with chemical compounds like cannabinoids. These natural compounds are extracted from the leaves, flowers, stems, and plant matter of the marijuana plant by manufacturers.
These pre-packaged foods come with easy to read THC dosage information, allowing you to know precisely how much you’re taking in at one time. For instance, let’s say one gummy candy has 5mg THC. You could cut that same gummy into five pieces and consume 1mg of it periodically throughout the day as a way to microdose safely on edibles.
Microdosing THC Tinctures
A popular option for microdosing is using a marijuana tincture, which contains the active ingredients extracted from the plant and added to edible oils. These oils are typically MCT oil, olive oil, or hemp oil that’s made by pressing hemp seeds.
It’s crucial to be aware of the THC potency in a whole bottle when buying tinctures so that you can dosage correctly. You don’t need very much either—just a drop in your drink or half a dropper-full works wonders. Tinctures are great because they’re easy to administer precise doses with little mess.
Microdosing Cannabis Flower
While the potency of cannabis flowers can be difficult to determine, it’s not impossible. The amount of cannabinoids in a flower will depend on things like the plant souche and growing conditions. It’s important to always start slow when consuming cannabis, which means taking only one hit from a joint or pipe.
You can also purchase cannabis flower in single-use pipes, which is helpful if you want to microdose THC. Vape pens are likewise popular and use a cannabis product that is similar in concentration to THC tinctures. Just be cautious of inhaling too much from the pen, as it might make you feel high otherwise.
Microdosing Weed Tea
You can find many dispensaries, both online and in-person, that also offer cannabis drinks like tea. This is a common way to consume a small amount of cannabis without having to smoke it, and often these drinks are sugar-free as well. You can sip on them throughout the day so that you’re getting a consistent dose that will be effective.
Is There a Best Way To Microdose?
For patients new to medical marijuana, it is recommend they start with a low dose. The average beginner will take between 1mg and 5mg per serving. Edibles are easy to portion and discreet, making them a popular choice for first-time users.
After consuming your product, wait at least an hour or two before taking more. This is because it can take some time for your body to metabolize the product, especially with edibles. If you feel like you haven’t felt the effects yet and take more too soon, you run the risk of taking too much.
Microdosing Indica vs Sativa
Once you begin to look at cannabis products in a dispensary, you’ll notice that strains vary. In fact, marijuana is generally divided into two types: sativa and indica. The effects of each are quite different from one another, so it’s useful to understand the distinctions before deciding what microdosing method is best for you.
Microdosing Indica-Dominant Strains
Strains of the Indica plant are popular among those who want a calm body and lessened mental activity. They also produce full-body effects, which can be helpful for people looking to relax deeply or sleep better.
Microdosing Sativa-Dominant Strains
If you’re looking for an invigorating marijuana strain that will leave you feeling more uplifted, then a sativa-dominant strain may be right for you. These strains can be especially effective in treating depression symptoms or chronic pain. They have also been known to help with anxiety and stress while improving focus.
Microdosing Different Strains
When people microdose, they often purchase more than one strain or hybrid. A hybrid is a mix of sativa and indica plants. If some strains make you sleepy, for example, you can take them at night. If others help manage chronic pain symptoms, you may want to take them throughout the day.
Keep in mind that you don’t only have to picked one strain when microdosing. Different people have different experiences, so it’s very possible that your routine will be unique as well. Just because a method is good for someone else doesn’t mean it’ll work out the same way for you. It might be helpful to try various strains and methods before deciding which works best for you.
Why Do People Microdose?
Patients are increasingly microdosing marijuana to treat a variety of conditions, as the practice can provide significant relief. The endocannabinoid system impacts many functions of the body, so patients often find that microdoses have positive impacts on their health.
Health Benefits
Research on the medical benefits of cannabis and THC is ongoing, but patients have found that microdosing marijuana can help to relieve the following health conditions:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer, as well as appetite loss and nausea associated with treatment
- Crohn’s disease
- Eating disorders, such as anorexia
- Immune system diseases, like HIV/AIDS or Multiple Sclerosis
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Mental health disorders, like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Muscle spasms and seizures
- Chronic pain
- Insomnia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved cannabis for medical needs beyond a few cannabis-based drugs meant to treat epilepsy and chemotherapy side effects, as it’s still considered a Schedule I drug. Until the government catches up with scientists who say there are definite medical benefits from marijuana use, research funding will be hard to come by.
Replace Harmful or Addictive Prescriptions
Pharmaceuticals, including those that are addictive, can be easy to come by for patients with health conditions. But these pills can do serious damage to the liver and other parts of the body. That’s why many people are willing to experiment with microdosing cannabis as an alternative.
Before decreasing your prescriptions, have a conversation with your doctor to express your interests. Cannabis will most likely not interfere negatively with any pharmaceuticals, but it’s still beneficial to get a medical professional’s opinion before making any changes. If the physician you’re seeing isn’t knowledgable about cannabis and its derivatives, look for someone who is better informed on the topic.
Pain Management
For millions of Americans, chronic pain is a fact of life. According to the CDC, 20.4% of adults suffer from some form or another of chronic pain – that’s 50 million people. For these patients, microdosing has been shown to improve their quality if life by managing pain and also lifting their moods.
Relieve Anxiety & Depression
The global pandemic has taken a serious toll on mental health, with anxiety and depression becoming more rampant. These mood disorders can prevent people from enjoying their lives and damage their relationships. While traditional talk therapy is often successful, microdosing might also be helpful.
A recent study published in Scientific Reports revealed that adults who microdose cannabis experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression, as opposed to those who did not integrate the plant into their health care routine.
Is Microdosing THC Safe for Dogs & Cats?
Believe it or not, giving your pet marijuana is not as outrageous as it might sound. In fact, any animal with a spinal cord has an endocannabinoid system–this includes dogs, cats, horses, rabbits etc. This means that cannabis can reduce stress and pain for our pets in the same way that it does for us humans. The only difference is you’ll need to adjust the serving size according to the size of your animal. Smaller animals will obviously require smaller doses than large ones.”
Microdosing Weed and Drug Tests
Going “under the radar” with cannabis use is difficult, especially if you are subject to regular drug tests as part of your job. If you consume or want to try consuming cannabis for medical purposes, always talk to your employer first. Your boss may not permit it- even if you have a legal right to medicate with marijuana-, so be prepared with an explanation and decide whether it’s best looking for another job that permits card holders or trying something else altogether.
Microdosing THC: How to Start
A life-changing experience awaits you when you’re ready to microdose cannabis. Go to UberWeed and type in your location to find a dispensary near you. With our well-informed strain descriptions and product range, making the choice of which one is right for you will be simple so that feeling better and seeing an improvement in the quality of your life can happen quickly.