A Guide To Cannabis Edibles: How To Find The Right Dosage

July 29, 2024

Edibles are a much loved form of consuming cannabis due to their versatility and discreteness. This may include gummies, cookies, brownies, drinks, and many other food products you can imagine. Edibles normally produce long-lasting effects that can be quite intense depending on your dosage, so it is important to know just where your comfortable consumption level is.

While ingesting too much cannabis will not harm your body in any way, you might feel some unpleasant effects if you take a few more bites of your edible than usual. This will wear off in a few hours at maximum. However, if you want to avoid this and have the best experience you can, have a look at our edibles dosage guide to determine the right strength for you.

Edibles Dosing Chart: Finding Your Dose Based On THC Content

Although every user’s experience will be different depending on a variety of factors, there are some general assumptions to be made on how certain THC contents will affect you. Here, you will find a list of common THC dosages as well as more information on each:

THC content per dose	Dosage category	Typical edibles	What to expect:
1 – 2.5 mg	Microdosing	Gummies, candies	Most users don’t feel psychoactive effects or intoxication at this point. Provides relief from anxiety, pain, and nausea without affecting cognitive abilities.
3 – 5 mg	Low dose	Gummies, honey sticks, infused seltzer	This dose is good for nausea, pain, inflammation, and sleep. New users may feel slightly intoxicated, and will notice being less coordinated and feeling more silly.
10 – 15 mg	Moderate dose	Gummies, one-dose baked goods, beverage infusions.	More experienced users will go for this dosage to have some fun, manage moderate pain, or help them sleep. New users might feel overwhelmed to start here.
20 – 30 mg	High dose	Infused chocolate, THC-infused condiments	Experienced consumers who are used to edibles can try out this dose. Expect euphoria and other psychoactive effects. Very beneficial for chronic pain, anxiety and depression, and insomnia.
50 – 100 mg	Acute dose	Infused baked goods	This is an effective dose for experienced consumers who have a high cannabis tolerance or for those who are seeking relief from pain and insomnia. You will experience intense euphoria and psychoactive effects.
100 – 500 mg	Macrodosing	Infused shots	Patients with gastrointestinal absorption issues or severe medical conditions may find this dosage useful. This is an extremely intoxicating dosage range, and many users risk experiencing adverse effects. Consume cautiously and with intention.

How Much Should I Take The First Time?

If you are completely new to edibles or new to cannabis in general, it is best to follow the age old advice of starting low and going slow. Start out with a 2.5 mg dose (regular smokers can start with a dose of 5-10 mg) and see how that makes you feel. Edibles usually start at 5 mg, so buy something you can cut into smaller pieces.

Make sure that you check the dosage on the packaging so you can figure out how much is in each piece and how much you will need. Wait an hour (although edibles can take up to two hours to kick in, so keep that in mind) before deciding to take another dose. Remember, you can always take more later, but you cannot take less if you start to feel slightly off.

How Long Do Cannabis Edibles Take To Produce Effects?

Edibles can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours to kick in. It all depends on various factors, such as metabolism, GI problems, how much you have eaten, and more. That is why we recommend taking a low dose and waiting at least an hour before deciding to take more.

How Long Do The Effects Of Cannabis Edibles Last?

The length of your edible high experience will depend on the dose you have taken as well as your metabolism, cannabis tolerance, and body chemistry. Moderately experienced consumers who take their usual dose usually experience a 2-4 hour long high from onset until comedown. Some edible highs can last up to 6 hours.

Does The Type Of Edible Matter?

Different types of edibles have different formulas and ingredients. That means the same dose of a cannabis drink might not feel the same as a brownie. Some are made to be absorbed quicker than others, but edibles usually start to take effect between 30 minutes to an hour after ingestion.

Hard candy, lollipops, mints, and beverages: As these are absorbed primarily through the absorbent tissue of the mouth rather than moving all the way through the stomach tract, they have some of the quickest onset times.

Chewy, sweet edibles like gummies, caramels, and chocolates: These products have a median onset period as they contain simple ingredients, but they still need to be digested.

Baked goods: Edibles in this category take the longest to kick in as they are very dense and your body requires a lot of energy to digest and metabolise them.

Can You Overdose On Cannabis Edibles?

There have never been any reported deaths of cannabis overconsumption. No matter how much cannabis you consume, it will not depress your body’s respiratory system. However, it can be unpleasant to consume too many cannabis edibles. You could experience some unpleasant side effects, including dizziness, confusion, and paranoia, which should gradually disappear over a few hours.

The Importance Of The Right Set And Setting

You should always set up a positive space when consuming cannabis edibles if it’s your first time. Your mindset (set) and environment (setting) can help you to have a more enjoyable cannabis experience. That way, if your edible dose is too high, you can focus on being in a safe and calm environment and remind yourself of your intentions.

Remember to stay hydrated when consuming cannabis edibles and make sure to eat something before you take an edible. If you consume edibles on an empty stomach, you will feel the effects more intensely and quickly, increasing the risk of a bad experience. As long as you start with a low dosage that suits your needs and wait long enough to feel the full effects before deciding to take another dose, you have the best chance at getting the best out of your cannabis experience. Proceed with caution, and have fun!