How Much Mg Of THC In Edibles You Should Consume Daily?

Cannabis edibles are becoming more and more common every day. Consuming cannabis edibles is one of the safest and most popular methods to enjoy what marijuana offers: THC.

Consuming too many THC edibles can cause an unpleasant experience and a difficult time. As a result, it’s crucial to dose the edibles appropriately, but this is indeed a challenging and tricky task. That’s why THC edibles are often overconsumed.

The right dose depends on numerous factors like individual tolerance, body, and the experience one is looking for. In this article, we’ll address these issues systematically.

 

THC & CBD; The Basics

Here, we will mainly talk about the cannabinoid THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, and the correct THC dosage chart in the context of cannabis edibles. The cannabis plant contains another vital compound: cannabidiol (CBD). Let’s have a look at their relationship. 

While the cannabis plant produces both THC and CBD, the amounts vary significantly from one strain to strain. CBD products are known to have beneficial medicinal properties to some degree. CBD has seemingly endless health benefits, and many use CBD-rich products for pain management. It has lower psychoactive effects than THC.

Interestingly, raw cannabis usually contains negligible amounts of the THC component that “gets people high.”

 

What Is Edible Cannabis?

A cannabis edible, or cannabis-infused edible, is a food product that contains cannabis compounds such as THC from cannabis extract as an active ingredient.

THC content differs significantly between marijuana strains and various cannabis products (e.g., cannabis oil). Even with legal THC edibles thoroughly lab-tested, customers may not realize precisely how much THC they’re ingesting.

For example, in Organic THC Honey (400mg THC) – Faded Cannabis Co., the content has been accurately measured; however, it is not easy to judge how much THC you’re ingesting through consumption unless you weigh accurately.

 

How Ingested THC Works in the Body

How your body processes THC depends on how you consume it; you may feel differently when you inhale it vs. when you eat it. After digestion, the liver converts THC into a more potent THC-related chemical. This chemical lasts longer and induces more sedating effects than THC.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) comprises cannabinoid receptors, enzymes, and lipids, and they play significant roles in maintaining our internal regulatory balance (homeostasis). 

All mammalian vertebrates have an ECS which interacts with cannabinoids. These compounds are produced automatically (endocannabinoids) or by the cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids). 

Depending on how many cannabinoid receptors a human body has and how its endocannabinoid system functions, their sensitivity to THC and other cannabis compounds can vary.

 

Role of the GI System: The Liver

Aside from the fact that everyone’s endocannabinoid system is different, there are also GI (gastrointestinal) issues to consider that further complicate the problem.

Another issue is that some people are more sensitive to cannabis, and a microdose may seem like a moderate dose to them.  

Many consume cannabis edibles by mouth and absorb them as they travel through the intestines. After ingestion, they are metabolized by the liver, and then the processed THC and other metabolites travel to the heart and onto the brain. 

When you smoke marijuana, the psychoactive effects are immediate since THC and other active cannabis compounds don’t travel through the digestive system. Therefore, the edibles take their sweet time to trigger your “mental trip.” 

However, compared to smoking cannabis, edibles induce a more potent and longer-established high. When the liver metabolizes THC, it turns into another active chemical called 11-hydroxy-THC. 

This compound has a longer life span, a more substantial sedative effect, and is more potent than THC. This process takes approximately 45 minutes to 3 hours and explains why the effects are delayed when cannabis edibles are consumed.

 

How Long THC Edibles Take to Work

Usually, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for edibles to take effect. And once you feel the effect, it can last for several hours, depending on the consumer’s metabolism and the THC edible dosage.

 

How High You Get From Cannabis Edibles

It depends on three major factors:

 

Physiology

Each leaf is unique, just like each person! We have different physiology. Consequently, no one reacts the same to the same substance. What may make someone happy and invigorated may make another anxious and paranoid.

 

Environment & Expectations

It would be best if you took edibles in a pleasant environment. Nothing can interfere with your high more than if you’re not in a safe and comfortable place.

 

Edible Dosage

The lower the THC dose you consume, the less high you’ll experience, and vice versa. You may have said, “Thanks Captain Obvious!” But, there’s a potential trap that many fall into. They take the correct dose, making them feel good. Then they mistakenly think, “Well, if this amount makes me feel good, then a higher dose will make me feel great!” 

Wrong!

Many have concluded that there’s a sweet spot, and when you go beyond your sweet spot, you’ll feel quite awful.

 

Why Is THC Dosing Critical

How well do you know yourself? Excessive use will not noticeably harm your physical health, but it can have unpleasant effects.

Proper THC dosage is key to a pleasant experience with cannabis edibles. In a scientific article, the authors reported that well-informed, well-prepared, and thoughtful use of drugs, pretty much any kind of drug, minimizes the risks (or dangerousness) of the experience. It also maximizes the positive aspects of the experience.

 

Finding the Right THC Dose

Predicting the exact edible dosage needed to achieve the desired effects can be incredibly difficult, especially with cannabis oil. Finding the right or correct THC dosage is tricky. Why? Because it is highly dependent on the user. 

Much like alcohol– which varies depending on THC tolerance, body weight, and other parameters– the impact of cannabis edibles can differ significantly from person to person. 

 

Start Low & Go Slow

Whether you’re an experienced consumer or a newcomer, it’s always best to play it safe. Companies mainly produce edibles containing 30-50 mg of THC per intake (e.g., per candy). For example, in Party Pack (240mg THC) – Faded Edibles, each gummy contains 30 mg of THC. 

Experienced users can take one dose (30 mg) and wait at least 45-90 minutes for the effects to kick in. You need to wait for a certain period before continuing. However, we recommend novices to take a single serving of the candy, i.e., 5 mg of THC. 

Here, we come to the concept of relativity; when we talk about “getting high,” 5 mg won’t be anything near enough for some people. But for others, that THC level will be too much. Interestingly, we could have looked at the issue from another angle; and that brings us to the concept of biphasic properties of THC. 

This notion means that one dose can have an effect (e.g., relieves stress), but a higher dose can have the opposite effect (e.g., increases anxiety). There is also another point of view. 

As mentioned earlier, our sensitivity to THC and other cannabinoids can change depending on how many cannabinoid receptors our body has and how our ECS functions. This characteristic may also play a role in explaining why some cannabis consumers are successful with 1 mg of this cannabinoid while others need much larger doses.

We strongly recommend splitting the first candy in half or a third or a quarter for newcomers to edibles. Give your body over 90 minutes to digest and metabolize the edible cannabis before thinking about eating more.

Gradually, you’ll understand how long it takes for the edibles to take effect and what kind of impact they have on you.

 

Edibles Dosage Chart

Here is a chart that lists the edible dosage chart along with the related effects:

THC Content

What To Expects

Who’s It For?

 

1 – 2.5 mg

Mild relief of symptoms like anxiety, stress, & pain; increased concentration & creativity

A microdose; ideal for first-time users or regular consumers trying to take a microdose

 

2.5 – 15 mg

Greater relief of pain and anxiety symptoms; impaired coordination & perception; euphoria

Regular recreational use; most common range for occasional consumers; users seeking a good night’s rest 

 

15 – 30 mg

Severe euphoria or adverse effects for unaccustomed users; can alter perception & impair coordination

considered strong and for experienced users;

 

30 – 50 mg

Significant impairment of coordination & perception; strong euphoric effect

THC users with high tolerance; those whose GI system doesn’t absorb cannabinoids well

 

50 – 100 mg

Significantly impaired coordination & perception; unpleasant side effects; nausea, pain, & increased heart rate.

Experienced users with high tolerance; patients with severe medical conditions – severe inflammatory disorders, cancer.

 

Also, be careful if you are aiming for the ultra-high dosage. Our edibles dosage chart could have been extended to over 100 mg. These extreme doses are reported from time to time, as are levels in the 200 and even up to 500 mg range. 

You run the risk of consuming too much at these doses, leading to nausea and paranoia, even in people who have a high tolerance.

If you are an experienced cannabis veteran, you’ll probably consider a 10-mg THC edible as a standard dose. But, if you’ve never consumed edibles before, have no experience with cannabis in general, or are very sensitive to this cannabinoid, you’ll need to take it slow.

 

Tips for Managing Overconsumption

Have you heard of the most common mistake in cannabis dosing? After consuming an edible product, a person does not feel any effect after an hour and unwisely decides to take another one. Two hours later, both begin to take effect, and the person feels the unpleasant effects of overconsumption.

It is critical to know what you are looking for when consuming edibles. Let us say you are an elderly retiree looking to pass a lazy afternoon, a 22-year-old university student suffering from a health problem or anything in between. In either case, you should understand a broad spectrum of edible experiences.

 

Interesting & Pertinent Facts About THC

Here are some practical points regarding THC edibles:

 

• Consuming THC edibles on an empty stomach will cause your dose to be absorbed faster and the effects to kick in more intensely. A high-fat meal can cause your body to absorb more THC than usual.
• If you ever have an unpleasant experience from overconsumption, try lying down. Close your eyes, stretch, and take slow, deep breaths.
• A high-dose CBD product– that is THC-free– could counteract the adverse impact of your THC dose if it is undesirable (too strong).
• It would be best if you got medical attention as soon as you feel like you’re having difficulty breathing or a fast heartbeat– i.e., over 100 beats per minute.

 

Consumption Tips: Know Your Limits & Stay Safe

Here are a few vital tips to consider when trying to dose edibles.

 

Consider Your Cannabis Experience & Tolerance 

You have experience with edibles. How much? How sensitive are you to THC?

These and similar questions are crucial to consider. In general, you can start with a low dose and then wait to see what happens. If you want more, you can gradually increase the edible dosage.

 

• Read the package insert carefully, especially the dosage; start low and slow.
• Consume your edibles in a comfortable place.
• Be patient and practice self-control.
• Listen to yourself, not your friends.
• Don’t consume cannabis edibles on an empty stomach or with alcohol.
• Prepare for the worst, but don’t think about it.
• If you’re a regular user, remember that a higher dose outside of your daily routine will result in a different experience.
• Be aware of how full you are.
• If the edible is not working after an hour, try snacking to allow/improve digestion and intestinal absorption. 
• For new consumers, 2 or 3 doses may be required before the effects kick in. So, before increasing the dose, it’s often best to try the same low dose two or three times eight to 24 hours apart.
• Stay hydrated; it is the #1 thing to do when consuming cannabis. Make sure you have a bottle of water with you.
• Some tend to use large amounts of CBD (50-200 mg) to offset the unwanted effects of THC overdose. Alternatively, you may chew and swallow a tablespoon of lemon peel.

 

Bottom Line

Like other products, taking a THC edible is incredibly personalized. Take it slow; it’s part of knowing your dose. 

That’s why “The Herb Centre” goes above and beyond to bring you the best possible medical-grade marijuana products. Try and see for yourself why we’re Canada’s #1 source for flowers, cannabis concentrates, vapes, CBD-rich products, and more!