What is Microdosing?

When people think of microdosing, they often think of psychedelics such a psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. We should start to include other psychoactive substance like THC on that list.

Generally speaking, microdosing is taking just enough of a drug to achieve some kind of benefit without creating a large effect. Oxford Languages defines microdosing as “the action or practice of taking or administering very small amounts of a drug in order to test or benefit from its physiological action while minimizing undesirable side effects.” Microdosing is meant to help with anxiety, depression, focus, perception and creativity. 

Why Microdose THC?

Individuals who microdose THC do so for many health benefits but the most common is for enhancing mood. Many people suffer from mental illness and are interested in ways they can help their mood without taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. THC microdosing is meant to produce a desired effect without causing the person to feel high. Those who microdose THC report that they feel less stressed, more focused and present. Some would even say that it gives them energy. Additionally, microdosing helps to mitigate undesirable side effects some THC users experience.

An anonymous mom wrote for Philadelphia mag about her microdosing experience. She says that microdosing with a THC oil every week helps her be more relaxed and patient. She felt it was a better alternative to drinking or taking Xanax to relieve her anxiety.

In a Rolling Stone article on THC microdosing, Susannah Grossman talks about her experience with microdosing. Grossman switched to microdosing to help her depression after having a seizure caused by antidepressants. She found that what works best for her is a combination of 5mg CBD and THC tincture and also smoking when she needs an extra boost. Microdosing has allowed her to manage her depression and she has increased her productivity.

If improving your mood with THC microdosing interests you, read on below as we go over the steps to starting your microdosing journey.

How to Microdose THC

The best way to microdose and how much will be very different from person to person. Cannabis medicine is always very individual, what works for someone else probably won’t be the same for you. With that being said, there are some suggestions for how to go about experimenting with THC and how to find your ideal functional dose. “Start low and go slow” is an adage to remember when starting out new medications.

Dr. Dustin Sulak, a practitioner of cannabis since 2009, has created a set of guidelines to teach people how to find their ideal dose. In an interview with the Rolling stone, Sulak goes over his guidelines for how to start microdosing.

To begin, he recommends using one milligram each of THC and CBD as an oil. Those who had been using cannabis should take a break for two days to reset their tolerance. Before and after administering your THC he tells people to ask themselves three questions and rate their response on a 1-10 scale:

• How easy is it to breathe?
• How comfortable and calm does your body feel?
• How easy is it for you to smile authentically, to feel content and grateful?

Answer the questions 45 minutes after taking cannabis and see if there was an improvement, if there was not the dose can be increased by one milligram. Follow this process over the course of a few days, slowly increasing your dose until you notice a change. Once a change is noticed, you have your minimum effective dose. You can continue to increase your dose to establish your therapeutic range. At a certain point increasing the dose will not make a difference. Then you should continue to take the minimum effective dose.

Products for Microdosing

When choosing a product for microdosing, edibles are usually the best way to go. These products make dosing easy with clear milligram amounts per product. Choose a product that is low in dose and easy to divide into small portions. Control is the most important part of microdosing. Smoking can sometimes be used for microdosing, but consistency is harder to manage. The following are a couple of products that our customer have found success in microdosing with:

• Delta 8 Hemp caramels contain 40 mg each of Delta 8 THC but can be divided into small slices. Allow an hour or more for absorption time.
• At 1000 mg per bottle but just about 2.7mg per drop, the Delta 8 THC tincture uses sublingual absorption with an absorption time around 15 minutes. Make sure to hold it under your tongue for 60-90 seconds.
• Delta 8 Vegan Chews are an easy to eat fruit-flavored option. Our lowest dose is 10mg but they can easily be divided into smaller sizes.

We hope you find this information helpful in starting your microdosing journey. Be ready to experiment with different products and doses as you work to find your ideal regimen. If you need help, we are always available to answer any questions you may have, don’t hesitate to reach out.

My name is Amber. I am a cannabinoid consultant and columnist for Happy Trails. I have a Bachelor of Science in Biology, I enjoy learning about things I have passion for, and my family lovingly calls me a “human encyclopedia”.

References

Anonymous. (2022, January 15). An Anonymous Philly Mom Opens Up About Microdosing THC. Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.phillymag.com/news/2022/01/15/mom-microdosing-thc/

Davidson, S. (2017, April 20). Why Microdosing Is Taking Over Medical Marijuana. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/why-microdosing-is-taking-over-medical-marijuana-114462/

Holland, K. (2020, July 20). CBD vs. THC: Properties, Benefits, and Side Effects. Healthline. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-vs-thc#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

Lembo, A., & Naftulin, J. (2021, April 30). Everything you need to know about microdosing. Insider. https://www.insider.com/what-is-microdosing-2019-1

Mack, S. (2021, January 27). Tips & Tricks for Microdosing Marijuana. Periodic Edibles. Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.periodicedibles.com/blog/microdosing-cannabis

Raypole, C. (2019, May 17). Endocannabinoid System: A Simple Guide to How It Works. Healthline. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system