The Art Of Marijuana Microdosing

The Art Of Marijuana Microdosing

The Art of Microdosing Cannabis from CannabisNet on Vimeo.

We’ve all been there: that feeling at the end of a long day when you just want to light up and get as blazed as possible. Go up in smoke, consume edibles, and vape it till kingdom come. However, for people who are trying to obtain the most medical benefits from cannabis, this isn’t the best way to do it.

The solution comes in the form of microdosing, which is more than just the latest buzzword in the cannabis industry. Microdosing is all about using smaller amounts of marijuana in order to enjoy its medicinal properties without getting stoned AF.

This mode of cannabis intake has several benefits:

Microdosing is not only effective, but it’s also a practical way for medical marijuana patients to save money without running the risk of indulging unnecessarily.

Microdosing is the ideal way to administer medical marijuana for non-users or patients who are strictly using the plant for its medicinal value.

Microdosing controls the unwanted side effects of taking too much pot, so you can benefit medicinally. By microdosing you are greatly reducing your risk of paranoia, getting the munchies, and other side effects that certain strains give especially when you take it in large doses.

In short, microdosing promotes wellness instead of inebriation.

Doctors agree. According to Dr. Dustin Sulak, a Medical Doctor in New England: “When I started my practice, I was surprised to see that some patients were using very low dosages (e.g. 1 puff), while other patients require much higher dosages (e.g. 1 joint or a potent edible) to achieve optimal benefits. Over time, I began to notice that most patients using small amounts of cannabis were getting better and more sustainable results than their high-dosage counterparts with similar conditions.

Eventually I discovered that most people have a certain threshold dosage of cannabis, below which they’ll actually experience a gradual increase in health benefits over time, and above which they’ll start building tolerance, experiencing diminishing benefits, and more side effects.”

Even a study conducted by the Medicinal Cannabis Research Center at the University of California shows that lower doses of the plant are more beneficial for neuropathic pain. Thankfully these days there are so many weed products on the market that make it easier for us to microdose: small edibles, vaporizers, and one-hitter paraphernalias all take the guesswork out of microdosing. Microdosing then becomes useful for the medical patient as well as individuals who want to be able to take care of business or who still need to function properly around other people without running the risk of looking or acting like a stoned buffoon.

In fact, taking too much marijuana is probably the reason why you feel fatigued, dizzy, paranoid, anxious, or have the munchies. Just by reducing your dose, you can enjoy a better high AND enjoy the medicinal properties of the plant. Aside from these side effects, another sign that you may actually be overdosing is that your tolerance for marijuana continues to increase.

If you want to experiment with microdosing, here are some tips to get you started:

Strain: You probably know by now that some cannabis strains are much stronger than others. If you want to try microdosing for daytime use, try using less powerful strains. You may also want to consider strains that are CBD-dominant because the presence of the numerous cannabinoids are beneficial for your body. But if you’re after a minor high, don’t worry because CBD-dominants strains will still give you a delicious buzz although it’s mostly mild and you can still feel energetic.

Change up your mode of consumption: Each kind of marijuana consumption has its own specific benefits although people have their own individual preferences. Some prefer the body high of edibles while others simply prefer to smoke the stuff. If you want to start microdosing you might want to try other options to find one that works well with your body and unique needs.

Go small: Experiment by taking your current strain in small doses. If you’re already used to consuming high doses, you’d be surprised at how a small dose can (pleasurably, even) affect your body. The purpose of smaller doses isn’t to get stoned; it’s only to give your body enough cannabis.

Choose when to microdose: Different situations will require varying amounts of cannabis. You might find that microdosing is ideal for wake and bake, right before work. Or that you’ll need to get a little more stoned than usual if you’re going to be around people, or if you’re feeling a little under the weather. For some people, microdosing is highly effective if you are particularly anxious or stressed. You might even find it useful to keep a journal to log how you react or feel with varying amounts of cannabis intake.

Be observant: Instead of the usual bong loads or smoking an entire joint, take a step back. It can be a challenge in the beginning especially if you really enjoy getting stoned. We already know that the plant is useful for many things on a physical, mental, and even spiritual level. But remember that taking more than you actually need - or getting stoned beyond comprehension - might not be what you need. And since we all have different needs and pot affects us all differently, you should be observing how different doses feel. Start by taking a small hit and waiting 20 minutes before you decide if you should take another one.

Have you tried microdosing? What was your experience like?