What if you could get the maximum benefits of cannabis from a minimum dose? What if you could avoid paranoia, anxiety, fatigue, and, well, being stoned at work?
Welcome to microdosing, also known as minimum effective dose (MED). The power of the minimum effective dose is simple: it’s the customized dose to produce the intended response. The most well-known comparison: Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above that isn’t deemed “more boiled.” A dose to achieve anything beyond the MED is akin to a waste (“more boiled”)
TWO CHALLENGES
Finding your minimum dose, then finding products to deliver it.
Finding your MED is tricky because it’s different for each person. Cannabis and, in particular cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, supports the endocannabinoid system (ECS) differently for each individual therefore everyone’s ECS is unique and their tolerance/age/stage needs/hormonal balance/etc. varies from person to person. While there isn’t a set amount that is considered a microdose, the MED is usually the amount that produces sub-psychoactive, or sub-perceptual, effects. A cannabis microdose could start at 2.5 milligrams (mgs) of THC, increasing up to about 5 mgs. Once you start dosing over 5 mgs, it’s common to experience psychoactive effects. So, the general rule is if you start to feel psychoactive effects, you have exceeded a microdose. The most effective way to determine your right microdose is to start low and go slow.
To help tailor your intake, edibles, such as gummies, can be cut up in to 2.5 mgs and a tincture is easy to measure out into precise amounts. Note, however, that the onset time for ingestables can take up to an hour. Inhalation works faster than edibles, but is more challenging to dose in exact amounts.
BENEFITS
You’ve heard anecdotal evidence that microdsoing can help regulate moods, boost creativity or even enhance workouts (Lit Yoga anyone?). Science is starting to catch on and collect data on:
Better Sleep: Small amounts of cannabis can reduce insomnia and improve sleep.
Lower Anxiety: Some people feel anxiety from consuming too much THC. A 2017 research study shows that at lower doses, THC may lead to a reduction in stress and/or anxiety.
Pain Relief: Research studies conducted at the University of California, Davis show that low doses of cannabis may offer pain relieving effects, and similar analgesic effects as medium doses of THC.
There’s some exciting news for future benefits, too. In a study with Bonn researchers and a team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, long-term, low-dose administration of THC may have an anti-aging effect on the brain. Studies showed it improved cognitive abilities and synapse density in older mice. And while more research needs to be done: ”We concluded
that long-term THC treatment initially has a cognition-enhancing effect by increasing energy and synaptic protein production in the brain, followed by an anti-aging effect by decreasing mTOR activity and metabolic processes in the periphery,” says Andras Bilkei-Gorzo, University of Bonn. “Our study suggests that a dual effect on mTOR activity and the metabolome could be the basis for an effective anti-aging and cognition-enhancing drug.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
Finding your personal sweet spot may take some trial and error (again, start low and go slow.) There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health. Each person has specific needs so take the time to find out what works for you, your body, and your mind…and what doesn’t. It helps to keep a cannabis diary to track progress.
Wyld’s Strawberry 20:1 CBD:THC Hybrid-Enhanced Gummies
Wyld’s Strawberry 20:1 CBD:THC Hybrid-Enhanced Gummies are made with real fruit and enhanced with cannabis-derived CBD oil. These gummies are perfect for relaxing your body while keeping your mind sharp and alert. It is the go-to gummy if you are looking to decompress or take the edge off, but still have things to check off of your to-do list.
dosist CALM | .25 g AIO
Calm combines cannabis derived THC and CBD in a 1:6 ratio with relaxing terpenes to help create mind and body calming effects with woody and sweet notes.
ayrloom PINEAPPLE MANGO | Sparkling Water
Juicy and perfectly sweet – all naturally. There’s no need for PTO when you have your Pineapple Mango Sparkling Water. You can capture that OOO feeling with every sip and recharge your mind like you’re on always on ‘island time’.
Harney Brothers DAYTIME | 1:4:4:2 THC:CBC:CBG:CBD
75 mg THC:300 mg CBC:300 MG CBG:150 mg CBD
Start low and go slow. Our Daytime tincture is made with a foundation of avocado & sunflower oil and infused with a relaxing blend of THC, CBC, CBD & CBG. Pure & Simple.
