Cannabis can be a fun and relaxing way to spend an afternoon, but you might be wondering how much you can safely enjoy. The good news is that it is nearly impossible to overdose on your favourite herb.
Too much of a good thing can ruin it, and cannabis is the same way. Since more and more people are using cannabis, many are starting to use it for the first time, and daily weed use is becoming more common. But as with anything that is new, you will have to learn what is best for your individual body chemistry. You need to learn how to use it responsibly to get the best experience possible from it.
How Much to Take
The right amount for you will depend on factors, such as your weight, health conditions, and the effects you want to get from it. If you have used cannabis in the past, you may be able to use more now than before. To play it safe, it is a good idea to consult with your doctor before using marijuana. You can use these guidelines as a starting point:
- 1–2.5 milligrams of THC: Some people use this small dose for improved creativity or focus, and some medical marijuana patients also take this amount of cannabis. It is a good amount if you are a first-time user.
- 2.5–15 milligrams of THC: This dosage may give you a stronger effect on unpleasant symptoms, like anxiety. This dose can result in euphoria and help you socialize with your friends better. It will also impair your perception and coordination a bit, so avoid driving.
- 15–30 milligrams of THC: This dose gives you stronger euphoria and should only be taken by experienced users or those who have a tolerance to lower doses. Some people take this dose if they have trouble sleeping.
- 30–50 milligrams of THC: A dosage at this level is only for those who have an extremely high tolerance to THC, and it can give you a very high level of euphoria.
- 50–100 milligrams of THC: This is only for those who need a very high dosage.
Can You Overdose on Cannabis?
It is nearly impossible to take a cannabis overdose that will cause long-term, permanent damage, unlike with alcohol or opioids. You could have a bad experience and feel terrible, but it will not last, and you will be fine. It does not affect the same parts of your brain that opioids and alcohol do. You can’t get poisoning from using cannabis. As long as you do not make poor choices during your high, such as driving or operating heavy machinery, you will be fine.
Potency and Strain
You can get many kinds of marijuana strains, and some of them are extremely potent. In addition, you can get a range of powerful concentrates in the form of shatter and wax. Those might have as much as 90 percent THC. You will not want to start here if you are new to smoking.
If you have not smoked much before, chat with someone at your dispensary to tell them what you need. Be honest about your expectations and what you hope to get out of your experience and allow them to find the best strain for you. Try to get something that has around 10 to 15 percent THC, or you can find one that is high in CBD.
Delivery and Dosage
It might take a bit for one of your cannabis hits to fully affect you, so make sure you take things slowly at first. Take just one or two hits and then wait and see what happens. Allow your mind and body time to adjust to see what happens. It is easy to take more cannabis, but once you reach the threshold, you cannot go back, so you will need to just ride it out.
Remember that different methods of taking cannabis can affect you differently. For instance, bubblers and water pipes can cool the smoke and give you an extremely smooth hit. At the same time, the enjoyable experience can make it a lot easier for you to take much bigger hits without meaning to. With a bong, you might get very high quickly, so when using one of these methods, be careful.
Small pipes and joints allow you to take smaller hits faster, and you are a little more in control of what you are taking. Vape pens and vaporizers are pretty similar since they allow you to have smaller doses. That can gently push you toward the perfect high.
With edibles, you have to be extremely careful. You might not start to feel any effects until an hour or more after taking them. Some people do not notice anything happening until closer to the two-hour mark. That means it can be easy to unintentionally take more than you meant because you think they are not working initially.
What if You Accidentally Get Too High?
In some cases, you might end up with a strain that is a bit stronger than you initially thought. Or you might just take too much of it. That can result in you feeling uncomfortable, paranoid, or odd. If you get too high, try to stay calm and remember that this experience will eventually fade off.
Ensure that you stay hydrated, even if you do not feel thirsty. It might be surprising, but some people use black pepper when they feel too high. It contains terpenes that may help you come down from the high faster. Try making a snack and sprinkling pepper on it.
You can also consider calling a friend who has experienced a high in the past and talk to them. This can help you to feel calmer. You might consider lying down and turning off the lights, so you can sleep it off. You will likely feel more refreshed, better rested, and more knowledgeable about your personal limits when it comes to cannabis use.
Closing Thoughts
The best way to determine the right amount of cannabis for you will depend on many factors. Try to take it slowly, even if that means you will not get as high as you were hoping for at first. There is always the next time around.