Medical marijuana patients in 33 states have begun using cannabis to relieve a wide range of symptoms. From chronic pain to appetite stimulation, there are many therapeutic uses for cannabis.
But many patients struggle with marijuana’s side effects. THC, the compound to thank for many of marijuana’s benefits, can cause short-term drowsiness, memory loss, and trouble thinking. While some people can benefit from the “high” feelings, particularly those who are in pain, others would prefer the benefits without the psychoactive side effects.
Enter: microdosing cannabis.
Microdosing is a strategy used to harness the therapeutic potential of cannabis while mitigating its side effects. In essence, the idea is to enjoy the benefits without the high.
To microdose cannabis, you take a very small dosage 1-5 times daily. No one dose works for everyone, so patients must experiment to find their minimum effective dose.
Does Microdosing Work?
People new to microdosing cannabis who have used marijuana before can find the lack of intoxication unsettling. It is easy to associate the “high” with the benefits, but this does not mean that one causes the other. Doctors, researchers, and everyday people across the United States are discovering that it’s possible to reap the benefits without feeling inebriated.
Dr. Debra Kimless is one such doctor who is using the power of microdosing for her patients. Using cannabinoid therapy and dietary changes, she works with cancer patients to improve their quality of life.
In a presentation at CannaMed, Dr. Kimless describes using a low-dose cannabis oil extract for four cancer patients, both alongside other treatments and as a solo therapy. In these patients, amazing improvements were seen, such as reduced tumor size and enhanced quality of life.
More research is needed on the potential of microdosing before any conclusions can be drawn. But the need for further research has not stopped people across the United States from turning to cannabis microdosing to help with insomnia, pain, anxiety, depression, cancer, neurological diseases, and more.
How to Microdose Cannabis
With biological differences between people, the variety of cannabis products available, and the lack of research examining cannabis microdosing, no straightforward dosage for microdosing is available.
To determine what works best for you, you will need to experiment and track your progress. It might take weeks to find what you’re looking for, so be prepared for some experimentation.
The idea is to find the correct formula, quantity, and schedule for your needs.
To do this, start by coming up with one or more defined goals. Having an end goal in mind allows you to measure your progress to determine if you are moving closer to or further from your goal.
Next, choose a product. The easiest products for measuring dosages are tinctures, edibles, or controlled-dose vape pens. For microdosing, tinctures are generally the best as you can measure small doses easily using individual drops.
Typically, tinctures will contain THC only or a combination of THC and CBD. THC and CBD are the two compounds found in cannabis that many people credit with its unique health effects. Choose either THC-only or a combination of the two. Talk to your doctor to determine which is best.
Start with 1 mg 1-5 times per day of either THC or THC+CBD and work your way up. Stay with the same dose for three days before increasing your dosage.
Track how you feel 1 hour after microdosing using measures that relate to your goal. Maybe you rate your pain, anxiety, or energy from 1-10.
Continue to track and increase your dose until you find your minimum effective dose. You will know you’ve reached this when you find that the benefits no longer rise when you increase your dose. Then, go back to the dosage where you found maximum benefits at the lowest dose.
Is Microdosing For Everyone?
Not every patient will prefer microdosing to larger doses of cannabis. But for those who must go to work or run errands, microdosing can offer a way to find relief while still living your normal life. Work with a doctor specialized in cannabis medicine to help you determine which strategy is right for you.
If you are a qualifying patient who suffering from one of the qualifying conditions and is seeking medical marijuana treatment, schedule a telemedicine evaluation and gain access to Ohio dispensaries.
You can schedule your appointment by calling us at 866-457-5556 or book your appointment online.
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