What's the right amount of THC for me?
By Jeff Eckenrode
Have you ever noticed that some cannabis users can consume a lot of THC but don’t seem to get very high? This happens because of tolerance.
Tolerance is your body’s ability to handle cannabis without strong effects.
How does cannabis tolerance work?
In some cases, tolerance can be helpful. It can reduce negative side effects like anxiety or memory loss. It also lets people function better when using cannabis.
But high tolerance can be a downside. You may need more THC to feel the effects, which can get expensive and inefficient.
What is the average THC dose?
Here are general guidelines from industry leaders:
Daily Dose for THC: 10 mg to 20 mg
Daily Dose for Total Cannabinoids (THC + CBD): 30 mg to 90 mg
Daily Dose for Edibles: 2 mg to 10 mg
Is a lower dose of THC more effective?
For most people, less THC works better. A study of cancer patients found that those who used 21 mg/day of Sativex (a THC + CBD spray) had less pain than those using 52 mg/day. Patients on 83 mg/day felt no better than those taking a placebo.
Doses above 20-30 mg/day or a single dose over 10 mg may cause unwanted side effects.
Adverse Reactions to THC
THC can cause some side effects. Most are mild and only last as long as the high. Common side effects include:
Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
Dizziness
Coughing (try smaller, slower inhales to avoid this)
Dry mouth or eyes
Anxiety
Memory loss
Sleepiness
Increased hunger
If you experience these, stay calm. Breathe deeply and drink water. Lemonade is a popular remedy for dry mouth.
How much THC should you take?
For first-time users, start small. A good starting dose is 10-15 mg/day.
As you adjust, you can gradually increase your dose. Most regular users consume 30-100 mg/day of total cannabinoids. However, doses above 45 mg/day are not recommended.
High doses (over 54 mg/day) can cause more intense side effects, like dizziness, paranoia, or nausea.
Does vaping deliver more THC than smoking?
Yes, vaping delivers more THC than smoking.
When vaping, THC oil is heated and inhaled. This process is efficient and retains more THC.
Smoking, on the other hand, burns the flower, and about half the THC is lost during combustion.
For example:
Vaping 50 mg/day for a month = 1500 mg THC
Smoking = ~1 ounce of flower (28,000 mg) to get 1500 mg THC
Vaping gives more THC per milligram compared to smoking.
Want to learn more about THC?
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