Oscar Wilde once said, “Everything in moderation, including moderation”. If that’s your approach to cannabis, then you’ve probably considered breaking up the occasional big smoking session with smaller, less impactful ones. Alternatively, you might be a newcomer to the world of weed looking to dip your toes in gently and extract its benefits. In other words, you’ve likely considered “microdosing”.
This beginner’s guide aims to demystify the process of microdosing – offering a working definition of it, a rundown of the scientific literature around its benefits, how to dose for optimal effect, and how to store cannabis with Boveda packs for long-term usage.
What is microdosing?
Microdosing refers to taking small amounts of a psychoactive drug in order to reap its health and wellness benefits without necessarily getting “high.” While the term may apply to several drugs, the most popular form of microdosing is with cannabis – thanks in large part to the widening legality of the drug. In small enough doses, a user can feel the focused, pain-relieving, analgesic and creative effects of cannabis without feeling symptoms typical of a high THC dose (which some find undesirable or stress-inducing).
The benefits of microdosing cannabis
Only now is mainstream medical literature “catching up” with the claims and anecdotes made by cutting-edge psychologists, neuroscientists and cannabis advocates. It seems like every week, a new study comes out about the relative benefits of microdosing cannabis.
Some research points to how low-THC doses stimulate the brain’s cannabinoid receptors to reduce anxiety. Others have detailed how microdosing weed influences the brain’s neurotransmitter systems to improve focus and productivity. Further, microdosing cannabis has been shown to aid in pain relief, enhance creative thinking, and stimulate dopamine release for easier mood regulation.
For more information, check out this peer-reviewed article on the current state of evidence for cannabis benefits.
How to microdose: dosage, methods and strains
Unfortunately, an internet article can only get you so far in dosage recommendations. THC/CBD tolerance and metabolism vary widely among individuals, so it’s also best to start small and scale up to a comfortable dose.
That said, Leafly (a leading voice in all things cannabis) recommends 2.5 mg of THC or roughly the equivalent of a single toke. It’s essential to note that strains vary significantly in THC content; therefore, consider starting with 2:1 or 3:1 CBD/THC strains, which tend to contain a lower percentage of THC. If you have any questions about strength, do not hesitate to ask an attendant at your local cannabis store. Tell them you intend to microdose, and ask them for strain recommendations. It’s also advisable to leave a 24- to 48-hour period between microdoses for your body to readjust.
For users who prefer inhalation (the traditional way to use cannabis), the most common methods are whole-flower vapes and smoking – typically with one-hitters for microdosing.
How to store cannabis for prolonged use in microdosing
In improper storage conditions, those beneficial cannabinoids will degrade pretty quickly. Therefore, it’s essential to store cannabis correctly if you plan to use it over a long period.
Store your cannabis in an airtight container away from direct sunlight. Use a Boveda 2-way humidity control pack to dial in the relative humidity between 58% and 62%. This will ensure the terpenes remain locked in place and inhibit mould growth.
Hopefully, this short guide helps demystify the idea of microdosing cannabis. As a parting note, please remember to do your research, lean on the expertise of cannabis shop attendants when in doubt, and take the process slowly to start.
Tim Fawnshaw, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
