If you’re brand new to using cannabis, you’re probably going to need to experiment with finding the right dosage. Then there’s the question of recreational vs. medical dosage.
It all comes down to your own unique endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a system in our bodies that plays a crucial role in maintaining balance in the body. It consists of cannabinoid receptors, lipids, and enzymes that do this work.
The way your specific ECS interacts with the cannabinoids you produce yourself (endocannabinoids) and the cannabinoids found in cannabis (phytocannabinoids) is key. Some folks need very little THC to feel a LOT.
Recreational Vs. Medical Dosage
There are still many misconceptions about the differences between medical and recreational cannabis. For quite some time, people believed that medical marijuana was of higher quality.
That’s not true.
Manufacturers, producers, and growers of high quality recreational cannabis take both quality and potency standards seriously. Especially given the rapidly growing competition in this arena.
As far as recreational vs. medical dosage, the most important thing to remember is that medical cannabis typically has a higher CBD content than recreational for the same amount of THC. This is because the focus is on alleviating physical symptoms rather than getting “high.” And CBD can counteract the psychoactive effects of THC.
Another thing to note is that while there is no actual difference between the concentrates and flowers of both medical and recreational types, medical edibles tend to be more potent than recreational.
At the end of the day, whether recreational or medical, it comes down to finding the ideal THC percentage (or number of milligrams) that works for you. And the way you choose to consume cannabis makes all the difference.
Smoking Cannabis Flower
For medical patients or recreational consumers looking for quick onset of effects and shorter duration, smoking cannabis flower is the way to go. Within minutes of inhaling, the smoker will feel the effects – with the high peaking about a half an hour after inhalation, and dissipating slowly for an hour or so after that.
The rule of thumb for newbies is to wait 15 minutes after the first puff before deciding whether to consume more.
And there’s no one-size-fits-all with cannabis strains. Knowing the percentage of THC is crucial. Anything under 10% is a safe place to start. The 10-20% range is good for more experienced tokers, while anything over 20% is for seasoned users.
Vaping Pens and Cartridges
Much like smoking cannabis flower, vaping will produce an effect quickly, peak at half an hour, then begin to taper off over the following hour. Vaping is far more potent though.
Vaping works by heating a cannabis concentrated oil to its vaporization point to produce a vapor which is inhaled by the user. This can be more potent than smoking flower though. To avoid getting too high too quickly, medical patients and consumers need to pay extra attention to the THC percentages and exercise caution.
Dabbing Concentrates
This method is highly discouraged for beginners. Cannabis concentrates that are sold outside of pre-filled vapes are extremely potent. The THC percentages fall between 60 and 99%! And they are consumed via a method known as dabbing.
We won’t get into the specifics of dabbing, but you can read more about it here. Suffice it to say, this method isn’t really considered when comparing recreational vs. medical dosage differences because it would rarely be used for medical purposes.
Consuming Edibles
When it comes to edibles, the dosage changes from percentages to milligrams. This allows consumers to fine tune their dosage to more specific amounts. However, it’s not as easy or convenient as it sounds.
Because the body processes THC differently when it’s ingested, it takes much longer for the effects to take hold. It typically takes at least 30 minutes, but it can take as long as two hours for edibles to reach their full effect. Then the effects can linger for several more hours. Again, it depends on how the body metabolizes THC.
For edibles, a 1-2 mg THC content is considered a microdose and a good place to begin. From there, a user may graduate to 2-5mg, depending on their tolerance. 5-10mg is the most common range, with 10-50mg moving into the moderate to strong range and typically for experienced users.
Anything over 50mg THC in an edible is considered extremely strong and often reserved for medical patients whose dosage will likely include a high milligram content of CBD to counteract the effects. But it’s not unheard of for very experienced daily recreational consumers with a high tolerance to do 50mg at a pop.
Using Tinctures
Tinctures were ultimately developed to be absorbed via the blood vessels in the mouth. Thus, a tincture is often taken sublingually and kept in the mouth for 2-3 minutes. But it can be added into food or beverages as well and then treated as an edible.
In both cases, the effect is very similar to ingesting an edible. Thus, the guidelines for dosing tinctures is the same as with edibles – starting at 1-2mg, and then working up by 1mg every 24 hours until the ideal is achieved.
Research Your Cannabis Source Too
While there may not be a big difference between recreational vs. medical dosage, there IS a huge difference between cannabis that’s sourced from a reputable grow house vs. one that’s more questionable.
Our cannabis is grown and produced following strict industry standards and passes every test for safety and potency. You can count on that.Click here now to find all of the places we sell our top-of-the-line product. And don’t take chances with inferior or unsafe cannabis.