Cannabis-infused edibles are one of the best means of self-medication available to the general public as long as you’re confident in their strength. However, let’s be honest: too much THC in a cannabis-infused product can be just as terrible as too little.
Do you still have to guess at your THC and CBD levels when creating your favorite edibles recipes?
If so, you can finally put a stop to those “mystery-dosage” cannabis treats with The Sanctuary Wellness Institute’s Edibles Dosage Calculator!
All you’ll need to know to start is the amount of cannabis involved in the infusion (in grams), as well as its percentages of THC and CBD.
Starting amount of cannabis (in grams; 1 oz. ≈ 28g) |
g |
Percentage of THC |
% |
Percentage of CBD |
% |
Type of Oil or Alchol Used |
|
Amount of oil, fat (butter), or alcohol used for infusion (in cups)It's worth noting that lower-quality cannabis, shake, or trim can have as little as 3% THC, while higher-quality strains can have up to 25% THC. The national average, according to various government regulations, is roughly 10%. |
cups |
Total THC (in mg) |
1000
mg
|
Total CBD (in mg) |
50
mg
|
Total amount of THC per teaspoon (in mg) |
10.42
mg
|
Total amount of CBD per teaspoon (in mg) |
0.52
mg
|
Amount of infusion used in recipe (in Teaspoons) |
tsp |
Number of servings in recipe |
servings |
Total amount of THC in entire recipe (in mg) |
52.08
mg
|
Total amount of CBD in entire recipe (in mg) |
2.60
mg
|
Total amount of THC per serving (in mg) |
5.21
mg
|
Total amount of CBD per serving (in mg) |
0.26
mg
|
*The THC and CBD concentrations of cannabis-infused extracts can be estimated using our Edible Dosage Calculator, but it's not meant to replace lab testing.
If you bought it from a licensed dispensary, the THC and CBD percentages should be listed on the package label. However, keep in mind that each state has its own set of labeling regulations, so product labeling may differ depending on where you purchased it. If your product’s label is missing or insufficient, you’ll have to rely on strain guides or your own analysis to find out where it falls on the potency scale. Those won’t be perfect measurements, but they’ll get you closer to the right percentages than guesswork.
Using the calculator supplied above is the most straightforward solution. It’s tough to judge the potency of edibles, especially when using recipes from the internet that don’t mention the strain or cannabinoid percentage. Now that cannabis is so extensively prescribed and normalized in the United States, more people are producing edibles at home than ever before.
In an edible, the typical THC dose is roughly 10 mg. When in doubt, keep this basic but important piece of advice in mind: start slowly and increase your dosage gradually. Remember that edibles might take a while to take effect, so don’t raise your dosage too quickly, especially if it’s your first time. If you haven’t experienced any effects within a few hours of eating your favorite edible, gradually increase your initial dose by 5 mg at a time.
Yes, 150 mg is a significant amount, es pecially if it’s your first time taking edibles (see the response to the previous question on the average mg content of an edible). When it comes to THC potency, everyone’s tolerance threshold is different. Furthermore, there is no clear correlation between one’s tolerance level with edibles vs. their tolerance level with other types of cannabis intake, such as smoking.
When you take a 10 mg gummy edible, around 70% to 80% of the THC is absorbed into your system. So, if 75% of the THC in a 10 mg gummy edible enters your bloodstream, your veins will have about 7.5 mg of THC going through them. For many people, the “high” they get from eating edibles is stronger than the “high” they get from smoking cannabis.
On an empty stomach, the effects of an edible differ dramatically from those felt after consuming food, just as with alcohol. The answer to whether or not you should eat something else before taking an edible is largely determined by your desired effects. When THC is absorbed by the digestive tract, it changes form, resulting in a stronger and longer-lasting “high.” If you ingest edibles on an empty stomach rather than after eating, their effects will hit you harder and faster. It’s advised to avoid eating edibles on an empty stomach if you’re trying them for the first time.