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Even the most seasoned of cannabis aficionados had to start somewhere. With cannabis becoming even more popular in the wake of the mass legalizations across the country, more and more people are trying cannabis for the first time. But how much should you take? Titration is the fundamental understanding of proper cannabis dosing. The biggest mistake a first-time cannabis consumer can commit is to overmedicate. This can lead to an unpleasant experience that might dissuade them from future cannabis use or for medical consumers, not treating the ailment appropriately.

So how do you know how much is enough? The best advice is to start out small and grow to your desired effect, or consult a medical professional for exact recommended doses. You can always take more to increase the sensation, but you can’t un-smoke that entire joint. The only ways to feel less effects are to either wait it out or try to counteract the psychoactive effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with some cannabidiol (CBD) or rescue tonic.

“. . . how you consume cannabis will greatly change how you monitor your cannabis intake.”

When starting out, there are a lot of factors to consider, and it would be a good idea to consult an expert; either a reputable dispensary, doctor or a friend who is a seasoned cannabis consumer. Other factors to consider are what strain you are consuming, your body make-up and how you will consume cannabis. It’s the last part that we will be focusing on, because how you consume cannabis will greatly change how you monitor your cannabis intake.

Inhalation

Smoking cannabis has been the time-tested, golden standard for consuming cannabis for centuries. Whether you roll it into a joint or put it into a water pipe, smoking cannabis is far and away the most popular method of consumption.

To start, light your joint, the cannabis in your bubbler or inhale on your vape pen; inhale as much as is comfortable. At first, you will only be able to inhale a small amount, but don’t try to overdo it your fist time. If you really want to hammer down your dosage, try to be consistent in your pulls. Aim for between five and 10 seconds per hit.

“You can always take more to increase the sensation, but you can’t un-smoke that entire joint.”

Vape pens make the process even easier, by removing fire from the equation. It’s less about the risk of flame, as it is trying to find a lighter when you need it. Vape pens work by heating cannabis oil that you then inhale. There is a bit of a learning curve the first time you use a pen, some have a button and others are activated simply by inhaling. Often times they come in two pieces; the battery and the oil cartridge. As far as dosing is concerned, you can follow the instructions used when consuming flower cannabis, with the caveat that most vape pens use concentrated oil that will affect you differently than flower. In essence, you hit it the same, but the amount of hits may differ.

After your inhale, wait 10-15 minutes to see how it affects you, and repeat the process until you reach the desired effect. Keep track of how your mind and body react to each inhale. Remember that everyone is different, and you don’t need to “keep up” with anyone.

Edibles

Edibles are classified as any form of cannabis intended to be consumed through eating or drinking. There are many people who do not like smoking or cannot smoke due to lung or throat issues, who find that consuming edibles allows them to get the desired effects without inhaling anything.

The downside to edibles is that they are a lot slower acting than smoking cannabis. The good news is that most edibles you purchase from a dispensary will have the dose, usually in milligrams, on the package. For the purpose of this article, let’s say you have a 10mg brownie. Start by eating a quarter of the brownie (which should contain 2.5mg of THC), wait 45 minutes to an hour, and if you want to continue, try eating another quarter. Repeat the process until you find your sweet spot.

The first time it will take a little time to discover how much THC you want to consume, but on future consumptions you can be a little more aggressive since you will have a better understanding of how much THC you want in your body. For reference, many doctors suggest a 5mg dose for first-timers, but Colorado has previously limited single doses of THC to increments of 10mg.

Sublingual

Sublingual means to be absorbed under the tissue of the tongue. For this, patients will typically use cannabis tinctures and essential oils. The benefit of a sublingual is that it is a very swift and effective method of delivery. This is often the preferred method for parents to administer cannabis to children who suffer from epilepsy and take CBD to treat their seizures. It is also the hardest method to get the proper dose with. It only takes a couple drops to reach the desired effect, so you should proceed extremely slowly or in conjunction with a health care provider. It can also be very expensive since you are dealing with highly concentrated products.

Topicals

Cannabis creams, lotions and oils are very popular for managing aching joints, pains and muscles. Most topicals are for pain, and many are CBD-based; those are not psychoactive. Topical THC and CBD are absorbed into the targeted area of where you apply the product. Which means, whether its just CBD or THC and CBD, your topical medicine will only effect the area it is applied to, and it will not be absorbed into other parts of the body or even the mind. This is great for athletes or individuals using it for their arthritis, who simply need to alleviate one or more areas of aggravation or irritation in the body.

Regardless of your preferred method of consumption, it is important to pay attention to your body. Like with anything you put in your body, you will develop a tolerance over time so you may find yourself increasing the amount you consume eventually. However, by repeating the steps outlined above, you should be on your way to continued enjoyment of cannabis.

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