Microdosing has emerged as an increasingly popular way to dose cannabis in the last few years. Today cannabis users from all backgrounds are forgoing their epically strong edibles and opting for a more measured approach.
Ever wonder why? It has something to do with lifestyle… as it turns out, microdosing is one of the easiest ways to incorporate both cannabis and mushrooms into your life. Keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents:
- What Is Cannabis Microdosing?
- How Does it Work?
- The Benefits of Microdosing
- Tincture Microdosing
- Capsule Microdosing
- Psilocybin Microdosing
- What Is the Best Dosage for Cannabis?
- What Is the Best Dosage for Mushrooms?
- How to Microdose Safely
What Is Cannabis Microdosing?
Cannabis microdosing is, as you might expect, a particular dosing technique. It’s where you take very small doses of cannabis, usually consistently, in order to keep your system primed with cannabinoids.
In the past people tended to take cannabis sporadically: a smoke break here, an edible there…
While this method might be fun, it’s not always the most effective. Taking large amounts of cannabis at any one time can result in mood swings or mild side effects like drowsiness, couch lock, and dry mouth.
How Does Microdosing Work?
Microdosing is different. It calls for taking much smaller amounts of cannabis (usually much more often throughout the day) in order to keep a steady stream of cannabinoids in one’s system. This way the side effects of overdoing things — and the cravings of underdoing things — can both be avoided.
The Benefits of Microdosing
The way microdosing works means it has several practical benefits. Many people report it subtly uplifting their mood and reducing their anxiety. And because of the biphasic nature of cannabis, microdosing’s small doses are actually stimulating, not sedating. It’s not uncommon to experience improved energy and focus. Move over, caffeine — this is a new type of productivity-booster!
Microdosing might be an effective way to take medical cannabis, too. “I’ve seen [some] adult patients achieve therapeutic effects at 1 mg of total cannabinoids daily,” cannabis expert Dr. Dustin Sulak explains. Indeed, one prominent study found that a milligram of THC per day was enough to produce “significant inhibition of [atherosclorosis] disease progression.”
It all goes back to cannabis’s ability to synergize with the endocannabinoid system — a phenomenon doesn’t always require much ‘input’ to occur.
How You Can Microdose: 3 Ways
Wondering how to begin microdosing? If so, you’ll need to find an effective delivery method. Microdosing can be done via any of them (tinctures, capsules, vapes, edibles, etc)… but the best route to go is probably the tincture.
The premises behind microdosing are pretty simple: it only takes a little bit of cannabis to boost your body’s endocannabinoid system. Likewise, it only takes a small amount of psilocybin compounds to encourage your brain to begin ‘rewiring’ itself. Here’s how microdosing is done.
Tincture Microdosing
Ready to microdose with a cannabis tincture? First, you need to obtain your favourite tincture product! We’re partial to tinctures with a balanced CBD:THC ratio like this one. It contains 66 milligrams of concentrated cannabinoids per one ml serving, which is a lot. We’d recommend you start by taking a single drop of this tincture every hour or so. If you don’t feel anything after a day or two of that, consider titrating (raising) your dose to two drops every hour.
Capsule Microdosing
Cannabis-infused capsules also offer a very precise way of doing things. To microdose with them, you’ll need a lower strength product that allows you to take more than one capsule a day. (If you’re especially sensitive to cannabinoids, this method may not be very practical because your product options will be few.)
For the rest of you, opt for a low-strength capsule product like this one… and simply figure out how many capsules you’ll need to hit your daily dose! Just keep in mind that capsules may take up to 2 hours to kick in — which means you shouldn’t dose or microdose them ‘by feel.’
Psilocybin Microdosing
Psilocybin microdosing is often begun with .1 grams or so of freshly ground mushrooms. Err on the side of caution if you’re just starting out; remember, the point isn’t to have a psychotropic experience as much as it is to slightly shift your consciousness!
Get your dosing right, though, and good things can happen. Users report less anxiety and more creativity. Self-awareness is also heightened. Overall, psilocybin microdosing lends itself to getting into that special state of flow where things…just click.
Another plus? Psilocybin microdosing has been well-researched and well-practiced. Renowned mycologist Paul Stamets advocates for microdosing psilocybin alongside lion’s mane and the b-vitamin niacin. He says this combo is so effective it could usher in the “next quantum leap in human consciousness.”
Indeed, research confirms that psilocybin use promotes neurogenesis (i.e, neural growth) and neuroplasticity (i.e, neural flexibility). If you’re ready to change your life by changing your brain, this could be an ideal way.
You can also combine your psilocybin use with cannabis microdosing, of course. Feel free to experiment en route to finding what works best for you.
What Is the Best Dosage for Cannabis?
Microdosing is so much more than just taking your normal dose of cannabis in smaller chunks. Some experts believe that microdosing actually allows one to reduce their daily cannabinoid requirements. In other words, microdosing may do such a good job of stimulating the endocannabinoid system (and serotonergic and dopaminergic systems) that less total cannabinoid intake is needed.
Let’s say you’ve become accustomed to taking ~20 milligrams of THC per day, most of it obtained through a few smoke sessions in the evening. This daily routine has you feeling good. But if you were to switch to microdosing and begin taking just a few milligrams of THC at a time…you might feel even better with a daily total of 10-15 mg.
And if you don’t hit your optimal dosing right away, no worries. Microdosing is a process that relies on intuition, reflection, and self-realization…we believe it’s also a process meant to be enjoyed. Here’s to finding the microdosing technique that works best for you.