Medical marijuana is safe, effective, and can be of great therapeutic use for many patients. However, many patients are not aware of proper dosing guides, which can lead to bad first experiences. Although you will not overdose if you take too much THC, you will get too “high,” which may push you away from trying cannabis as a form of relief. Please consider the dosing tips below, especially if you have had bad experiences, or are feeling cautious about trying cannabis for the first time.
No two people experience identical effects from the same amount of THC. Factors  include:

• Previous cannabis use
• Bodyweight
• Your endocannabinoid system (ECS)
• Gastrointestinal factors
• Consumption method
• General health

The consumption method is as important as dosage.

​According to this way of leaf article, “certain methods of using cannabis result in a higher bioavailability than others.

‘Bioavailability’ means the degree and rate at which any substance is absorbed into the bloodstream where it is used as needed.”
 
If you use 10mg of THC and your consumption method has a bioavailability rate of 20%, 2mg of THC gets into the bloodstream.

A study published in Pain Research & Management in 2005 wrote that the average bioavailability of THC is 30%.

        Smoking Dried Cannabis Flower
It is tricky to judge how much THC is in a joint or bowl. Not many people place their bud on a scale before smoking it. The best you can do is determine the THC content of the cannabis strain. This enables you to at least calculate what is in a gram. Below, I will show you that 1 gram of flower with a THC content of 18% will have about 48.6mgs of THC into your system. You can use the formulas below to figure out approximately what you will be taking in.
THC percent to mg Formula:

• THC content = 18%.

• 1,000 mg x 0.18 = 180mg of THC per Gram.

• Considering the above dosing, you will likely need less than half of a gram to receive the benefits you are seeking.

Bioavailability and actual THC intake: The above formula tells you the exact THC content of your flower, but the bioavailability impacts how much of that THC content will get in your system.
​
Bioavailability Formula:

• THC content = 18%

• Average Bioavailability of flower = 27%

• 180mg of THC x 0.27 = 48.6mg of THC in your system

1 gram of 18% THC flower equals about 49mgs of THC in your bloodstream

This is a dosage that should be reserved for experienced users. You would want at least half of the above amount (20-25mgs) if you want some intoxicating effects but want to remain in control. Please note that smoked cannabis can affect within 10 minutes. The effects could last for up to six hours.

             Using Vaporized Cannabis
Vaporizers can have dried flower or oil bases, so make sure to read the labeling or ask your licensed dispensary for the THC content of your particular vape. Some vapes can be as high as 90%THC. For example, a 1ml cartridge might say it is 90% THC. In this case, it offers up to 900mg of THC. Therefore, you only require 0.01ml of the liquid to get 9mg of THC. The bioavailability of vaporized THC is between 36% and 61% depending on the study you read.
Bioavailability Formula low-end:

• THC content = 90%
• Average Bioavailability of Vape = 36%
• 900mg of THC x 0.36 = 324mg of THC in your system

 Bioavailability Formula high-end:

• THC content = 90%
• Average Bioavailability of flower = 61%
• 900mg of THC x 0.61 = 549mg of THC in your system

 
Both the above formulas are exceedingly high for any user. You should never use this much in one session. Please use this example to input your numbers to see what you are intaking.

At the top end, it means that consuming 0.01ml of our 90% THC vape juice gives us 9 x 0.61 = 5.49mg of THC absorbed into the bloodstream. Novices will find that this is more than enough to feel an effect. Experienced users might consume 0.05ml, which ensures that 27.45mg of THC makes it to the bloodstream. Once again, you will feel the effects quickly, in probably 10-30 minutes. They could last for up to six hours.

It is more difficult to ascertain topicals’ bioavailability rate as it is not a widely studied area. You apply a topical such as a cream or balm directly to the skin. They are becoming popular products due to the lack of intoxicating effects.
 
Although you won’t get high from a topical, it is still best to apply only a small amount at first.
 
For THC to cause a high, it must pass the blood-brain barrier and make it to the bloodstream. However, cannabinoids are hydrophobic, which means they repel water. Therefore, THC struggles to penetrate the skin’s aqueous layer. Although you won’t get high from a topical, it is still best to apply only a small amount at first.
 
THC transdermal patches release the cannabinoid into the body, and it does get to the bloodstream. However, you’re unlikely to experience intoxication because the body absorbs the THC extremely slowly.

1. "I don't want to get high!"- This is a very scary thought for most of our patients, but there's no need to worry! There are solutions for this! CBD known as Cannabidiol is the non-psychoactive part of the plant itself. CBD is known to acutely counter the "high" of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Today, many dispensaries have THC/CBD hybrids that range from 1:1 to 10:1 Ratios. This means the medicine has a percentage of THC, and a similar or higher percentage of CBD which can counteract the high, or at lease subdue the high.
Most patients do not like the "high" due to the sensation, or the paranoia and anxiety that can be associated with high levels of THC. Please don't let that scare you! Use some CBD, and the high feeling will decrease. There are other alternatives to counteract the high, like black pepper and orange juice. Use those if you don't have any CBD around.
If you are interested in CBD products, check out our partner, Create Better Days. Our staff & physicians love their products. Click the button to shop at their online store.
​                   www.createbetterdays.net

​3. "What is my Prescription?"- Everyone is different, and there is no one size fits all prescription. This can be overwhelming for a lot of patients, especially the ones who have never used marijuana, don't have the proper education and are struggling to find the right dose. We understand this is difficult, but we can help you with the basics. We recommend starting low and slow, especially for new patients that have never used marijuana before. Every patient is different in what they want or expect for their relief. In addition to finding correct dosing, a patient must also focus on the type of relief they are seeking. There are two main strains of THC, Indica and Sativa. Indica is referred to as "in the couch" due to it being very relaxing and calming for patients. This is very helpful to our patients with Chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety and insomnia. On the other hand, Sativa is better for energy and focus. This strain is very helpful for patients that need relief but don't want to feel tired. However, use caution because high doses of Sativa can be a little more overwhelming, and may cause some patients to have paranoia. One way to help both those situations is using a hybrid which is a percentage of both strains of THC. This again is why there is no prescription. Every patient has a different way the strains impact them. We're always here to help!