Many people have accepted the fact that medicinal marijuana is a reality. There is tons of research to prove that it works. The concern, however, is with so many strains and varieties, how do you manage your dose? Most of us can get access to medicinal cannabis with a medical marijuana card, but knowing the perfect dosage for you is critical. Here are the factors to find the ideal dose of medical marijuana for you.
Methods of Administration
There are so many marijuana products available that it is difficult for a doctor to prescribe the right dose for you. Here are a few products discussed along with ways to find the proper dosage for you. You can buy these products with your medical marijuana card.
- Ingesting: Marijuana is sold in the form of cookies, brownies, bread, and drinks. Read the label to know the dosage level in the item that you are planning to ingest. Ingesting edible marijuana products will start to show its effects in about 45 minutes. Start with small doses and gradually increase the dose if required.
- Smoking: This is a faster way to feel the effects of marijuana. It is better to start with 1 to 3 inhalations and wait for 15 minutes. You’ll begin to feel the effects by then. If not, then increase the number of inhalations.
- Vaporizer: This is the safer way to inhale marijuana as it heats the cannabinoid oils to become vapors, but, does combust the other materials in the plant. Most marijuana dispensaries will have vaporizers of some sort and begin with the minimum recommended dose.
- Micro-dosing: Marijuana is also available in the form of tinctures that enables the administration of micro-doses of 4mg to 5mg. This is a more controlled method for people who cannot tolerate the dosage that results from eating, smoking, or vapors.
Recommended Doses for Different Conditions
There has been ample research on the recommended dose of marijuana for ailments such as cancer, muscle spasms, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Here is what the researchers say about the dosage in these conditions.
Cancer Related Ailments
Marijuana has been known to relieve the various symptoms associated with chemotherapy. These are the symptoms and the dosage required.
- Chronic Pain: A recent study found that chronic pain after chemotherapy was greatly relieved when given an equal ratio of THC to CBD. They were given an oromucosal spray, which was used about 6.3 to 6.4 sprays per day, i.e., a dosage of 17mg THC and 16mg CBD.
- Nausea and Vomiting: Several trials used 10mg to 18mg THC a couple of hours before chemotherapy and repeating these doses every 2 to 4 hours for 24 hours. The FDA, however, recommends starting at 5mg because not everyone may be able to tolerate such high doses.
Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms in patients who have multiple sclerosis were relieved by the use of cannabis. About 20mg to 25mg of THC, divided into doses over the day, was administered starting at lower levels and then increasing the doses gradually over a few weeks. The higher doses also required that THC be administered along with CBD at an equal level.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is known to have been treated by the use of medical marijuana. Researchers allowed participants to smoke up to 1.8 grams or vaporize up to 2 grams of cannabis. Most of the participants experienced alleviation of PTSD symptoms and a reduction in the number of adverse events.
So, there you have a guide on how to find the right dose of cannabis for you. Although it may seem like trial and error in the beginning, once you find the correct dose, you can continue with it.
