It’s not news to anyone that cannabis comes with some stereotypes attached to it. Our favourite plant spent decades under intense scrutiny until people started to realize the potential benefits it offers. On the heels of legalization, society began to understand cannabis more clearly, and barriers started to fall.

However, because nothing in this world is perfect, there are still misconceptions attached to cannabis as a whole, such as the notion that consuming cannabis is something only done to get as high as possible, tear through the chips in your house, then take a nap for 10 hours. Sure, that’s one way to do it—and no judgement here—but there’s another form of consumption most people are still getting to know.

Microdosing

This practice is exactly how it sounds. In order to microdose, you ingest cannabis in low amounts to experience slight effects. You don’t get “high” per se, but you’re certainly not sober. Microdosing can bring on a subtle calm while still letting you be functional in your day-to-day activities. Basically, instead of getting your high all in one shot, you ration it throughout the day to experience the effects for a longer period of time.

Microdosing used to be more difficult, as it’s hard to ration a joint or vape, but with the cannabis landscape evolving as it has, there are now a plethora of products and consumption methods available that lend themselves well to microdosing. Things like low-dose tarts, capsules, oils, and edibles have made it easier for people who want to try microdosing to give it a shot.

How to microdose cannabis

Microdosing cannabis can be a great way to get into cannabis consumption, not to mention test out new products. No matter your level of experience, it’s always recommended to keep a consumption journal when you’re starting out. This will keep track of what you’re taking, how much of it, what time of day it was, how you felt, and if you felt any adverse reactions.

Start with the lowest dose possible and monitor your effects over the next few hours. Remember, ingesting cannabis can take up to two hours for you to feel the effects, so you’re not going to feel different right away. Monitor how you feel after a couple of hours and if you find yourself not noticing the effects, take a bit more and see if that helps (psst—this is where that journal really comes in handy). Eventually, you’ll start to figure out what level of microdosing works best for you to still maintain a functional, productive day.

Keep in mind, if you’re a regular cannabis consumer it’s likely going to take more of a “microdose” for you to feel anything. Cannabis tolerance builds up over time, which is why there’s no one-size-fits-all set of instructions when it comes to how much cannabis it takes to effectively microdose.

As with any consumption method or cannabis product, it’s important to remember cannabis affects everyone differently. You and a friend may be on the same level of consumption experience, consuming the same products at the same dose, but you’ll still have different reactions. Start low, go slow, and make sure you don’t overdo it.

Also, let us be abundantly clear. Microdosing is still consumption. Even if you don’t feel high, there’s still cannabis in your system. Don’t drive, operate heavy machinery, or do anything else that requires your complete attention on days when you’ve microdosed. Safety always comes first.