Microdosing is the best way for medical marijuana patients to ease in

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If you’re a new medical marijuana patient, some of the most important advice you’ll be given is to go “low and slow,” which is simple to do when microdosing.

“The main goal of microdosing is to receive the medicinal benefits without experiencing a high,” said Connor Cervantes, general manager at Swade Dispensary in the Grove. “Dosing can be a little tricky, so you should always start low and slow and give yourself plenty of time to feel the effects before upping the dosage.”

A microdose is typically considered between 1 and 2.5 milligrams, and edibles and tinctures are often the easiest way to ensure you’re dosing properly, according to Tom Bortz, assistant general manager at the Grove location.

“The idea is to solicit therapeutic value with the least amount of cannabis possible,” Bortz said, adding that the effects are felt at different times depending on the delivery method, from edibles and tinctures to smokeable products. “Slow refers to the time between doses, so you don’t want to take 2.5 milligrams in edible form and wait 10 minutes and decide to take more because it takes 30 minutes to two hours to feel the effects.”

Cervantes suggests waiting at least two hours after eating an edible before upping your dosage until you find the relief you’re looking for. He also noted that most edibles come in 5 to 10 milligram servings, so you will likely need to cut your edibles in half or quarters before microdosing. Tinctures, however, are taken sublingually (a drop of liquid under the tongue) and enter the bloodstream faster, so the effects are typically evident more quickly than edibles, and that dosage could be increased in about 30 minutes if needed. Tinctures also allow you to dose very precisely – even at a microdose of 1 milligram.

If you’d prefer more immediate relief than edibles or tinctures provide, a smokeable or topical product may be your best bet. With a product that’s consumed through inhalation, such as cannabis flower in a vaporizer, bowl or joint, as well as cannabis extract oils, microdosing can be a bit trickier. Swade suggests using an apparatus like a one-hitter to smoke flower, which ensures the dosage is consistently low, or an oil vaporizer that controls the dosage for you. “We have a very nice product called Midose that’s a vaporizer pen that shuts itself off after 3 seconds so you get a consistent dose of about 3 to 5 milligrams per hit,” Bortz said. “You can see how that’s affecting you after about 20 to 30 minutes and take another hit if you need more relief.”

"We want to be there for patients who are on the journey to achieve holistic wellness and balance in their daily life. We designed Midose to be simple and straightforward to use,” says Kate Simpson, co-founder and marketing director with Ananda Brands. “There are 3 varieties of all-natural botanical blends that guide you toward what to expect from each one — whether it’s calm, clarity, or zzz’s. "

Topicals like skin balms and salves will not produce any psychoactive effects, even if they contain THC, so microdosing is less important than with other delivery methods. No matter the consumption method you choose, Swade recommends when selecting a product with THC to also get something with CBD to mediate the psychoactive effects of the THC and boost the anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and anti-pain effects overall. For more information, visit swadecannabis.com.

This advertisement is intended only for Missouri medical marijuana patients. Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.