What Is A Microdose Of THC
To microdose THC is a relatively new phenomenon. Today’s medical marijuana environment has lots of avid consumers not looking for the strongest flower available but looking for the right strain at the right dose. Microdosing THC is an extremely interesting concept, the idea that you can control, to the milligram, how much THC you wish to ingest. For a THC microdose, that means ingesting the bare minimum of cannabis to still feel some of the effects, like reducing anxiety, while avoiding the recreational or just undesired high, or the psychoactive effects in general.
The biggest hurdle to microdose THC is being able to control the amount ingested and that used to be that you had to buy whatever was available from your guy, but thanks to medical marijuana’s legalization across the country more and more products and manners to ingest become finely tuned so you’re able to curate your marijuana experience to your exact desire. What does that mean, and how does one accomplish microdosing THC in a controlled manner? Keep reading on how to microdose THC.
What Exactly Is A THC Microdose
According to the American Psychological Association, microdosing is the art of regular ingestion of the absolute minimum amount of a psychoactive substance that still allows for enhancing your creativity, improving your mood, and can help with things like anxiety and productivity, without producing the psychoactive elements of cannabis. This approach is particularly popular among medicinal marijuana users who seek the benefits of cannabis while maintaining productivity and mental clarity throughout the day.
There’s a growing number of medical marijuana consumers who would prefer to not experience the traditional “high’ from cannabis. It may interfere with their focus, or they may need to drive, or high doses of marijuana may actually have the reverse effect than what they are looking for. For instance if you have anxiety and you would like to try cannabis to help alleviate that symptom, as it is known to help people in that regard, but you find that a high dose makes you a bit more fidgety, and may even enhance your anxiety, but you’d rather not go back to pharmaceutical drugs, you should consider microdosing THC. You can get a clear head, and you may notice that your anxiety has disappeared as you go about your day unphased by any psychoactive activity. Or maybe you need a bit of help enhancing your appetite, but you don’t like to get sleepy or your head clouded, so you just microdose THC a bit and you find yourself able to finish a whole footlong sub but you aren’t glued to the couch watching Jeopardy without getting a single answer right. Another great example is pain relief. You may have some chronic or nagging pain for which you have been recommended medical marijuana. Taking a THC microdose and CBD combined will help alleviate that pain and it won’t stop you from being motivated to go for a run, since you feel so good with the pain relieved.
Where Does The Idea Of Microdosing THC Come From
To microdose THC is a marginal yet popular practice that goes decades back, but the true origin of the microdose might actually go all the way back to when humans were more like a bunch of knuckle draggers. In fact, the origin of the microdose has a couple of sources. The lesser known, but incredibly thought-provoking, comes from our friend Terence Mckenna in his book Food of the Gods. In this book he proposes the theory of the transition from Homo Erectus to Homo Sapien involving quite a few microdoses. His theory posits that the desertification of Africa led to humans following cattle for food. As some people may know, Psilocybe cubens grow in cowpats, and some extremely adventurous hunter gatherer ancestors of ours decided to ingest those mushrooms. What Mckenna believes is that it was the continual ingestion of small doses of these mushrooms that was an “evolutionary catalyst” for our language, arts, science, and almost all human culture that followed.
The most common theory for the origin of the microdose comes from Albert Hoffman, the discoverer of LSD. As much as he loved the 12-hour long journey that could provide, he found that an even smaller dose, barely measurable, gave him the clarity of mind and creative insight that he could use on a day-to-day basis. Incidentally, Albert Hoffman lived a happy healthy life to the ripe old age of 102. As soon as the war on drugs began, however, anything close to resembling official, supervised, or analytical research regarding the topic was banned and the idea was essentially thrown into the dustbin of history. That didn’t stop hippies from puddling large, one might say “macro”, doses recreationally, and likewise the practice of microdosing just had to live on the margins of society.
While those are the possible origins of the microdose, and they are related to other illicit substances, the legalization of medical marijuana has allowed for the co-opting of the idea, providing the permission to study marijuana, and therefore create specialized products and doses, that allow for a much more controlled environment and a curated experience for any individual.
Learn How To Microdose THC
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How To Microdose THC
Microdosing THC made simple, just follow the steps below:
Preparation
To prepare for microdosing THC, it’s recommended to take a T-Break first. This is going to help reset your endocannabinoid system (ECS) and allows you to get your true THC microdose amount. It is also helpful to use accurately measured doses. This can be achieved by purchasing pre-dosed products such as capsules, tinctures, or edibles with low THC content. Alternatively, you can prepare your own doses using a reliable scale and cannabis flower with known THC and CBD percentages.
To begin microdosing THC, it’s recommended to select a strain with a balanced ratio of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects, while CBD provides medicinal benefits without intoxication. Strains with balanced ratios offer a gentle and controlled experience.
Dosage
The optimal dosage for a THC microdose varies for each individual. It’s advisable to start with a low dose, typically around 1-2.5 milligrams of THC, and gradually adjust the dosage based on personal tolerance and desired effects. There’s no harm in trying a small amount and getting no results- you can always come back the next attempt with just a smidgen more. It’s important to remember that the goal of microdosing THC is to take sub-perceptual doses, where the effects are minimal or barely noticeable.
Methods Of Ingestion
There are several methods to ingest cannabis for microdosing, including:
Oral Ingestion- Consuming cannabis-infused edibles or sublingual tinctures is a common and convenient method. Start with a low dose and wait for the onset of effects, which typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Inhalation- Using a vaporizer allows for precise dosing and rapid onset of effects. Choose a vaporizer with temperature control to avoid excessive heat that could lead to higher THC release. Inhalation effects are felt almost immediately.
Topical Application- For localized relief, cannabis-infused lotions, balms, or patches can be applied directly to the skin. This method is non-psychoactive and primarily provides therapeutic benefits.
Cues To Enhance The THC Microdose Experience
Mindful Intention- Before consuming cannabis, set a mindful intention for the day. This could include increased focus, creativity, or pain relief. Being aware of your purpose can help you tune into the effects and gauge their efficacy.
Journaling- Maintain a journal to track the effects of different strains and microdose THC dosages. Note your mood, productivity, pain levels, and any other relevant observations. This documentation will help you fine-tune your microdosing THC regimen over time.
Lifestyle Factors- Consider complementary practices that can support the microdosing experience. Engaging in mindfulness exercises, yoga, meditation, or light physical activity can enhance the overall effects.
Balanced Lifestyle- Aim for a healthy, balanced lifestyle with adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and regular exercise. These factors contribute to overall well-being and can enhance the benefits of microdosing THC.
THC Microdose Summary
When you decide to enter the dispensary and you have all of this helpful information, you will be able to create your own experience, dosed to the milligram, and begin your adventure of microdosing THC! We hope you were able to learn what is a microdose of THC with us. If you have any tips or tricks in regard to a THC microdose or how to microdose THC contact Releaf Medical with your experience and suggestions.
