Edible cannabis has come a long way since the days of Brownie Mary. Consider bells and whistles like rapid onsets, ratios and precise dosing, coupled with an endless array of formats and flavors—edibles are having a moment. And we’re here for it.
This piece looks at the options out there, the basics of dosing, and how to best enjoy the experience based on the vibe you’re looking to create, whether you’re new to edibles or already an aficionado.
New to edibles? All good—there are tons of formats for you to choose from when embarking on your journey, each with their own unique convenience, taste, and dose levels to safely fit a feel you’re after.
Common Types of Cannabis Edibles
- Gummies
- Hard Candies
- Chocolates
- Baked goods
- Beverages
- Cooking ingredients
- Mints and tablets
- Tinctures and oils
- Frozen treats and much more
New to Edibles? Start here. To find the right dose, be sure to consider your current cannabis experience and tolerance, as well as factors specific to your body like metabolism and weight. A dose that one person may consider reasonable might make you feel uncomfortable, so we highly recommend taking a conservative approach, learning as you go, letting yourself try new doses and edible types only when (and if) it feels right.
Many will refer to “set and setting” (your internal mindset and external surroundings) as key influences to the experience you have as well, so be sure to find a safe and happy space to explore.
But probably most important of all, the golden rule of edibles: Start Low and Go Slow. Start with a low dose. For most that means somewhere between 2-5mg THC. Edibles come in such a large variety of doses, many with THC concentrations that are great for starters, like 5mg gummies, or low dose tinctures that allow you to control your dosage even more with droppers with clear measurements. Read the label to find the overall package dosage, and the THC dose per serving.
Edibles are also super easy to customize, meaning you might want to only eat half of a gummy, or drop only a small amount of a tincture – intentionally choosing doses that are less than one whole serving. On that note, make sure you understand the product’s specific serving size – for example, a cannabis brownie or cookie may be sold individually, but depending on the THC content in it, may contain multiple servings.
With edibles, patience is key. That’s the “go slow” part. Edibles often take longer to kick in compared to smoking or vaping, with typical onset times from 30 minutes up to 2 hours for you to feel the full effects. Avoid the temptation to take more during this time. If you don't feel the desired effects after waiting a couple of hours, you can try increasing your dosage slightly in future sessions. Or, if you felt a little too much of an effect, you can try lowering your dose next time and seeing how you feel then. If you’d like to document your journey, we recommend keeping a journal to track your experiences and how certain doses affect you personally, and whether or not you’d like to increase your dose next time.
Common Edibles Dosing Breakdown and What to Expect
A quick word of warning: Depending on experience and metabolism, edible doses at any mg level have the potential to alter reality perception and impair coordination. Please exercise caution and remember to start low and go slow.
Low dose edibles (1-5mg THC per serving) are best for beginners and those with low tolerance, and can offer mild relaxation, stress relief, heightened senses, and mood elevation. Depending on your experience, low dose edibles may increase sociability and creativity, offering minimal psychoactive effects.
Micro dose edibles (2.5-5mg THC per serving) are ideal for daytime use without impairing cognitive function, and can offer subtle relaxation, reduction of anxious feelings, enhanced focus and productivity, helping enhance mood without feeling intoxicated.
Moderate dose edibles (5-10mg THC per serving) are suitable for those with some tolerance, seeking a balanced experience without excessive intoxication, offering noticeable relaxation and euphoria, improved muscle tension and enhanced sensory perception. Moderate dose edibles can also increase appetite and potential deeper relaxation.
Standard dose edibles (10-20mg THC per serving) are suitable for experienced users or those seeking potent effects for therapeutic purposes, offering strong euphoria and sedation, deep relaxation and stress relief, heightened sensory experiences, and potential for intensified emotions. Like moderate dose edibles, a standard dose may also help to increase appetite, as well as sleep quality. Standard doses are ideal for users looking to relieve significant discomfort.
High dose edibles (20mg+ THC per serving) are recommended only for those with extensive cannabis experience and high tolerance levels, and can offer intense euphoria and psychoactive effects, as well as profound relaxation, significant discomfort relief, and appetite stimulation. High dose edibles can alter reality perception and impair coordination.
CBD dominant edibles: While CBD dominant edibles contain low doses of THC, the effects of high CBD concentration provide therapeutic benefits like anxiety reduction, stress relief, and management of discomfort without the psychoactive effects of THC.
It’s truly exciting times for edibles—and it feels like we’re just scratching the surface of how they can enhance our everyday. If you have more questions, or want to explore our extensive edible lineup, stop by a Curaleaf dispensary. We’d be more than happy to help grow your know .