.png)
Even as glossy mags and wellness influencers have adopted weed (primarily CBD) as their new superfood snake oil, the taboo that still surrounds people who partake is as potent as an artisan blunt.
The common perception of cannabis consumption has not budged in the seven years I have been writing about it—many automatically balk, thinking immediately of big joints, bongs, or brownies full to the brim with as much intoxicating THC as possible. But while it’s just a professional observation, I think these taboos fuel overconsumption of cannabis more than safe, free access does.
As with any intoxicating substance, there will always be those who abuse, but big doses of cannabis are vital medicine for many people. Even if you’ve had a bad experience, demonizing it is harmful to people who already deal with health issues, so please don’t do that.
Microdosing, on the other hand, was a novel concept some years ago, but is now a staple in legal cannabis markets, offering an alternative way to harness the goodness of the good stuff without getting overly high.
Let us break down the ins and outs of using small amounts of cannabis—and why you might want to.
What counts as a microdose?
A microdose to you is completely dependent on your body and can vary with your consumption habits, what you eat, or caffeine and alcohol consumption. For some, what’s considered a microdose is as low as ½ milligrams of THC, while for others a baby buzz hits at around 5mg.
It’s sometimes complicated to execute— most legal market edibles have 10mg per piece, and top out at 100mg of total THC per bag. Unless each piece is big enough to cut into 10 more pieces, which they often aren’t, there is no good way to reliably microdose with that sort of product.
Switch gears and look at joints— which often clock in at 100mg each. Too many factors control how they burn, making smoking another subpar way to microdose in a truly exact way. (But don’t let that stop you, the “just a hit” contingency has experienced success with their methodology for ages.)
Cannabis beverages and tinctures are the most measurable way to microdose outside of products specifically designed to deliver small doses. It’s very easy to calculate how much liquid to consume based on the total cannabinoids on the label, and deploying pipettes, droppers, and bar tools is a lot easier than weighing and cutting a product accurately. The formula is very straightforward: divide the stated cannabinoid content by the total volume, i.e. a 100mg tincture in a 30mL bottle will have about 3.3mg of cannabinoids per 1mL dropper.
Reasons to try microdosing cannabis
Aside from simply wanting to limit your intoxication in any given situation, there are many reasons for microdosing. Research has been ramping up over the last decade, but the primary source of information is still the cannabis community itself.
One recent study, while promising for dosers seeking relief, shows the hand of the players paying for these experiments, who are trying to patent proprietary technology to gain an edge in cannabis and pharmaceuticals. In the European Journal of Pain, researchers from Syqe Medical theorize that their precision microdosing device “is the first time that the delivery of selective, significantly low, and precise therapeutic single doses of inhaled THC demonstrates an analgesic effect.” TL;DR: their microdosing inhaler relieved pain in their test subjects, some of whom had little to no experience with cannabis.
People who deal anxiety are fans of the microdose as well. In a report from 2020 in the Journal of Translational Medicine, researchers noted in their conclusion that, “based on current data, cannabinoid therapies (containing primarily CBD) may provide a more suitable treatment for people with pre-existing anxiety or as a potential adjunctive role in managing anxiety or stress-related disorders.”
These studies have hinted, but not proven, that when it comes to managing anxiety and pain, low doses might be the sweet spot, especially if you aren’t fond of cannabis’ ‘side effects’ that recreational users actively covet—the “high” itself.
You can microdose other cannabinoids
Don’t let an aversion to THC turn you off of cannabis completely. While people tout hemp or delta 8 or other “alternative” cannabis products, weed flowers are weed flowers, be they high in THC, CBD, or any of the dozens of other cannabinoids. CBD is a big research focus, since it’s psychoactive and not intoxicating, making it a safe bet for newbies who want to experiment with dosing.
Other cannabinoids are coming to the table too, like CBG, or cannabigerol and CBN, known as cannabinol. While less studied than CBD and THC, enthusiasts claim that both help with overall health, and CBN is becoming more common as a sleep aid.
What products to try when you start microdosing
While microdosing used to be a DIY endeavor, in many states you can access purpose-designed products to give you not only a precise milligramage, but a consistency difficult for a beginner to achieve at home.
Lately I’ve been eyeing Rose Los Angeles’ Singles, tiny dose versions of their much coveted 5mg Delights—vegan artisan confections made with rare fruit varieties and rosin (a type of cannabis concentrate) from unique cannabis strains.
If you’re seeking other cannabinoids and the wisdom of complimentary herbs, Black and Latinx owned Xula is the tincture line you’re looking for. Mood-based formulas combine blends of cannabinoids with herbs to give a more holistic approach, and their Zzz! tincture combines CBD and CBN with passionflower, hops, and anise.
One of my favorite micro-specific products has to be ALT, an individually dosed vial with 5mg of THC total. The vial is marked to allow you to get down to half and even one quarter milligram measurements. Being a fully emulsified liquid, you can easily add it to many dishes or drinks.
Whether you’re a one-time hater of weed or a new and willing explorer, microdosing is a pleasant experience. Journaling your doses and responses is the key to fine tuning your experience. You can rule out bigger doses when the effects have come on too strong, and note when the effects of a small dose are too subtle, as well as chart your response to new products. If you approach cannabis with a healthy curiosity and patience, there is a perfect cocktail of cannabinoids and strength for everyone.
from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/2WAek9G
0 comments:
Post a Comment