Short answer
A cannabis microdose is a small THC dose. Common ranges run from 1 mg to 2.5 mg of THC. The feeling is a small shift, not a high. Users report a calm body, a slight change in color and sound, slower thoughts, and easier talk. Some people feel nothing at 1 mg. Others feel a clear change at 2.5 mg. Body weight, tolerance, and product form change the result. There is no standard definition of a microdose in law or in medicine.
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Onset and duration by form
Inhaled
- Onset: 5 to 15 minutes
- Peak: 30 to 60 minutes
- Fade: 2 to 3 hours
Edible or drink
- Onset: 30 to 120 minutes
- Peak: 1 to 3 hours
- Fade: 4 to 8 hours
Edibles pass through the liver before they reach the blood. This delay causes a second dose. A person who takes 1 mg, feels little at 30 minutes, and takes 1 mg more can reach 4 mg to 6 mg in the body at once.
What the dose feels like
Reports from low-dose users cluster around a few points:
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- Muscle tension drops in the shoulders and jaw.
- Music and light gain a small edge.
- Speech comes with less effort in social settings.
- Tasks continue. Focus holds.
- Hunger rises in some users.
At 2.5 mg, a small number of users report a mild head buzz and dry mouth. At 1 mg, most reports describe a placebo-level effect or no effect.
What it does not feel like
A microdose does not cause strong euphoria. It does not distort time. It does not lock a person to a couch. It does not cause the racing heart and heavy body load linked to 10 mg and above. If those effects appear, the dose is above the microdose range for that person.
Factors that change the result
- Tolerance from prior cannabis use
- Liver enzyme activity, including CYP2C9 and CYP3A4
- Food in the stomach before an edible
- Alcohol and other drugs taken at the same time
- Stated dose compared with actual dose in the product
Lab tests of cannabis edibles have found THC content that differed from the label. A 2.5 mg label can hold more or less than 2.5 mg. Dose control depends on the product, not on the number printed on the package.
Convenience and the microdose market
Dose-controlled formats now drive low-dose sales. Examples include 1 mg mints, 2.5 mg single-serve gummies, 1 to 2 mg beverages, metered vape pens, and pre-filled capsules. These formats cut the need to split a large edible or estimate a flower weight. Convenience helps a user hold a dose. It does not fix label error or replace a start-low step.
How to test a microdose
- Pick one product and record the stated dose.
- Start at 1 mg of THC.
- For an edible, wait 2 hours before any second dose.
- Note mood, body feel, and heart rate at 30, 60, and 120 minutes.
- Keep the same product for three trials before a change.
Signs to stop
Stop and sit down if anxiety, a fast heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, or panic appears. These signs point to a dose above the target range. Symptoms from a large edible can last 4 to 8 hours. Seek medical help for chest pain, severe confusion, or repeated vomiting.