Microdose range
A cannabis microdose is 0.5 mg to 2.5 mg THC. That is one-tenth to one-quarter of a standard 10 mg serving. Common effects at this range: mild mood shift, less anxiety, no heavy body load. Above 5 mg, impairment is common for new users.
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Dose chart by THC milligrams
- 0.5 mg to 1 mg: threshold. Most users report little or nothing.
- 1 mg to 2.5 mg: microdose. Mood lift, alertness, subtle body ease.
- 2.5 mg to 5 mg: minidose. Clear psychoactive effect, some motor slowing.
- 5 mg to 10 mg: standard dose. Impairment is common.
- 10 mg and above: high dose. Not a microdose.
Product conversions
Flower at 20% THC holds 200 mg THC per gram. A 1 mg dose equals 5 mg of flower, about a small pinch. Kitchen scales at 0.01 g cannot weigh that.
Tincture: a 30 mL bottle with 300 mg THC holds 10 mg per mL, or 0.1 mL per 1 mg dose. A standard dropper holds 1 mL.
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Gummies: cut a 10 mg gummy into 10 pieces for 1 mg each. Cut into 4 for 2.5 mg.
Vape: inhaled dose is not measured. One short draw from a low-potency cartridge delivers less than one 3-second draw from a high-potency cartridge. Exact milligrams are unknown.
Timing
Inhaled THC reaches peak blood levels in 5 to 10 minutes. Oral THC peaks at 60 to 120 minutes. Wait two hours before a second oral dose.
Titration steps
- Start at 0.5 mg.
- Wait two hours. Record the effect.
- Raise the next session by 0.5 mg.
- Stop at the lowest dose that gives the effect you want.
Labels and legal limits
Colorado caps one serving at 10 mg THC and one package at 100 mg. Canada caps an edible package at 10 mg THC. Hemp in the US holds no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Read total THC on the label, which includes THCA.
Evidence gaps
Clinical trials on THC use 2.5 mg to 5 mg for pain, appetite, and nausea. Few controlled studies test 1 mg. This chart is a starting point, not a prescription.