Cannabis starting-dose chart
Sensible starting points by method and experience. When in doubt, take the lower number, you can always have more, you can never have less. Free to save and share.
| Method | New to it | Some experience | Experienced | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inhaled (flower or vape) | One small puff, then wait 10 to 15 min | 1 to 2 puffs | To taste | Minutes |
| Edibles & drinks | 2.5 mg THC or less | 5 mg THC | 10 mg+ THC | Up to 2 hrs |
| Tinctures (under tongue) | 2.5 mg THC, held 60 sec | 5 mg THC | To taste | 15 to 45 min |
| CBD (any format) | Low, about 0.2 mg per kg of body weight | 0.35 mg/kg | 0.5 mg/kg+ | Varies |
The rules that never change
- Start low, go slow. Begin at the lowest sensible dose, especially the first time with any new product.
- Wait the full onset window. With edibles that means a full two hours before even thinking about more. Most bad nights start with a second dose taken too soon.
- Potency is not quality. A higher THC number mainly means a higher chance of anxiety. Terpenes and your own tolerance matter more.
- Don't mix with alcohol while you're still learning your limits, it amplifies everything unpredictably.
Want it worked out for you? Use the edibles dosage calculator, the CBD calculator, or the effect finder. Took too much? What to do.
New to cannabis?
Start with the basics, what to expect, how to dose, and how to stay safe.