How Real Consumers Are Optimizing Their Day With Cannabis

We all have little rituals that we look forward to. That first cup of coffee. A walk after dinner. Finally sinking into the couch after a long day. For many cannabis consumers, there's a favorite time to enjoy cannabis, too. 

We asked the NuggMD Reddit community one simple question: What's your favorite time of day to consume cannabis? Here's what over 300 people had to say about when – and how – they are using cannabis to get the most out of their days.

Most Consumers Prefer the Evening

Nearly 40% of respondents chose the evening, making it the runaway winner in the poll. Work is done, the errands are over, and the car is parked for the night. Now you've got a few hours to yourself. Maybe you're making dinner, meeting up with friends, firing up a video game, or planning to spend the rest of the night on the couch.

If you're staying home with nowhere else to be, this might be when you reach for the edible you shied away from during the day so it wouldn’t kick in during a meeting or halfway through a grocery run. Its slower onset and longer-lasting effects may work just fine when you've got several hours to enjoy them. But if you're going out to dinner and only want a little buzz, you might keep the dose lower or choose something that kicks in faster, such as a sublingual tincture or fast-acting cannabis beverage.

You don't necessarily want to sink into the couch just because it's 6 p.m., either. A low-dose THC or THC:CBD drink could replace a beer while you're making dinner or give you something to sip with friends. If you're cooking, working on a hobby, or catching up with someone, you may want to relax without getting so high that you lose interest in doing much else. 

If you really are done for the night, you might feel differently. Maybe your back has been bothering you since lunch, but the product you prefer for pain also makes you drowsy. Or you've kept your dose low during the day because you had work to finish and places to be. But now that you're home and the day’s obligations are behind you, you may finally be able to use the product or dose you've been saving for later.

Some Consumers Prefer Cannabis Right Before Bed

Another 10% of respondents said they prefer consuming cannabis right before bed. 

Sleep support can mean a few different things. You could be exhausted but unable to shut your brain off. Maybe it's an aching back or another source of pain that gets a whole lot harder to ignore once you've laid down for bed. Or it might be that you fall asleep just fine only to find yourself wide awake again at 3 a.m. 

If falling asleep is the problem, an edible that takes hours to kick in isn't much help unless you have the dose early. Someone who knows their usual gummy takes about an hour might take it at 9 while they're brushing their teeth or watching one last episode. Smoking and vaping can be a fast-acting alternative that work within minutes.

Someone who wakes up repeatedly, on the other hand, may be thinking just as much about how long the effects last as how quickly they start. While edibles can take 30 minutes to two hours to kick in, their effects generally last much longer, making them a more popular option for consumers who have trouble sleeping throughout the night.

Ingredients and dosage also matter when consuming cannabis before bed. You might know from experience that 5 mg makes you drowsy, while 10 mg leaves you feeling it well into the next morning. Some consumers may prefer THC-rich products at night, while others find they feel more rested the next morning if they took a gummy containing CBD, CBN, melatonin, or a combination of ingredients. 

If you aren’t sure where to start, consider keeping a cannabis journal. Some consumers find that certain combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes are more effective than reaching for anything labeled “indica.” There isn't one strain, cannabinoid, or dose that works best for sleep, so knowing what has worked for you before can be a smart place to start.

One in Ten Consumers Start Their Day With Cannabis

About 10% of respondents chose the morning as their favorite time to consume cannabis. That's almost the same number who picked right before bed. The difference is that at 8 a.m., you've still got an entire day ahead of you.

If you use cannabis for morning pain, nausea, or anxiety, you may be looking for some relief without getting so high that answering emails or getting out the door suddenly feels like a project. If too much THC makes it hard to concentrate, you might consider a smaller dose or reaching for something with more CBD and less THC. If you've got somewhere to drive, THC may be better saved for another time.

How long the effects last is worth considering, too. A larger THC edible before breakfast could leave you feeling the intoxicating effects well into the afternoon, which may be exactly what you don't want on a busy day. A low-dose tincture lets you measure out a smaller amount, while smoking or vaping kicks in quickly enough that you aren't waiting an hour or two to see how you feel and if you’ve had too much.

And then there's coffee. If caffeine and cannabis are both part of your morning, it helps to know how the combination affects you before assuming the usual amount of either will feel the same together. 

One Third of Consumers Use Cannabis Throughout the Day

About one in three respondents (33%) said they consume cannabis throughout the day, making it the second most popular response in the poll. That doesn't necessarily mean getting high first thing in the morning and staying that way until bed. You may still have emails to answer, errands to run, dinner to make, and plenty of other things that you’d rather do without feeling too intoxicated.

Maybe you've learned that 2.5 mg takes the edge off without making your inbox impossible to deal with, while 5 mg is better saved until you're done working. Microdosing can let consumers use very small amounts of THC at a time, while a product with more CBD than THC may appeal to someone trying to achieve specific results without becoming intoxicated. 

You might switch things up as the day goes on, too. A low-dose tincture could work for the morning, followed by a few sips of a cannabis drink later in the day. Once you're home with nothing left on the schedule, maybe that's when the higher-THC product comes out. What feels manageable on a quiet morning at home might be completely different when you've got a 1 p.m. meeting on the calendar.

Just don't forget about what you had earlier. A morning tincture, a little THC after lunch, and another dose a few hours later can add up. Using a cannabis journal to note the product, dose, and time can help you figure out where your sweet spot is and avoid accidentally taking more than you meant to.

Very Few Respondents Chose the Afternoon

Just five respondents, or about 1.5% of the poll, chose the afternoon as their favorite time to consume cannabis. By 2 or 3 p.m., you may be ready for a break, but the day isn't necessarily done with you yet. There could still be another few hours of work, errands to run, or somewhere you need to drive before you can call it a day. And if you're using cannabis for pain, stress, or another symptom, you may be looking for some relief without turning the rest of the afternoon into a wash.

For many, afternoon cannabis use may resemble a morning microdose more than an evening edible. Maybe you've learned that 1 or 2.5 mg of THC takes the edge off, while anything more has you rereading the same email three times. If you have an important meeting coming up or need to drive later, you may decide to hold off altogether.

An edible may not fully kick in for an hour or two, so taking one at noon could mean feeling the strongest effects right when you're trying to finish the workday. You might skip the edible altogether and sip a low-dose cannabis drink instead, taking it slowly and stopping once you're where you want to be. A sublingual tincture can also give you more control over exactly how much THC you're taking and how quickly you feel the effects.

For Many, Cannabis Consumption Depends on the Situation

Not everyone had a favorite time of day. About 9% of respondents chose “depends on what I’m using it for.” Sometimes you want to relax. Other times you still want to be social, creative, or productive.

Say you've got a free afternoon and finally want to spend a few hours painting, playing guitar, or getting back to a hobby. You may be perfectly happy with a little THC and not especially worried about feeling high. If you’re about to meet your sister’s fiancé for the first time, you might approach things differently. You might keep the dose lower, reach for something with more CBD, or slowly sip a low-dose cannabis drink to relax without getting too high.

The product, dose, and timing that helps relieve stress may not be the same that boost your energy for a social night out. If you want long-lasting effects, a properly dosed edible might be the ticket. But if you need fast relief, an inhalable or sublingual with faster uptake may make more sense.

Finding What Works for You

If there's anything to take from the poll, it's that cannabis consumption doesn't look the same from one person, or even one day, to the next. 

You might keep things light when you've got work to do, save a stronger dose for when you're home for the night, or change what you use depending on how you’re feeling and what you want to accomplish in the next few hours. 

Figuring out what works for you can take some trial and error. For many, a cannabis journal takes the guesswork out of each session. However you prefer to enjoy cannabis, paying attention to the dose, product, and timing gives you everything you need to find the best options for your personal tastes and preferences.

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.