Determining the right amount of cannabis to match your ideal dosage can be challenging. This is especially true for medical marijuana users who require precise THC dosages. In fact, medical marijuana dosage remains an often ambiguous topic for many people, even for physicians who must contend with limited lab-based results, stigmas and the many factors that influence how a patient will experience a prescribed dose.
That said, professionals are improving along with laws. That result is on display in New York State, where once restricting medical cannabis laws are now catching up to more open and accessible medical markets. With more access comes more information, and thanks to the improved landscape, New York patients can receive better information, including proper dosage help.
Read on if you, or someone you know, is looking to safely modify their medical marijuana dosage under New York law.
Does New York's Medical Marijuana Program Dictate Dosage?
Like many states, New York has spent several years revising its once restrictive cannabis market. For example, despite legalizing medical use in 2014, the state didn't add PTSD to its qualifying conditions list until 2017. Improvements have been ongoing in the years since. And more recently the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) expanded its medical cannabis eligibility criteria while increasing supply limits.
Unlike some states, neither New York nor the OCM placed dosage caps on patients. Instead, the decision is up to your doctor.
So where does that leave New York medical cannabis patients?
Some pill-based cannabis products offer precise dosage, or about as close as we can in cannabis so far. However, most products are unable to provide accurate dosage. And unlike Tylenol or Aspirin, cannabis is far from one-size-fits-all when it comes to dose amount. Progress is underway, with some consensus among medical practitioners on how to dose for conditions like chronic pain. Still, the research is far from complete and notes that an array of factors - including intake method, product strength, and user metabolism - play a part in a person's ideal dosage.
In short, cannabis dosage is difficult.
The current scenario makes it difficult for medical and recreational cannabis consumers. Finding the right amount of CBD dosage is just as tricky as it can be for THC, Rick Simpson Oil, and edibles.
With the patient having the best idea of what dose size works best for them, how should New Yorkers go about modifying their dosage?
Talk to Your Doctor About Increasing or Decreasing Dosage.
It is always best to consult with a medical professional if your current dosage isn’t working. In New York, qualified cannabis physicians take a strategic approach to helping patients find a consistent dose and better understand its effects. Still, like other fields of medicine, from mental health to post-surgical treatment, cannabis dosing is often an inexact science when starting out. As a result, many patients are turning to cannabis pharmacists at their local medical marijuana dispensary for additional guidance regarding product selection and dosage.
It is quite common to find cannabis patients requesting a modification to their approved THC dosage after receiving their medical approval. While many seek larger doses, it isn't unusual to see physicians lowering a patient's recommended amount. This is particularly true for newcomers to cannabis who might not respond well to 10mg or higher.
Whether you received your recommendation in person or through NuggMD, a New York doctor can help your dosage in two ways:
- Providing deeper analysis to determine the ideal precise single-size dose for your needs
- Adjusting your recommended 60-day supply to adequately address your needs.
Are There Standard Dosage Recommendations for THC and CBD?
Universal dosage standards don't exist in cannabis today. What works for one certainly won't work for all. This can overwhelm new consumers, especially someone using cannabis for medical purposes. Consider the following if you find yourself in this situation.
Dosage Charts & Help: CBD, THC, Edibles, and RSO
Just like a person’s ideal dosage, cannabis strength, better known as potency, varies greatly. The strain, and how the cannabis plant is grown, play a significant factor. Another crucial factor is the type of cannabis product – flower isn't as potent as most edibles or cartridges, which can vary greatly in their effects.
With concentrates, a "mild" product often hovers around 60% THC. Then there's flower, where a "mild" strain can register close to 10% THC. Meanwhile, a microdose edible carries 1-2.5mg of THC – a completely different way of measuring product potency due to how it enters the digestive system.
The dosage chart below provides general information for your cannabis consultation. Please remember that this is not meant as a recommendation for how much or how frequently to consume. Again, always consult your trusted physician whenever possible.
| Product | Common Dosage Guidance |
| Flower | Take one puff then wait 15 minutes before consuming more. 10% THC or less is considered mild, and may be a recommended starting place for beginners. Over 20% THC is a strong dose, and even regular medical marijuana consumers may prefer lower strength. |
| Concentrates & RSO | Take one pull from your vape pen then wait 15 minutes before consuming more. Beginners may wish to start with “low” potency extracts (closer to 60% THC or CBD). Dabbing is best reserved for veteran consumers, and it’s recommended you start with a small scoop the size of a grain of rice to avoid taking too much. |
| Edibles | Take 2-5mg of THC (or CBD) then wait up to 2 hours for the dose to be fully absorbed before taking another dose. Edible effects can last longer than other methods, but also take longer to feel. As such, test small increases to dosage (just 1-2mg more) and resist the temptation to take two full doses if one wasn’t sufficient. |
Medical Marijuana Dosage Tips to Keep in Mind
Before consulting with your doctor, consider the various factors that could be contributing to your dosage and its effects.
Intake Method: Find What Works for You
How you consume the product is critical. Consider the various methods and how they may or may not suit your desired effects. For example:
- Vaping concentrates provides quick relief, but the higher THC dosage can be overwhelming to some.
- Edibles often provide longer-lasting results at a substantial dosage level, similar to extracted cannabis. However, effects can take 30-120 minutes for some, which can lead to some patients re-dosing too soon.
- Topicals can offer near-immediate, localized effects, often without any psychoactive effects. However, a more frequent application may be required.
Dose Size: Start Low, Go Slow
When in doubt, it's always best to exercise caution. Doctors often use a similar approach, scaling up dosage as needed and in a controlled manner. No matter the case, it's recommended that newcomers take one dose and wait 30-60 minutes before deciding if they need an additional or higher amount. This helps prevent developing a higher tolerance, thus limiting the need for higher dose medicine or buying more products at the dispensary.
Your physician will assess your medical history and help determine what dose of cannabis should work best for you. In some rarer cases involving regular, higher-dose consumers, a doctor may recommend a tolerance break instead of increasing your dosage.
Daily Wellness: Food & Hydration
A person's daily diet and hydration levels can also affect how the medication works. Many cannabis patients keep nutrition journals to track how their diet, hydration and medication may affect their results. If you find yourself questioning your dosage amounts, document your diet and provide as much information as possible to your physician. Doing so should help you best determine your ideal dosage.
Product Selection: MMJ Dosage is About More Than Just THC
THC dosage is far from the only plant component playing a factor in your medical marijuana dosage. Consider the whole plant profile, including total cannabinoids and terpenes. Every plant compound plays a part, which is why strains are so unique and varied in effects.
Even "minor" cannabinoids like CBN or CBG are of great importance. A strain's terpene ratio will often feature prominent compounds like myrcene, limonene, and pinolene. Each adds nuance to a strain and the complexity surrounding the ideal dosage. These reasons are often cited by MMJ patients who stick to particular products or strains for insomnia, stress, or pain relief rather than continuing to sample new products.
What Works for Someone Else Might Not Work for You
Remember that cannabis consumption and dosing are unique to each person. Factors like age, genetics, metabolism, and personal tolerance all factor into the equation. That is why you must talk to your doctor before adjusting MMJ dosages.
Your tolerance is affected by internal factors as well as the plant profile. The fewer receptors you have, the higher the dose you'll likely need. The more receptors, the lower the dose that may be required to achieve the desired effects. Receptor totals vary by person and change over time. Like the cannabis plant, we don't fully understand these causes. There is a belief that many non-cannabis factors also play a part, including your general health and nutrition.
No matter the starting point, your tolerance will grow in time. With numerous variables, don't let blogs be your deciding factor (even if written by a dashingly handsome writer with years of experience covering the industry). Medical professionals know best, and in New York, the laws are now in your favor than ever before.
Have more questions about medical cannabis in New York? Visit NuggMD's New York MMJ Patient Guide. There you can learn how to get a med card in NY - or renew your MMJ card - using our fast and easy process, all from the comfort of your home.
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.
