Delta-8 THC has become an increasingly popular cannabinoid for its mild psychoactive effects. But with its growing popularity, many are wondering just how much delta-8 they should be taking to achieve their desired effects. The answer depends on a variety of factors like your body chemistry, tolerance, and the potency of the delta-8 product. This article will examine how delta-8 works, dosing considerations, and provide dosage recommendations so you can figure out the ideal delta-8 dosage for you.
What is Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 THC is one of over 100 cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant. It is an isomer of CBD and delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana that gets you “high.”
Delta-8 occurs naturally in tiny concentrations in most strains of cannabis. Concentrations are often increased through selective breeding and conversion of CBD isolate into delta-8 distillate. This allows companies to produce and sell hemp-derived delta-8 products legally, as long as the delta-9 THC remains below 0.3%.
Like delta-9 THC, delta-8 binds to the endocannabinoid system’s CB1 receptors, which produces psychoactive effects. However, delta-8 tends to produce a milder high with less anxiety, paranoia, and sedation compared to delta-9 THC.
Potential effects of delta-8 include:
– Euphoria
– Relaxation
– Appetite stimulation
– Reduced nausea
– Improved sleep
– Pain relief
Delta-8 comes in various forms like vapes, tinctures, edibles, and flower that can be smoked or vaped. The delivery method impacts how quickly effects set in and how long they last.
Dosage Considerations
There are a few important factors to consider when determining your ideal delta-8 dosage:
Tolerance
If you use delta-8 often, you’ll need higher doses to feel the desired effects compared to new users with no prior exposure. First time users with zero tolerance will feel strong effects from doses as low as 5-10mg. On the other hand, regular users may need upwards of 50mg or more to get similar results.
Body Chemistry
Our bodies all metabolize and respond to delta-8 differently based on factors like weight, diet, hydration levels, genetics, and more. Heavier set people typically need larger doses than smaller set people. The effects also vary drastically depending on if you take it on a full vs. empty stomach. Be prepared to experiment to find the sweet spot for you.
Delivery Method
Smoking or vaping delta-8 provides the fastest effects within minutes, but they fade quick. Edibles and tinctures take 1-2 hours to fully kick in, but the effects tend to linger much longer. When eating delta-8, be patient, start low, and wait it out to avoid taking too much.
Delta-8 Concentration
The potency or concentration of delta-8 also determines ideal dosing. Vape cartridges and tinctures can range from 500mg up to 1500mg or more of delta-8 per 10mL bottle. Similarly, gummies usually contain 10-50mg of delta-8 each. Check lab tests and packaging to know the potency so you can properly dose.
Personal Reaction
It’s impossible to predict exactly how delta-8 will affect each person. It’s important to start low and increase slowly over time to learn how delta-8 affects you personally before taking higher doses. Some may be more sensitive and prone to anxiety or paranoia at higher doses. Others may enjoy stronger effects with no issues. Take it slow to assess your response.
Delta-8 Dosage Chart
Here is a general dosage chart for how much delta-8 to take based on tolerance level and delivery method:
Low Tolerance (No prior cannabis use)
– Vape: 1-3 puffs
– Tincture: 2-5mg
– Edibles: 2-5mg
Medium Tolerance (Occasional cannabis use)
– Vape: 3-5 puffs
– Tincture: 5-10mg
– Edibles: 5-15mg
High Tolerance (Frequent/daily cannabis use)
– Vape: 5-8 puffs
– Tincture: 10-20mg
– Edibles: 15-50mg
These are just general guidelines to give you a starting point for experimenting with delta-8 based on your tolerance. You may need more or less than recommended to achieve your desired effects.
Ideal Delta-8 Dosage Based on Use
Here are some more specific delta-8 dosage recommendations based on the effects you’re looking for:
Mild euphoria and relaxation
Great for new users or casual use during the daytime.
– Vape: 1-5 puffs
– Tincture: 2-10mg
– Edibles: 2-10mg
Enhanced focus and creativity
Good for using delta-8 in small doses for a mental boost without feeling heavily impaired.
– Vape: 1-3 puffs
– Tincture: 2-5mg
– Edibles: 2-5mg
Reduce anxiety or stress
Higher doses may be warranted to combat anxiety disorders or high stress.
– Vape: 3-8 puffs
– Tincture: 10-20mg
– Edibles: 10-15mg
Improve sleep
The sedating effects can help you fall asleep faster and sleep deeper.
– Vape: 3-5 puffs
– Tincture: 10-20mg
– Edibles: 10-15mg
Pain relief
Higher doses maximize the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
– Vape: 5-10 puffs
– Tincture: 15-30mg
– Edibles: 15-50mg
Appetite stimulation
Ramp up hunger levels with moderately high doses before meals.
– Vape: 5-10 puffs
– Tincture: 15-30mg
– Edibles: 15-30mg
Starting Low and Going Slow
When trying delta-8 from a new source or batch for the first time, it’s essential to start with a low dose and increase slowly over time. This allows you to learn how you respond personally before taking larger amounts.
Factors like how recently you ate, your mood, energy levels, and environment can all impact your reaction on any given day. What felt like a perfect dose one day may be too much or too little the next time based on these variables.
Start with one puff of a vape, 2-5mg of a tincture, or half of one edible. See how that initial dose affects you after 30 minutes to an hour. From there, increase by small increments of 2-5mg until you reach your optimal dosage for the desired effects.
Proper dosing requires a bit of trial and error, patience, and self-control. It’s better to take too little initially than to overdo it. You can always safely take a little more as needed, but you can’t undo taking too much.
Finding Your Sweet Spot
With some experimentation, you’ll eventually find your own personal “sweet spot” – that perfect dosage that provides the effects you want without going overboard. Many delta-8 users report finding their sweet spot in the 15-30mg range. But your ideal dosage could be lower or higher based on the above factors.
The sweet spot is where you feel relaxed, euphoric, and blissful without extreme intoxication. You may feel slightly impaired physically and cognitively but can still function and partake in activities. There’s no anxiety, paranoia, headaches, or other negative side effects.
Hitting your optimal dosage takes some self-awareness. Track your doses and how they make you feel each time. If you feel overwhelmed with any dose, scale back to a lower amount next time. Also, take tolerance breaks as needed to reset and keep dosages from gradually creeping up.
Maximum Dosage
Experts advise not exceeding 50mg of delta-8 in a single dose, especially for those new to cannabis products. Doses above 50mg substantially increase the risk of undesirable side effects like:
– Sedation
– Dizziness
– Nausea
– Racing heart rate
– Paranoia
– Anxiety
– Confusion
While each person will have a different maximum dosage based on individual factors, limiting yourself to 50mg or less until you understand delta-8’s effects on you is recommended.
For therapeutic benefits without unwanted side effects, most people find a dose between 20-50mg to be their upper limit before negative effects occur. Consuming over 100mg of delta-8 begins to enter dangerous territory with potentially toxic reactions.
Special Considerations
Delta-8 dosage recommendations largely depend on your body chemistry and cannabis tolerance. However, there are some additional factors to keep in mind:
New Users
If you have little to no previous cannabis experience, it’s imperative to start very low with delta-8 at 1-3mg and wait at least 2 hours before increasing your dose. The effects can be much more intense due to zero tolerance built up.
Women
Research shows that women tend to be more sensitive to THC than men at comparable doses. Females may want to start on the lower end of recommendations and increase slower over time.
Teenagers
Delta-8 use is unsafe for anyone underage. THC consumption while the brain is still developing may impair cognition, memory, learning, and mental health.
Elderly
Seniors process cannabinoids slower than younger adults. They should start with very low doses of 2-5mg delta-8 and wait at least 3 hours before taking more.
Underlying Conditions
If you have anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other health conditions, discuss delta-8 use with your doctor first, as THC may exacerbate symptoms. If approved, start low and go slow monitoring for any adverse reactions.
Risks of Delta-8 Overdose
While death from THC consumption alone is unlikely, taking extremely high doses of delta-8 substantially increases the risks of overdose with the following possible adverse effects:
– Vomiting
– Cold sweats
– Palpitations
– Paranoia
– Dizziness
– Difficulty breathing
– Chest pain
– Headaches
– Anxiety or panic attacks
– Hallucinations
– Psychosis
– Seizures
If you or someone you know ever experiences signs of delta-8 overdose, seek medical attention immediately. You can’t fatally overdose on delta-8 alone, but extremely high doses taken via edibles, vapes, or tinctures can result in a very unpleasant trip.
Overdosing symptoms normally fade within 6-8 hours as the delta-8 leaves your system. But severe reactions can be dangerous without proper monitoring and treatment in extreme cases. To avoid overdose, follow dosage guidelines carefully and never drive or operate heavy machinery when trying higher new doses.
Developing a Delta-8 Tolerance
With regular use over time, you’ll start needing to take incrementally higher doses to achieve the same effects as your body develops a tolerance to delta-8. This happens as the receptors in your endocannabinoid system become used to frequent stimulation by delta-8.
Tolerance build up is different for everyone based on factors like:
– How often you take it
– The dosage amount
– Your body chemistry
– Potency of the specific product
For example, someone using 50mg of delta-8 multiple times per day will develop tolerance much faster than someone microdosing 5mg once in a while.
Signs your delta-8 tolerance is building include:
– Taking your usual dosage but not feeling as strong effects
– Needing to use more to reach your desired effects
– Withdrawal symptoms when stopping heavy use like appetite changes, irritability, insomnia, etc.
To keep your tolerance from climbing rapidly, avoid taking large doses multiple times per day. Regular users should also take periodic tolerance breaks of 1-2 weeks to allow receptors to reset to baseline sensitivity.
Properly managing tolerance is crucial to avoiding escalating dosage amounts. Tolerance to delta-8 can develop at different rates for each person. Pay close attention to your individual response.
How to Lower Delta-8 Tolerance
If your delta-8 tolerance has built up to the point you need to take very high doses to feel anything, it’s time to lower it. Here are some effective strategies for reducing tolerance:
Take a Tolerance Break
Completely stopping delta-8 use for 1-2 weeks or longer allows cannabinoid receptors to fully bounce back to pre-use sensitivity levels. For heavy users, a month or more may be needed for a proper reset.
Reduce Frequency of Use
Cut back on usage to taking delta-8 just 1-2 times per week instead of daily. Giving receptors several days off in between doses prevents tolerance build up.
Lower Dosage
When you resume use after a t-break, start back at lower doses to prevent immediately regaining tolerance. Find the lowest amount that provides effects without quickly ramping up dosage again.
Change Delivery Method
Rotating between vaping, edibles, and tinctures keeps receptors from getting used to any one method and delays tolerance spikes.
Use CBD
Mixing pure CBD flower or isolate into your delta-8 vape or joints helps modulate effects and prevent tolerance. CBD has counteractive properties to THC without causing a high of its own.
Proper delta-8 tolerance management prevents you from eventually wasting product taking mega doses just to catch a light buzz. Resetting tolerance safely maximizes its therapeutic benefits.
Delta-8 THC Drug Testing
Standard drug tests cannot differentiate delta-8 THC from delta-9 THC. Delta-8 can cause you to fail a marijuana drug screening even though it is legal in most states. Avoid taking delta-8 if you are subject to any drug testing for work, legal, school, or athletic purposes. Look for broad spectrum hemp extracts that contain zero THC if you need to pass a drug test.
Is Delta-8 Legal?
Delta-8 derived from hemp is currently legal at the federal level, but some states have banned or restricted its sale. Delta-8 remains illegal in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont and Utah. Check your local laws before purchasing any delta-8 products.
Conclusion
Figuring out your ideal delta-8 THC dosage takes some experimentation. Carefully track your personalized reactions starting low and increasing slowly. Multiple factors like tolerance, metabolism, and more determine how much delta-8 you need for desired effects without unwanted side effects. Use dosage guidelines based on delivery method and your experience level. Limit usage to 50mg or less until you understand delta-8’s effects on you. Monitor and properly manage tolerance over time through t-breaks and moderation. With some trial and error, you’ll find your own sweet spot dosage to enjoy delta-8’s benefits fully and responsibly.