From discretion to ease of use, there are many reasons why cannabis shoppers reach for our selection of tinctures. But if you’re new to this unique cannabis product, calculating dosages may seem a bit intimidating. Don’t sweat it—we’re here for you! Take a deep dive with us and start learning how to properly dose your tinctures from the get-go.
Calculating Tincture Dosage
The first step to dosing a cannabis tincture is to figure out how many milligrams of active cannabinoids there are in each dropper. To do this, look for the total THC or CBD-milligram count labeled in the tincture brand’s lab reports. Then, find out how many milliliters there are in the full tincture bottle—this information should be printed right on its packaging. With these data points, you can divide the total milligrams by the total milliliters to determine the potency of each millimeter. For example:
If a tincture has 100 mg of THC in a 20 mL bottle, it will result in 5 mg of THC per 1 mL—or 100 mg THC divided by 20 mL.
Typically, a dropper holds about one milliliter of liquid or roughly 20 drops. You can use this as a direct reference if your product specifies a potency per dropper. Otherwise, you could run the potency you found per milliliter to figure out how much THC or CBD is in each drop.
Using the example above, if you divide 5 mg of THC by 20 drops, you can determine there’s 0.25 mg of the cannabinoid in each drop.
What’s the Right Tincture Dosage for Me?
Now that you know how to estimate the proper cannabinoid dosage per milliliter, how do you put this knowledge into practice? In other words, how do you know what amount of THC or CBD is right for you—especially if you have no prior experience with cannabis?
Unfortunately, giving a simple cookie-cutter answer to this question is impossible. Finding the optimal dosage for you is a personal journey heavily influenced by your endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a significant network of receptors and enzymes that help maintain balance in our bodies. Although every mammal has an ECS, its function varies wildly between individuals, which is why people can experience different responses to the same tincture dose.
Other factors, such as body weight, metabolism, and cannabinoid tolerance, also influence how you experience a THC or CBD tincture. This is why it’s crucial to start with a low dose, monitor the effects, and adjust your concentration gradually. While the slow and steady approach requires some patience, it’s the only way to get dosing right without overdoing it.
Tincture Dosage vs Edible Dosage
When ingesting edibles and tinctures, it’s understandable that one might assume the same dosage rules apply to both products. However, there are nuances to consider before cross-referencing your preferred canna-cookie dosage for a tincture.
Most significantly, you can take tinctures under the tongue—aka sublingually—to achieve a quicker onset. The tongue’s sublingual glands absorb ingredients into the bloodstream almost immediately, so you may feel the tincture’s full potency in about 15 – 35 minutes.
By contrast, edibles always go through the digestive tract before they end up in your bloodstream, so even with a fast metabolism, it’ll take longer for an edible to take effect. Not only that, but you may feel the effects of an edible or ingested tincture hit harder since the liver converts THC into 11-Hydroxy-THC. This more potent metabolite of THC helps explain why edibles sometimes cause a more significant impact than smoking or sublingual consumption.
It’s often advised you take less of a THC edible dosage to start, even if you have some familiarity with other THC products. As for THC tinctures, you should still take low doses to start, but the sublingual method helps avoid the conversion process to 11-Hydroxy-THC and can provide more immediate effects.
Learn more about ingestion versus sublingual consumption methods in our complete guide to using tinctures.
Think About Titration: Tincture Dosing Made Simple
If we had to summarize cannabis tincture dosing in a single concept, “titration” would probably be the best word to use. This term refers to the slow and incremental process of finding your optimal tincture dosage. While it may sound complicated, the titration method is pretty easy to follow:
- Start Low: Begin with the smallest recommended dose or even lower—think 1 – 2 mg to start.
- Go Slow: Wait at least two hours to assess how the dosage impacts your body. Make a note if you notice any impact in a dosing journal.
- Adjust Slowly and Carefully: If you don’t notice the desired effects within at least two hours, you can try increasing your dose by 1 – 2 mg and wait again. It’s best to increase the dosage once per session and wait another day for further experimentation.
- Experiment in Future Sessions: If you found the previous dosage didn’t give the desired effects, start with a slightly higher dose at a new session and wait two hours to see the effects. Keep notes of your experiences in a journal so you know what doses work best and whether there’s an upper threshold to watch out for.
As with all cannabis products, it’s best to start low and go slow to avoid accidental overconsumption. You can always have a little more cannabis, but you can’t have less!
Shop California’s Best Tinctures at Mankind
Exploring cannabis tinctures can be an exciting addition to your daily wellness routine. Since everyone’s body, tolerance, and goals are unique, finding your perfect dose takes a little experimentation—but it’s well worth the effort. Once you dial in your ideal amount, tinctures offer a discreet, smoke-free way to enjoy all the benefits of cannabinoids like THC or CBD.
Want to try premium cannabis tincture for yourself? We’ve got you covered! Check out our live menu to explore our extensive selection of lab-tested products and other cannabis goodies. Shop in-store, order online for pickup, or take advantage of our fast delivery service, which brings San Diego’s best cannabis straight to your door.
If you have any questions about tinctures, extracts, or other cannabis-related topics, we’re here to help! Visit our dispensary to chat with our knowledgeable team, or contact us anytime.