The Benefits of Microdosing Weed
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I’m going to be honest when I say that upon hearing about microdosing pot, I was very skeptical. As someone who has enjoyed joint after joint, smoking little bits at a time just seemed ineffective. I assume anyone with a high tolerance will think likewise.
Yet, as mentioned in a previous article, there have been moments in which I have experienced anxiety from too much THC. To top it off, I’m in the midst of a period of my life where my responsibilities are heightened; therefore, lightening my cannabis consumption.
With this, I inevitably began smoking less and less to a point where my tolerance has been lowered quite a bit. And I naturally began to microdose.
To be fair, I was a little upset that I couldn’t spend hours upon hours with my friends getting as high as I used to. However, I am starting to see why many people are changing their smoking habits in this manner.
Before I begin, I want to pinpoint that I’m completely aware microdosing isn’t for everyone.
To all the stoners who love their multiple blunt sessions a day, this article is probably not for you. But for people who are either looking to change their smoking habits or desiring to start one, microdosing should certainly be considered as an option.
To further this up, microdosing with weed—compared to microdosing with stronger psychedelics, such as LSD or psilocybin—is much different. Science has shown that marijuana can safely and healthily be consumed on a daily basis; whereas stronger psychedelics are still in question.
Plus, the sensations one should expect to feel are greatly divergent.
What Is A Weed Microdose?
In order to truly understand the benefits of microdosing with marijuana, we should first figure out exactly what a microdose is. Simply put, it’s intaking very small amounts of marijuana in order to still feel perceptible sensations.
It should be noted, though, that since this is not a regular dose, the “high” threshold is not surpassed. Therefore, it’s a sub-perceptible sensation that doesn’t completely take over your thought process. For the good majority of those who partake in microdosing, this sensation is considered being on the verge of a high.
The only way to understand this feeling is by trying a microdose for yourself. However, this feeling will most certainly vary from person to person. Not only due to the fact people react to highs differently, but also because much of what you’ll feel depends on your tolerance. The higher one’s tolerance, the less they’ll feel and vice versa.
With this information, we can get a sense as to why there are a versatile amount of benefits to microdosing. Some people may profit from the fact that it’s less overwhelming than a regular high. Others might find that they can gain a certain productivity by microdosing throughout the day.
Since marijuana remains a psychedelic substance, it allows people to work their brains within realms that can’t be reached without psychoactive chemicals. And with a microdose, one has the ability to not only reach those realms, but also control them.
The Medical And Professional Advantages Of Microdosing
Many people are looking towards cannabis to treat mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression and insomnia. Since the medical system is so widely different from state-to-state and research has only begun within the last couple decades, doctors are still pretty uncertain about how well THC can affect the above-mentioned illnesses.
However, the research has found a trend: Less tends to be more.
In a study published in the Journal of Pain, a small group of cancer patients who were showing inactivity to traditional painkillers was given a THC/CBD compound known as nabiximols. Each was given different doses from low to medium to high. The results showed that those who were given a low dose experienced the least amount of pain, while those who had taken the high doses experienced the most.
This is only one of a couple of studies that have all shown the same results.
In terms of medical issues, low amounts of cannabis have proven to be more advantageous than high doses. Reason being is people who aren’t used to THC don’t feel so overwhelmed by its psychoactive symptoms.
It should be noted that there are instances where some patients are in necessity of higher doses due to the amount of pain they are experiencing. But when the treatment is winding down and the patient is coming to their healing period, they are usually only given microdoses.
As discussed before, state-by-state medical marijuana laws vary greatly.
Therefore, it may be difficult for certain individuals to discover medical cannabis. However, if you are seeking out a treatment, the following illnesses have proven to be relieved in some fashion through weed.
- Severe weight loss
- Chronic pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anxiety
- Sleeping disorders
- Arthritis
- Migraines
- HIV/AIDS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Glaucoma
A question that often comes up about microdosing is whether it’s healthy to do so on a daily basis or not.
Presumably, it’s safe to smoke any amount of pot on a daily basis. The only difference with microdosing is you won’t be affected by the high as much. With that, there are some other contrasts. For example, people who smoke pot more often, usually sleep more.
Inevitably, microdosing leads to a number of different scenarios for a variety of people.
An artist may find themselves more creative when they verge themselves on a high before a project. Professionals have found themselves more productive, focused and less anxious in terms of their work. And some people just enjoy using it as a means for relief after a long day of labor. This is far from the lazy stoner stereotype of yesteryear.
It’s fairly well known that developers in Silicon Valley are microdosing psychedelics, as a means of thinking intricately about their creations. Though they’re more well-known for hallucinogens, such as LSD or magic mushrooms, marijuana is, likewise, finding its efficiency for spreading freshly inventive ideas.
How to Consume
As we know, there are a variety of ways to consume cannabis. And due to this, there’s going to be a variety of ways to microdose. Depending on your preference, there are three general methods people choose from.
It should be kept in mind that five milligrams is usually the recommended microdose. Depending on your tolerance, you may want to up or down that scale. Ten milligrams is generally considered a microdose for those with a little more experience.
Smoking
For those who don’t know much about microdosing, it’s very easy to jump into a smoke session without any knowledge of how much cannabis is being consumed.
In fact, combustion of weed gives the user the least amount of control over their dosage size. And smoking often can manipulate the psychoactive elements of THC.
Vaporizing
This is a considerably safer method in terms of what you’re inhaling and measuring out your dosages. Vaporizers are a fairly new form of intaking THC and—from personal experience—I guarantee the high hits with more of ease than smoking.
Edibles
For non-smokers looking to intake marijuana, edibles have always been the most popular option. Thankfully, the doses are also the easiest to measure. However, it should be noted that the high of an edible hits differently. It gradually builds up, rather than occurring almost instantaneously.
Also, for those unaware, you should ingest an edible while on a full stomach. If not, no matter how much of a dose you consume, it will hit harder.
Final Hit: The Benefits Of Microdosing Weed
With all this knowledge, some may wonder as to why there isn’t more research pushing these ideas. If microdosing has proven to be beneficial in a medical and professional sense, then how come governments aren’t looking into it further? In any progressive society, anything beneficial to such a high degree should be considered for further research.
Unfortunately, marijuana’s stigma is still prohibiting further research.
This may be obvious, but it’s something I often become ignorant to while living in a place like San Francisco, California. However, after meeting a good many who come from places such as Texas, I am beginning to see more and more as to how this stigma is pushed.
Admittedly, weed is often seen as something for a couch potato, a substance that will make you lazy and hungry. Of course, we’ve all had those experiences where a smoke session leaves us glued to comfort. And for some people, that’s all they want in terms of getting high.
Yet, it should be accepted that not everyone looking to get high is looking to be in that sort of position.
It should be accepted that some of us are looking to further abilities through minor mind-altering methods. When I say accepted, I mean, it should be accepted by lawmakers looking to progress our society. If the medical benefits of microdosing aren’t enough of a guarantee, they are still ignoring a number of professionals looking to further their work beyond what we already know.
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