Marijuana Edibles: Dosage

 

Determining appropriate dosages of edible cannabis is complicated not only by variations in individual reactions to a given product, as noted earlier, but also by variabilities in processing and labeling. A California study sampled some 75 commercially available edible products obtained from dispensaries in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. These included baked goods, beverages, candies and chocolates with package labels that provided specific THC content.

The authors reported that: 

Of the 75 products purchased, 17% were accurately labeled, 23% were under-labeled, and 60% were over-labeled with respect to THC content. Non-THC content was generally low. Forty-four products (59%) had detectable levels of CBD; only 13 had CBD content labeled. Four products were under-labeled and 9 were over-labeled for CBD. The median THC:CBD ratio of products with detectable CBD was 36:1, 7 had ratios of less than 10:1, and only 1 had a 1:1 ratio.

They went on to conclude: 

Edible cannabis products from 3 major metropolitan areas, though unregulated, failed to meet basic label accuracy standards for pharmaceuticals. Greater than 50% of products evaluated had significantly less cannabinoid content than labeled, with some products containing negligible amounts of THC. Such products may not produce the desired medical benefit. Other products contained significantly more THC than labeled, placing patients at risk of experiencing adverse effects. Because medical cannabis is recommended for specific health conditions, regulation and quality assurance are needed.

Inaccuracy in labeling is due to a number of factors, including the lack of standardization in formulation, variations in quality control occurring during the production process, and the manner in which the product is handled and stored. This variability, particularly in home-made and small-batch products, highlights the importance of obtaining edible cannabis from known and regulated sources.

Current best practices for the administration of edible forms of medical marijuana rely on the process known as titration. This process is described in an advisory for health care professionals published by the Canadian Government which advises that:

Patients with no prior experience with cannabis and initiating cannabis therapy for the first time are cautioned to begin at the very lowest dose and to stop therapy if unacceptable or undesirable side effects occur.

Consumers of edibles should a very minimum of 30 minutes, but preferably 3 hours, between bites of cannabis-based oral products (e.g. cookies, baked goods) to gauge for strength of effects or for possible overdosing.

Subsequent dose escalation should be done slowly, once experience with the subjective effects is fully appreciated, to effect or tolerability. If intolerable adverse effects appear without significant benefit, dosing should be tapered and stopped.

There are no universal standards for THC content in what is considered a single-dose serving of edible cannabis.  The California Department of Public Health has stipulated that single-serving edibles products cannot exceed 10 milligrams of THC and packages of edibles could not exceed 100 milligrams of THC. Colorado, Washington, and Canada have set similar standards, but these limits can be deceiving to unaware consumers, as some products such as chocolate bars may represent multiple servings.

A report commissioned by the Colorado Department of Revenue based on clinical research findings suggests that 1mg of THC in an edible product creates similar effects to 5.7 mg of THC in smokable marijuana. Canada has also created general guidelines for both smoked and edible cannabis used for medical purposes. The most concise figures in these guidelines apply to pharmaceutical oils such as Marinol, with patients taking an average daily dose of 20 mg TCH, with a recommended daily maximum dose of 40 mg THC.

If you wish to buy marijuana edibles then reach out to your nearby dispensary in Keystone Colorado. You can find a variety of edibles over there.