treating even a very serious condition such as Alzheimer’ s might be as low as 500 µ g( 0.5mg). As such, this author recommends starting at 1mg per day for a week. Monitor for symptoms to improve. If they don’ t abate, increase the dosage by 500 µ g( 0.5mg) weekly until symptoms abate.
Calculating the dose is reasonably straightforward with tinctures, at least for those that specify concentration on the label( e. g., 5mg THC per ml). Edibles, such as gummies, might prove less convenient, as they’ ll need to be cut down to size. More challenging still are smoking and vaping, but even these are doable, particularly for the experienced patient. In all cases, it comes down to titration: Start at a low dose and go up slowly until you feel the issue is resolving.
Microdosing isn’ t a be-all-end-all and may not be adequate for the hard cases. For severe physiological maladies, such as cancer and chronic pain, microdosing may not deliver the needed punch. But for the many for whom it works, it’ s a God-send.
Delivery Method |
Onset( typically) |
Duration |
Topical |
5 minutes- 2 hours |
1-12 hours |
Transdermal Patch * |
1-2 hours |
4-12 hours |
Edible |
30 minutes-2 hours |
4-12 hours |
Capsule |
1-2 hours |
4-12 hours |
Tincture / Oil |
10-45 minutes |
2-8 hours |
Smoke Inhalation |
1-5 minutes |
1-6 hours |
Vapor Inhalation |
1-5 minutes |
1-6 hours |
Suppository |
15-60 minutes |
4-8 hours |
Concentrate |
Immediately |
2-8 hours |
* A transdermal patch may last up to 48 hours if it is still in place. |
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Peter Kershaw is a medical cannabis consultant. Contact him at pkershaw. email @ gmail. com As with all writers within these pages, if you’ ve benefited from Peter’ s articles, please let him and all writers know. They appreciate your thoughts.
Notice: The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research, experience and the opinion of the writer. The content is for general informational purposes only. As always, check with your doctor first.
Adult Use Age 21 +. Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.
July 2025 19