Delta 9 THC Dosage: How Much Should You Take?

Delta 9 THC was legalized nationwide in 2018, which opened the door for many people to begin using it for therapeutic and recreational purposes.

But new users are often apprehensive about how much delta 9 they should take: it’s a psychoactive cannabinoid, and there aren’t any formal dosing guidelines. 

What we do have, though, is anecdotal evidence, and that’s what this article is based on.

We’ve taken our experience serving thousands of customers and consolidated it into a delta 9 dosage guide, complete with a calculator, chart, and formulas. 

Now you’ll have the information you need to take delta 9 with confidence.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Beginners can start by taking 2mg-5mg delta 9 THC
• Experienced connoisseurs can take doses of 30mg of more delta 9 THC at once
• Using our delta 9 dosage formulas, calculator, and chart helps to render a more precise dosage for your weight and desired use

What is Delta 9 THC?

Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9 THC or delta 9) is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis sativa plant. 

Delta 9 is the cannabinoid most people are referring to when they say “THC”; it’s the THC variant most abundant in cannabis, and the one responsible for the plant’s signature psychoactive effects.

Delta 9 THC is associated with feelings of euphoria and relaxation, and it’s been researched for its potential therapeutic uses for pain, sleep, nausea, and more.

When derived from cannabis containing more than 0.3% THC (known to the government as “marijuana’), delta 9 is federally illegal. 

But when delta 9 is derived from hemp, a cannabis variant containing less than 0.3% THC, it’s legal on the federal level.

How Much Delta 9 Should You Take? Factors to Consider

If you’re a beginner, you can start by taking 2-5mg of delta 9 at a time. More experienced users can consume 10-30mg or more of delta 9 in each dose. 

But while these doses provide a starting point, we recommend carefully considering dosing factors, then using formulas to determine the best delta 9 dosage for your unique situation. 

Here’s what we recommend considering when figuring out your dose (our formulas account for the first two factors, as they are the most crucial):

Body Weight

Your weight will determine how much delta 9 you need to take to achieve your desired effects. 

It stands to reason that if person A is twice the weight of person B, person A will need roughly double the amount of delta 9 to feel the same effects.

And it goes beyond common sense: most doses of cannabinoids (and other substances) used in clinical research are weight-based, rather than absolute amounts.

What You’re Using It For

Depending on why you’re using delta 9, you’ll want to approach dosing differently.

If you’re using delta 9 for therapeutic purposes, we recommend starting with a small dose and gradually working your way up. Stop when the effects are strong enough to help you feel comfortable (whether mentally or physically), but not so strong that you get overwhelmed or feel too high.

For recreational use, we’ve provided a starting formula, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you: only you know the specific feeling you’re looking for, and finding it is largely a matter of experimentation.

Tolerance 

If you use psychoactive cannabinoids on a regular basis, you’ve probably built up a tolerance to delta 9. 

If this is the case, you might need more than the recommended starting dosage to get the effects you need or want. 

Likewise, if you’ve never had delta 9 or other psychoactive cannabinoids before, we recommend you stick with the starting dose (or even take slightly less) to avoid being overwhelmed by the effects. 

Body Chemistry

We all have unique body chemistry, and it’s hard to know you’ll react to delta 9 until you’ve tried it (although it is considered safe to use). 

It’s important to keep in mind that you may need more or less delta 9 than other people to feel the same effects; this reason for this won’t always be apparent. 

Delta 9 Dosage by Use

Here’s how much delta 9 we recommend you take to start, depending on why you’re taking it:

Delta 9 dosage for sleep

We recommend starting with a low-strength dose of delta 9 for sleep:

(0.05) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your starting delta 9 dosage for sleep in mg. 

Delta 9 dosage for pain

We recommend starting with a medium-strength dose of delta 9 for pain:

(0.1) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your starting delta 9 dosage for pain in mg. 

Delta 9 dosage for recreation

We recommend starting with a medium-strength dose of delta 9 for recreation:

(0.01) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your starting delta 9 dosage for recreation in mg. 

Delta 9 dosage for medical conditions

If you’re using delta 9 for medical conditions, we recommend consulting a medical professional first. This will help you avoid drug interactions and side effects, which may sometimes be very dangerous.

For general wellness, default to a low-strength dose of delta 9.

Delta 9 Dosage Calculator

Delta 9 Dosage Chart by Weight

How Long Does It Take for Delta 9 to Kick in?

The amount of time it takes delta 9 to kick in depends on how you consume it. 

Edible products take 45 minutes to 1 hour to begin working, sublingual products (oil) take 15-20 minutes, and inhalable products kick in within just 5-10 minutes.

How to Take Delta 9: Dosing Tips by Product

There are a variety of ways you can take delta 9, and we don’t particularly recommend one method over the others. Each one may be a good option, depending on your needs and preferences. Here’s what you need to know about dosing each type of product.*

*For reference, average bioavailability is a measure of the percentage of cannabinoids in a certain delivery method that will actually be used by your body – your body naturally discards some percentage of the substances you consume. 

Delta 9 edibles

Average Bioavailability: 10-20%

Edibles are one of the most popular delta 9 consumption methods. They come in many forms, but delta 9 gummies and delta 9 candy are two of the most common. 

Gummies, in particular, offer a fixed-dose consumption method: each piece will contain the same amount of delta 9. This makes delta 9 gummies ideal if you’re going to be taking the same dose on a regular basis. 

You can also easily split gummies into smaller pieces for a smaller dose.

Delta 9 flower & vapes

Average Bioavailability: 40-50%

Inhalable products, such as THC flower and vapes, offer a faster-acting, more-potent way to consume delta 9. The downside with inhalable consumption methods are the health risks they pose.

Delta 9 capsules

Average Bioavailability: 10-20%

Delta 9 can also be taken in capsule form, which for all intents and purposes functions very similarly to delta 9 edibles. 

The downside to capsules is that, unlike edibles, they can’t be split into smaller pieces if you want to reduce the amount you’re taking. 

Delta 9 oils/tinctures

Average Bioavailability: 20-30%

Delta 9 oil (also sometimes called delta 9 tincture) is a product consisting of carrier oil and delta 9 extract. These products are taken under the tongue and absorbed through the blood vessels in your mouth. 

Oils allow for very precise dosing, as you can measure your dose down to the drop using the metered dropper that comes in most products.

Oils are also slightly more bioavailable than edibles and capsules due to their direct delivery of cannabinoids to the blood vessels.

However, dosing oils can be a bit confusing. Here’s what you need to know:

Generally, oils come with 1-milliliter droppers. Based on the strength of your product, here’s how many milligrams of delta 9 will be in each dropper of oil:

• 100mg bottle = 3.3mg. delta 9 per 1 ml.
• 250mg bottle = 8.3mg. delta 9 per 1 ml.
• 500mg bottle = 16.7mg. delta 9 per 1 ml.
• 1000mg bottle = 33.3mg. delta 9 per 1 ml.
• 1500mg bottle = 50mg. delta 9 per 1 ml.
• 3000mg bottle = 100m. delta 9 per 1 ml.
• 5000mg bottle = 166.6mg delta 9 per 1 ml.

Can You Take Too Much Delta 9?

You can take too much delta 9, but it isn’t fatal. However, doing so can increase the incidence of delta 9’s adverse effects, which include:

• Dizziness & lightheadedness
• Paranoia & anxiety
• An increase in heart rate
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Dry eyes
• Inability to concentrate
• Nausea

To avoid “overdosing” on delta 9, start small and slowly increase your dosage based on how you feel.

Delta 9 Dosage vs. Delta 8 Dosage: How Much to Get the Same Effects?

If you’re taking delta 8 to substitute for delta 9 in a pinch – or the other way around – you’ll need to adjust your dosing based on the relative strength of each cannabinoid.

Since delta 9 is roughly two times as powerful as delta 8, double your dosage if you’re using delta 8 to feel the same effects. 

Likewise, if you’re using delta 9 instead of delta 8, take half as much delta 9 as you would normally take delta 8.

However, be aware that these ratios aren’t exactly accurate for everyone – when in doubt, start with a smaller amount until you know how it works for you, then gradually increase it.

Conclusion: How to Get the Perfect Lift

There isn’t any official guidance on dosing delta 9, so everything we know is based on anecdotal evidence. 

Here are a few closing tips from our experts on how to find a safe, effective delta 9 dose:

• Choose the right product: Depending on your needs, you might want a product that is easy to dose very precisely (e.g. delta 9 oil or delta 9 edibles). 
• Start low and go slow: Starting with very small doses and slowly working your way up is the best way to avoid feeling too many side effects.
• Remember, we’re all different: It’s impossible to know your tolerance and body chemistry before you try delta 9; try to avoid dosing based on your expectations of how a certain amount of delta 9 will make you feel. Instead, experiment, but do so carefully.

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Delta 9 Dosage: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions our customers commonly ask us about delta 9 dosage.

How much delta 9 should I take the first time?

If you’ve never taken delta 9 before, we recommend taking 2-5mg your first time around. We also recommend using the following dosage formula for a more personalized dose: (0.05) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your daily dose of delta 9 in mg.

How much delta 9 should I take to get high?

To feel a high, you can start by taking 10mg of delta 9. However, we recommend using the following formula to get a dose better customized to your weight: (0.1) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your daily dose of delta 9 in mg.

How many mg of delta 9 is too much?

It depends, because very seasoned users frequently take 100mg or more of delta 9 at a time and don’t feel any negative side effects due to their tolerance. 

We recommend staying below 10mg of delta 9 if it’s your first time.

Is 20mg of delta 9 too much?

For beginners, 20mg of delta 9 is too much. However, for more experienced users, 20mg is a frequently-used dose.

Is 5mg of delta 9 too much?

No, 5mg of delta 9 is not too much. In fact, we recommend new users start by taking 2-5mg of delta 9 at a time.

How long does delta 9 last in your system?

If you only take delta 9 occasionally, it will clear your system in just a week. If you take delta 9 frequently, it may stay in your system for up to a month.