Why this guide does not use a dose ladder
Experience labels such as beginner or expert cannot determine a safe amount for an individual. A chart that automatically escalates from a small serving to increasingly high amounts can hide differences between people and products. This guide explains labels without prescribing a personal dose.
Milligrams per serving
Check THC and other cannabinoids per serving, the number of servings, total package content, ingredients and warnings. A package total is not a single-serving recommendation. Match a certificate of analysis to the product and batch number.
Package arithmetic
If a label lists 100mg THC in ten equal servings, each labeled serving contains 10mg THC. If it lists two servings in one piece, that piece contains two servings. Read the manufacturer’s serving instructions; do not assume that a gummy always equals one serving.
Potency percentage is a different measure
A flower percentage describes concentration. Edible milligrams describe an amount of a cannabinoid. There is no dependable puff-to-milligram conversion for an individual consumer.
Timing cannot be standardized
Edible effects can be delayed. CDC describes an onset of 30 minutes to 2 hours, while New York requires a package warning that effects may be delayed 4 or more hours. These are not instructions to take another serving at a fixed time. Taking more before the full effects are known increases the risk of poisoning.
Personal health questions
Retail product names and staff recommendations do not establish a treatment for a health condition. Discuss symptoms, medications and cannabis use with a qualified healthcare professional. Do not change prescribed treatment based on this guide.
When to seek help
If cannabis causes an adverse reaction or there is accidental exposure, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for an emergency. Stop consuming, do not drive and avoid other substances. Ask a trusted person to stay with you. Do not rely on CBD, pepper or other home remedies instead of medical advice.
