Trying cannabis for the first time? Here is a guide on how to find the right tincture for you, how to titrate, and how to find your optimal dose.
If you are trying cannabis for the first time, you may have heard that it’s important to find your optimal dose or right ratio. The most effective way to do so is through a method called titration. Titration is the practice of adjusting your dose in low increments over a period of time to obtain the maximum benefit without adverse effects. For those who want a personalized introduction to cannabis wellness, there is no better way than to start with tinctures. By then end of this article you will have all the tools and tips you need, a tincture dosing guide, and a tincture dosage chart to start your wellness routine.
But first, how do CBD and THC work in the body?
To find your optimal dose, it is important to first understand how CBD and THC will work within your body. Each one of us has an Endocannabinoid System (ECS) that produces endocannabinoids. When dosing with CBD and THC, you are supplementing your ECS with natural phytocannabinoids from the plant to help your body maintain homeostasis. The ECS consists of two primary cannabinoid receptors: CB1 receptors (most concentrated in the central nervous system and brain) and CB2 receptors (abundant in the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and peripheral nervous systems). The natural cannabinoids and phytonutrients found in cannabis communicate with these signal receptors of the ECS to regulate physiological processes including appetite, pain sensation, mood, and memory.
Step 1: Find the right tincture for your needs
What you’re treating for will dictate your ratio and dose. Every person’s dose will be different depending on what you are trying to solve. For those solving for physical discomfort or inflammation our 30:1 CBD Dominant tincture packs a powerful 450 mg of cannabinoids per bottle and is perfect for people who need to reduce discomfort and help the body recover from normal inflammation. Many people who have hectic or busy schedules turn to tinctures for stress reduction. Our 30:1 CBD Dominant tincture provides whole body wellness, relief from normal inflammation, and alleviates overall discomfort.
Looking to stay motivated throughout your day? Try our Living Tincture, which promotes overall focus, alertness, and relief. It is the only raw THCa tincture made with fresh-frozen cannabis and MCT oil. Like cold-pressed juice, our THCa tincture keeps all the raw plant components intact, which allows you to experience cannabis in its purest form possible and all the benefits THC without immediate intoxication. Looking for a more restful night’s sleep? Our 30:1 CBD Dominant tincture promotes a calm, relaxed state and whole body wellness to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. We suggest ingesting one hour before you’d like your head to hit the pillow.
If you are looking for whole body wellness throughout the day, take a look at Releaf Tinctures! For all the runners, yogis, and fitness fanatics, our 1:3 THC Rich and 1:30 THC Dominant tinctures help alleviate normal inflammation from overworked muscles, minor aches, and also help promote post-workout relaxation and more restful sleep. Depending on your needs, these are great to take pre-or-post workout.
Not based in California? No Problem!
For those of you not in California but looking to begin your cannabis wellness journey, Papa & Barkley offers their Releaf CBD line which is entirely derived from Hemp! The Hemp CBD drops are made using our whole plant infusion process from simple, all-natural ingredients grown on Colorado farms. Our fastest-metabolizing formula, it comes with a measured dropper for precise dosing, making it easy to find your individually preferred potency. Plus, it’s formulated from the whole plant without chemicals or solvents, resulting in an earthy and rich flavor.
For those trying tinctures for the first time try our 1:1 THCa Rich tincture. Our 1:1a tincture provides a balanced feeling for whole body wellness. With a balanced ratio of CBD and THCa, it may help with mild aches, pains, and stress reduction. This serves as a great personalized introduction to cannabis tinctures. Here’s a step-by-step guide that will go into depth on how to find the dose that is right for you.
Step 2: Find Your Optimal Dose
Now that you have found the right tincture for your needs, use this three week guide to find your optimal dose.
WEEK 1
A little goes a long way. For your first week, a good rule of thumb is to start with the most basic dose of 0.25ml.
Days 1-4: Take 0.25ml of your chosen tincture once in the morning and once at night.
Days 5-7: Take 0.25ml in the morning. Take 0.50ml in the evening.
WEEK 2
Week 2 is about consistency and staying balanced. If you are solving for pain and discomfort and you aren’t getting enough results, now is the time to increase your dosage. Also remember that it is okay to raise or lower your dose depending on your experience. You may want to up your dose or lower your dose depending on your desired effects! This week is also a good time to create a balanced tolerance for your body. If you are concerned about intoxication, it’s okay to dial back your dose to 0.25ml. Let your body adjust naturally and then continue
Days 1-4: Take 0.50ml of your chosen tincture once in the morning and once at night.
Days 5-7: Take 0.50ml in the morning. Take 0.75ml in the evening.
WEEK 3
Week 3 is about patience.When titrating with THC and CBD it is important to stay attuned to your body and what you are feeling per dose. Keep tabs on your experience. Get yourself a nice notebook and record the times and amounts you dose along with the effects experienced. This will give you a baseline to work with in the future.
Days 1-4: Take 0.75ml of your chosen tincture once in the morning and once at night.
Days 5-7: Take 0.75ml in the morning. Take 1ml in the evening.
Tincture Dosage Chart
A tincture dosage chart is a helpful way of keeping track of your progress so you don’t have to remember where you are in the process. Here’s a great week by week tincture dosage chart that you can save to your phone or even print out:
If you have any questions about the tincture dosage chart send us a message on Papa & Barkley’s instagram!
Final Step: Think about how you feel
If you followed our guide, your ECS is now saturated with cannabinoids and the full spectrum of the plant is at work! Pull out that notebook or log and take stock of what your experiences have been over the last three weeks. How did the doses make you feel? Ask yourself: did my body respond to the doses? Were the effects substantial or minimal? How did I feel before versus after? Once you’ve answered these questions you’ll know whether to increase your dose more or to move up to a full strength tincture.
Resources & Citations
- https://www.thehigherpath.com/cannabis-dosage/
- https://www.safecannabisuse.com/finding-your-dose
- https://hellomd.com/blogs/articles/how-to-find-your-ideal-marijuana-dosage
- http://www.cpsa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/MacCallum-Russo-Practical-Considerations-in-Medical-Cannabis-Administrat….pdf
- https://www.greenbridgemed.com/blog/titration-of-thc-and-cbd-or-what-is-titration
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29307505
