Microdosing is the act of consuming a substance in such small amounts that the effects are sub-perceptual – meaning below your perception, unnoticeable.

It can be done with a number of different substances depending on what your goals are.

It has become popular over recent years among certain circles, including high-functioning CEOs, coders in Silicon Valley, creatives, and sufferers of anxiety, depression and PTSD.

In order to take control of my problematic cannabis habit, I personally experimented microdosing with magic mushrooms and, ironically, cannabis. Both helped drastically, but for very different reasons.

In this article, I’m going to break down exactly how microdosing THC can help you overcome cannabis addiction and live a generally happier, healthier, and more productive life.

Microdosing cannabis to reduce THC intake

Microdosing is a popular way of consuming psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) but you can also microdose cannabis to great effect.

By microdosing THC (ideally combined with CBD) you will find yourself having less cravings for cannabis. It can also help withdrawal effects like anxiety, irritability, trouble sleeping, and a lack of appetite.

This recent Australian study on people with cannabis dependence found that when subjects consumed a dose 2.7mg THC and 2.5mg CBD up to 32 times a day, they had significantly more days where they did not smoke cannabis compared with a placebo group.

How to microdose cannabis

To microdose cannabis, you have a few options. The easiest way is to mix some CBD-rich flower with some THC-rich flower, load it into a dry herb vaporiser, and take a single 5-10 second inhale on it.

Dry herb vapes heat up to a pre-chosen temperature that is not hot enough to burn the plant matter, but hot enough to vaporise the cannabinoids and essential oils. This produces no carcinogenic chemicals like combustion does. It also allows you to take a single inhale and then turn it off.

This will give you a small dose of whatever cannabinoids and terpenes are present in your cannabis mix. You should not notice any obvious effects apart from a slight sense of calm and a reduction in anxiety, irritability and cravings. You can do this multiple times a day – either when cravings hit or when you see fit, like once in the morning, midday, and evening, for example.

You can also experiment with different ratios of THC/CBD in order to find what works best for you. When microdosing, I find a roughly 50/50 ratio is best, however, you may find that you need less THC or even none at all. CBD, after all, is very effective on its own.

I’ve found that microdosing cannabis is most effective when you’re experiencing cravings. So, if you usually start your day with a joint, try having a pull on a vape in the morning instead and then wait 10/15 minutes. You might just find that your cravings are reduced and you can go for another hour or more before you decide to have that joint. Keep this up and you’ll soon notice your THC consumption reducing with little effort.

If you still really want that joint after 10/15 minutes, have it and don’t beat yourself up about it. This is a long-term game and being harsh on yourself is not going to help.

If you don’t have a dry herb vaporiser, you can try taking just one puff of a joint (ideally with both hemp flower and THC and no tobacco) and then putting it down and waiting 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, low-dose edibles are an option, but unless you have access to standardised products, dosing could be difficult.

I go into further detail on microdosing in my new book, Overcoming Weed Addiction, as well as a number of other cutting edge techniques that have helped me cultivate a healthy relationship with cannabis. The book is short, concise, and highly practical. It’s available on Amazon at this link.