Similar to other prescription medications, dosing cannabis should be done with the careful supervision of your primary healthcare provider. Aurora supports the Health Canada recommended “Start low, go slow” approach. Remember that each cannabis product interacts differently with your body chemistry, so effects may vary on an individual basis.
The following is a dosing guide for the three most popular formats of medical cannabis: oils, capsules, and dried flower.
Oil Dosing Guide
CBD Oils
- CBD oil can be dosed often throughout the day such as morning, afternoon and evening
- Start treatment with a 0.1 ml dose three times a day (once in the morning, afternoon and evening) for a total daily dose of 0.3 ml
- If desired effect is not achieved, increase to 0.2 ml per dose after the first 3 days, for a total daily dose of 0.6 ml. Continue to increase based on the table below.
- Once a therapeutic dose is achieved, patients should continue with this dosing regimen and follow up with their doctor as needed
- Pay attention to how each increase makes you feel, we recommend keeping a journal
- CBD is non-intoxicating at medically relevant doses and has limited adverse effects at high doses
|
Time of Day |
Day 1 - 3 |
Day 4 - 6 |
Day 6 - 8 |
Day 8 - 10 |
Day 10 -13 |
|
Morning |
0.1 ml |
0.2 ml |
0.3 ml |
0.4 ml |
0.5 ml |
|
Afternoon |
0.1 ml |
0.2 ml |
0.3 ml |
0.4 ml |
0.5 ml |
|
Evening |
0.1 ml |
0.2 ml |
0.3 ml |
0.4 ml |
0.5 ml |
|
Total Daily Dose |
0.3 ml |
0.6 ml |
0.9 ml |
1.2 ml |
1.5 ml |
THC Oils
- Start treatment with no more than 0.1 ml of THC, once per day in the evening for the first 4 days.
- If desired effect is not achieved, increase your dose by an additional 0.1 ml per day
- Pay attention to how each increase makes you feel, we recommend keeping a journal
- Once a therapeutic dose is achieved, patients should continue with this dosing regimen and follow up with their doctor as needed
- If patients are new to THC, the recommendation is to take it at night, before bed, to limit any potential adverse effects (see “Tips for Staying Safe”)
|
Day 1 - 4 |
Day 5 |
Day 6 |
Day 7 |
Day 8 |
Day 9 |
Day 10 > |
|
0.1 ml |
0.2 ml |
0.3 ml |
0.4 ml |
0.5 ml |
0.6 ml |
0.7 - 1 ml > |
Balanced Oils (Equal THC:CBD Ratio)
- Start treatment with 0.2 ml of your balanced oil
- If desired effect is not achieved, increase by 0.2 ml per day
- Pay attention to how each increase makes you feel. We recommend keeping a journal
- Once a therapeutic dose is achieved, patients should continue with this dosing regimen and follow up with their doctor as needed
|
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Day 4 |
Day 5 |
Day 6 |
Day 7 > |
|
0.2 ml |
0.4 ml |
0.6 ml |
0.8 ml |
1.0 ml |
1.2 ml |
1.4 ml |
Softgel/Capsules Dosing Guide
- THC: Dosing information is based on capsules with 5 mg of THC per capsule. For patients new to THC, the recommendation is to consume at night, before bed, to limit any potential adverse effects (see “Tips for Staying Safe”)
- Start with one capsule a night before bed
- If one capsule does not achieve the desired effect, increase your dose by another capsule
- CBD: Dosing information is based on 5 mg of CBD per capsule and can be consumed at the patient's preferred time of day, as CBD is non-intoxicating at medically relevant doses
- Start with one capsule at the patient’s preferred time of day
- If one capsule does not achieve the desired effect, increase your dose by another capsule
|
Day 1-4 |
Day 5 |
Day 5 and Onwards |
|
Begin with 1 capsule, at night. |
If desired effect is not achieved, increase to two capsules, at night. |
If desired effects are still not achieved, you may consume an additional capsule. |
Dried Flower Dosing Guide
- Start with a small amount of flower (roughly half a teaspoon worth) and take a single inhalation. Wait for a minimum of 10 minutes to determine the effect
- If the desired effect is not achieved, take another inhalation and repeat
- If you’re new to consuming dried flower with THC, the recommendation is to take it at night, before bed, to limit any potential adverse effects (see “Tips for Staying Safe”)
- For a smoke-free experience, Aurora recommends using a vaporizer compatible with dried cannabis
Tips for Staying Safe
If you’re new to cannabis, it is a good idea to “start low, go slow.” Over-consumption of cannabis can increase your risk of experiencing adverse effects and/or cause greater impairment. Ingesting cannabis (oils and edibles) tends to react differently than inhaling cannabis (smoking or vaporizing). Due to edibles having a longer onset period before feeling full effects, you may be tempted to consume more. This should be avoided. If you, or someone you are with, ever consumes too much cannabis, here are some quick tips to help you get through it.
- Take deep breaths
- Drink lots of water
- Sleep it off
- Take a shower
- Massage your limbs in slow and smooth motions
- Talk through it
- Remember, it will pass
Keep a journal as you try different doses. It helps to keep track of the product you’ve taken, the dosing, and effects. Like other types of medication, cannabis effects everyone differently. What works for someone else may not work for you. Be patient and trust the process. Consistency is key – once you find a dose that works for you, stick to it.
Questions?
Our Client Care team consists of passionate, empathetic individuals that are experts in the field of medical cannabis. We even have a dedicated pharmacist on our Client Care team who has significant experience in supporting patients through their medical cannabis journey. They’re all here to help answer questions and ensure patients know all the ins-and-outs of medical cannabis.
- Email: askus@auroramedical.com
- Phone: 1-877-928-7672
- We are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET (6 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT)
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- Twitter: @AuroraMedical_ca
