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 if you’re new to delta 9, you might be wondering how much you should take. After all, it is psychoactive, and there aren’t any formal dosing guidelines. 

What we do have,though, is anecdotal evidence. 

If you’re new to delta 9, you can start by taking 2-5mg of delta 9 at a time. More experienced users can take 10-30mg of delta 9. For a more precise dose, a good rule of thumb is to multiply your body weight by 0.05 – this formula will render a low-strength delta 9 dosage (in milligrams). 

There’s more to know, though. Based on our experience serving thousands of customers, we created a delta 9 dosage guide, calculator, and chart to help you find your perfect dose. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Beginners can start by taking 2mg-5mg delta 9 THC per day
• Experienced users can take 10-30mg of delta 9 THC per day
• Using a delta 9 dosage formula can help you find a dose better tailored to your body weight and desired use

What is Delta 9 THC?

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

Delta 9 THC is the cannabinoid responsible for the well-known psychoactive effects of cannabis. It’s associated with euphoria and relaxation, and has been researched for its potential therapeutic benefits for pain, sleep, nausea, and more. 

While cannabis products are federally illegal, delta 9 by itself is legal if it’s derived from hemp, a variant of the cannabis sativa plant. Hemp and hemp products contain less than 0.3% THC by weight and are legal under the Farm Bill. 

How Much Delta 9 Should You Take? Factors to Consider

If you’re a beginner, 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. 

While these dosing are a good starting place, though, using a dosage formula can help you find a dose tailored to your body and desired use. 

A good rule of thumb here is to multiply your body weight by 0.05. This will give you a low-strength dose. If you weigh 150 pounds, for example, you’d start by taking 7.5mg of delta 9. You can then gradually increase this dose over time as needed. 

To better understand how much delta 9 you should be taking, it helps to consider the various factors that go into determining your dose:

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.

Additionally, many clinical studies base cannabinoid doses on weight, rather than absolute amounts. 

Use

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 feel overwhelmed or too high.

For recreational use, your dose will vary more – you’ll want to experiment with different amounts (within safe limits) to figure out what amount of delta 9 gives you the effects you’re looking for. 

Cannabinoid blend or strain

You often won’t be taking delta 9 in isolation – it will be mixed with other cannabinoids in a gummy, or it might be part of a hemp flower strain that you’re consuming. 

The cannabinoid blend or strain that you consume delta 9 as a part of will influence how much delta 9 you should take. 

Certain cannabinoids, like cannabidiol (CBD), tend to reduce the psychoactive aspects of delta 9, enabling you to take more in order to experience the other benefits of delta 9. 

Likewise, taking delta 9 with other THC variants (e.g. delta 8) means you’ll want to take less, since you’re consuming more psychoactive cannabinoids overall. 

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 to avoid being overwhelmed by the effects. 

Body chemistry

We all have unique body chemistry, and it’s hard to know exactly how you’ll react to delta 9 until you’ve tried it.

To this point, you may need more or less delta 9 than other people to feel the same effects, and there may not be an apparent reason – it’s just body chemistry. 

Delta 9 Dosage by Use

Here’s how much delta 9 we recommend you start with, 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 onset time of delta 9 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 all are good options. 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. 

Delta 9 edible dosage is easy, as you can split your gummies into smaller pieces for a smaller dose. 

Delta 9 flower & vapes

Average Bioavailability: 40-50%

Inhalable products, such as delta 9 THC flower and vapes, offer a faster-acting, more-potent way to consume delta 9. 

The downside with inhalable consumption methods is that they can’t be dosed as precisely. 

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 pieces if you want to take a smaller amount. 

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 are more bioavailable than edibles, and they also allow for very precise dosing, since you can measure your dose down to the drop using metered droppers which come with most products. 

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 doing so isn’t fatal. 

However, “overdosing” on delta 9 can increase the adverse effects you’ll feel, which can include: 

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

To avoid taking too much 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.

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.

Is delta 9 dosage the same as THC?

Yes, delta 9 dosage is the same as THC; delta 9 THC is the cannabinoid people commonly refer to as “THC.” Keep in mind that different THC products may contain different amounts of delta 9 per unit (per edible, per dropper, etc.), so you’ll need to adjust your dosage accordingly. 

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. 

What are the side effects of delta 9?

Side effects of delta 9 can include dizziness, lightheadedness, paranoia, anxiety, increased heart rate, drowsiness, dry mouth, dry eyes, inability to concentrate, and nausea. To avoid these side effects, start with a small dose of delta 9 and gradually work your way up. 

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.