Dab Dosage Explained: How To Avoid Overconsumption

If you are new to cannabis concentrates, measuring a dab may seem like a daunting task. Most hash oils are served up in one or half gram portions. Depending on where you live, labels and containers will reveal cannabinoid profiles, but no direction for usage or dosage will be given. There are no universal tools for measurement, too, and generic advice ‘start small’ doesn’t work particularly well.

There are a few tricks that would help you to dose your dabs more efficiently. You will also get a grip on how to understand the strength of your concentrates. Here you go:

1. Labels matter

First thing first: read the labels. Most markets require some cannabinoid information added to packaging. Some producers add key cannabinoid markers and a basic terpenoid profile; some indicate the ratio of THCA to THC. A majority will present total THC content. Reading labels will give you a general direction on the potency of your concentrate.

Potency is indicated as a percentage. For example, a one-gram sample of hash oil with 80% total THC means that one gram contains 800mg of total cannabinoids. Most solvent-based concentrates will be in the range of 60-90% total cannabinoids, with some individual products exceeding 90%. The potency of solventless concentrates may fall below 50%, but the majority of hash-based products will fit into mentioned potency range.

Keep in mind that concentrates may be not the first choice for the beginners. The recommended starting dosage for an edible is around 5-10%. Obtaining a 5mg dab from a freeform sample of hash oil is nearly impossible.

2. Tools matter, too

Dabber tools are many. There is no standard for a tool when it comes to dosing concentrates, so choosing the right tool may be a tricky task. Always opt out for handleability — one tool should be versatile enough to handle different kinds of concentrates.

A pointed dabber tool is not useful in portioning a sap or high-terpene extract. A scooper tool is not the best option for breaking shatters apart. Dabber tools with broad tips (i.e. paddle dabbers) are versatile enough to serve all purposes.

3. The importance of right portioning

Let’s take one gram with 80% THC. Virtually, it contains 800mg of cannabinoids. Split it into eight pieces as evenly as you could, and you would get eight 100mg portions. The complexity of the procedure depends on the consistency; for example, shatters are easy to split if you heat up your dabber tool and slice your sample like a hot butter knife.

It gives you a better grasp for cannabinoid dosage and reduces the guesswork around proper measurement. It is easier to split in bigger chunks and then pull a smaller portion. To determine the potency of your sample and ways to portion it, always read the labels.

4. When in doubt, use pre-portioned

Portioning may seem too daunting; sometimes it is easier to opt out for pre-portioned options such as vaporizer cartridges. They are an excellent way of dosing a quick dab while minimizing the risk of overconsumption. Many cartridge manufacturers can also provide you with an estimated number of available hits — and dividing the mg content of your cartridge by this number will give you an idea how potent your pulls will be.

5. Start small

Yeah, boring advice but still legit. Keep in mind that different ratios of cannabinoids affect everyone differently. Bodies are unique and individual experience includes a range of reactions to cannabis consumption. The best way to figure out an optimal dosage for you is to start small and build up.

Take the smallest dab and use it as a reference point. Micro-dabbing is a thing that allows you to experiment and find your unique way to consume concentrates. Try to find a right dose and stick to it.

This post is based on this Leafly article.

(Sweedsy in no way encourages illegal activity and would like to remind its readers that marijuana usage continues to be an offense under Federal Law, regardless of state marijuana laws. To learn more, click here.)