This article was written with the assistance of Area 52
DELTA 8 THC DOSAGE: WHAT AMOUNT OF DELTA 8 SHOULD I TAKE?
February 18, 2022
Delta 8 THC continues holding a fast-growing place inside the hemp market, lots of D8 brands continue popping up.
We have a better understanding of how cannabinoids work after several years of research. You can find delta 8 THC available in various products, including tinctures, vape cartridges, gummies, capsules, concentrates, and more.
One question that bothers every new delta 8 user relates to dosing.
The best delta 8 THC dosage for everyone just doesn’t exist. Every person is different and what works for you may not necessarily work for your friend – or vice versa.
We’ve prepared this all-around guide for dosing delta 8 THC. Continue reading to learn how to determine the best delta 8 dosage for yourself.
ARE DELTA 8 THC DOSAGE AMOUNTS THE SAME AS CBD DOSAGE?
Many people would naturally assume that you can apply delta 8 THC dosage to concepts of dosing CBD.
Not to say you can’t do it, the question will be: is it going to be accurate?
Understanding there is no evidence that delta 8 THC is toxic in any way, the standards we use for dosing CBD will not translate to different cannabinoids. Delta 8 THC is active meaning it causes a change in perception of sensory information – unlike the completely non-psychoactive molecule of CBD.
Delta 8 THC in other words, uses a different mechanism of action than that of CBD, so its effects on the brain are different. For one, delta 8 THC can get you high; it’s around half the potency of delta 9, but it still has significant psychoactive properties.
If you’re sensitive to the effects of delta 9 THC, you may want to start at low doses and gradually work your way up to a sweet spot.
IF I TAKE TOO MUCH DELTA 8 THC WHAT HAPPENS?
So, if you go overboard with delta 8 THC what can happen?
You would likely feel confused and dizzy. Deep relaxation and sedation are also possible; some people who are not use to THC may experience uneasy feelings for a brief time period, but even a high dose of delta 8 won’t get you anxious like delta 9 THC when its side effects occur.
Various estimates show the euphoria generated by delta 8 THC to be around 50–70% of the high produced by delta 9 without side effects such as paranoia, anxiety, and a racing heart. Most users describe it as feeling like an elevated body high; the specific effects of delta 8 THC are dose-dependent; lower doses tend to have a stimulating effect, while higher doses are mostly thought of as “sedating.”
UNDERSTANDING POTENCY DELTA 8 THC DOSAGE
Delta 8 THC optimal dosage hinges upon two factors: strength of the product (total number of milligrams) and the delta 8 THC potency per milligram.
Different manufacturers use different volumes and strengths in their products. Some sell delta 8 THC tinctures in 30 mL bottles, while others use 60 mL containers. The same practice applies to vapes, gummies and other forms of delta 8.
Your goal is to determine the number of milligrams of actual delta 8 THC per single serving. Delta 8 manufactures provide serving recommendations on the product’s label so that new users can easily estimate how much delta 8 THC is needed to achieve ones expected results.
For liquid products like vape carts and tinctures, the delta 8 THC strength is measured in milligrams per milliliter. For example, if delta 8 THC tincture contains 1200 mg of delta 8 in 30 mL., a single serving of this tincture – 1 mL – contains approximately 40 mg of delta 8. Which is enough delta 8 to provide cognitive effects even for the most seasoned cannabis consumers. So, if you haven’t taken delta 8 THC before, we recommend starting with one quarter of a dropper.
Solid products like gummies and capsules, come with a premeasured dose of delta 8 THC in each piece, so no measuring is involved. You take as many gummies or capsules needed to meet personal dosage requirements, and that’s it.
DOSAGE CHART FOR DELTA 8 THC
-1st Delta 8 THC Dosage Tier (low tolerance): 5 – 15 mg per serving
-2nd Delta 8 THC Dosage Tier (medium tolerance): 15 – 45 mg per serving
-3rd Delta 8 THC Dosage Tier (high tolerance): 45 – 150 mg+ per serving
The above chart applies for delta 8 THC tinctures and other forms of administration. Delta 8 THC is approximately one half as potent as delta 9 THC. It’s not something to take too much of though. Cases have occurred of people who have taken too much delta 8 THC, and it hit them too hard, making them lethargic and not in full control of their cognitive functions. The best way to find the right delta 8 THC dosage is to try a small amount, then increasing dosage until you feel satisfied with the effects.
We’ll share a few tips in the next sections, on delta 8 THC dosing depending on the product type.
HOW LONG WILL DELTA 8 THC TAKE TO KICK IN?
Delta 8 THC typically kicks in within 10-20 minutes when vaped, 1-1.5 hours if consumed through tincture use, and 2 plus hours when you take products like capsules or gummies.
Delta 8 THC works similar to other products you would inhale or ingest. That being said, be careful with dosage, as some products (e.g., gummies and capsules) may cause you to think that you need to take more to get high, when in reality, they have a delayed onset and need more time to reach your bloodstream.
To sum it up, we recommend waiting at least 2 hours before taking an additional dose of delta 8 THC.
DOSING GUIDE FOR DELTA 8 THC
This delta 8 THC dosage chart is a good starting point when you need to find the right amount for yourself without experiencing any side effects. Use the chart below to find your ideal starting dose. It’s best to start with the lower dose, and then increase the dose for each session until you find the desired effects.
| Your Weight | Mild Effects | Heavy Effects |
| 80 lbs (35 kg) | 5 mg | 15 mg |
| 100 lbs (45 kg) | 6 mg | 20 mg |
| 120 lbs (55 kg) | 8 mg | 27 mg |
| 140 lbs (65 kg) | 9 mg | 32 mg |
| 160 lbs (72 kg) | 10 mg | 36 mg |
| 180 lbs (82 kg) | 12 mg | 40 mg |
| 200 lbs (90 kg) | 13 mg | 45 mg |
| 220 lbs (100 kg) | 14 mg | 50 mg |
| 240 lbs (108 kg) | 15 mg | 54 mg |
| 260 lbs (118 kg) | 17 mg | 60 mg |
The consumption method is another important factor since it determines a product’s bioavailability, duration and onset of effects.
The reason we need to cover each consumption method is simple; each format affects your body in a slightly different way. For example, one method takes longer to absorb, while others may hit you in a few minutes. In other words, taking a 20 mg gummy can give you a subtle elevating effect, but vaping the same amount could make the effects more intense.
Other factors to consider, such as:
- Body mass- those with a greater body mass require higher doses than smaller users.
- Delta 8 THC tolerance- tolerance to delta 8 THC increases quickly, so keep that under the radar. Some people naturally have a higher tolerance to certain compounds. If you have a high tolerance to delta 9 THC, chances are that your tolerance to delta 8 will reflect that.
- Your goals- what is your purpose of using delta 8 THC? Are you looking for a boost of mood elevation, energy, or do you want to have an unusual or elevated delta 8 experience?
1. DELTA 8 THC VAPE DOSAGE
Delta 8 THC vapes are among the most popular products of all, which is why we’ve mentioned them here first. There are three basic options of delta 8 vapes available: vape cartridges, disposable vape pens and bottled e-liquids. let’s get down to it without further ado, dosing is the same regardless of the format.
A single average dose of vaporized delta 8 THC is 1 to 3 puffs, with one being the best starting point for a new user. Factors such as depth of your inhalation and how much vapor you can pull into your lungs at once affects the strength of your high.
To be more precise, you can take 1 to 5 milligrams per serving. How is that calculated? Well, it’s actually pretty simple.
There are around 100 puffs in one milliliter of e-liquid. So, using that knowledge, we can divide the number of milligrams of delta 8 in the total vape product by its volume (the number of milliliters in the bottle, pen or cartridge. Then you divide that number by 100, and it tells you how many puffs you need to reach your dosage.
Our Area 52 pens provide about 4 mg of delta 8 THC per puff – so a standard dose is somewhere between 1 to 5 puffs. Experienced users may take as much as 10 puffs on a pen at a time for very strong effects.
2. DELTA 8 THC HEMP FLOWER DOSAGE
Delta 8 THC flower is CBD hemp flower infused with delta 8 THC distillate. Like vapes, you should take 1.5 milligrams, or 1 to 3 puffs, as a good amount to begin with. However, delta 8 THC flowers are more difficult to dose because the delta 8 may not be distributed evenly throughout the bud. So, when you take those 1 to 3 puffs, we recommend waiting 20 minutes after taking the first one, especially if new to THC.
3. DELTA 8 THC GUMMY DOSAGE
Edibles like delta 8 THC gummies contain a standard dosage between 10–40 milligrams per gummy. For total beginners 10 mg is ideal; when you take one gummy, it’s best to wait about 2 hours for the effects to develop, once they do, you can determine how you feel and adjust dosage as desired.
Our Area 52 gummies contain 20 mg of delta 8 THC each – so the varied dose is between half a gummy and 2 gummies per dose.
4. DELTA 8 THC CAPSULES DOSAGE
Like gummies delta 8 THC capsules are easy to dose out, since the bottle gives precise details about the total amount of delta 8 and number of milligrams per serving. One capsule usually counts as a single serving, according to most manufacturers. Delta 8 THC capsules usually contain 25 mg of delta 8 THC each capsule.
5. DELTA 8 THC TINCTURE DOSAGE
Delta 8 THC tinctures are absorbed through tiny blood vessels beneath the tongue. Standard dose is 20–40 milligrams. To calculate this, divide the amount of delta 8 per bottle by the number of milliliters, and you’ll always know how much delta 8 THC is in one serving.
A single dropper (1 mL) is almost always a single serving size. It’s easier to find the right dosage with delta 8 THC tinctures because they give you precise control over the delta 8 amount.
Our Area 52 tinctures deliver 40 mg of delta 8 THC per mL (equal to 1 dropper) – the recommended dosage is between 1 quarter of a dropper (10 mg) and a full dropper (40 mg).
FINAL THOUGHTS
At first glance, determining the appropriate delta 8 THC dosage can feel challenging. Understanding the different methods of administration and how they work in your body will help you choose the proper format in calculating dosage according to your goals with delta 8. At CBD Haven Store, we provide delta 8 THC distillates in all basic forms, including tinctures, edibles and vapes so that a new user can choose the product type according to their needs and preferences. Our Area 52 product line provides confidence you’re on the right path to continued wellness.
Use the calculations and principles above to find the right potency and dose for a smooth experience with delta 8.
