Appendix F: Cannabis Dosing Guidelines for Adults

Where to start

• There is no “one size fits all” with cannabis medicine! The same chemovar or product can give different people different effects. You must be willing to try different products to find what is effective for your condition.
• Most patients who are unfamiliar with cannabis medicine often start with products that have higher amounts of CBD (higher CBD:THC ratios) and depending on results, may then try products that contain increased amounts of THC (low ratio CBD:THC).
• Many patients find that products containing higher amounts of THC are more effective for sleep.

Dosing Guidelines

• First decide how you want to take your cannabis medicine. Options include vaporizing, ingestion, topical, and sublingual methods. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages and you may need to try different methods to find what will work for your condition.
• Decide if you want THC-rich medicine, CBD-rich medicine or a combination of the two types of cannabinoids. You can calculate the CBD:THC ratio by dividing the total CBD in the product by the THC in the product. DO NOT USE UNTESTED MEDICATION! Use the chart to determine what the most likely effects of a product will be.
• Start with a low dose especially if you are new or inexperienced with using cannabis medicine. After taking a small amount, wait at least one hour for the effects. Take another small dose if you did not get the desired effect. This is called “titrating up” the dose and this method will help you find the dose that will work for you and will minimize the risk of taking too much.
• If you are not finding benefits, you may need to adjust the dose, ratio or method of use.
• Once you figure out the dose that is effective for your symptoms, use this dose for a few days to see how you feel. After a few days, adjust up or down on the dose in small increments or try a different product if you are not satisfied with your results.
• Take note of any side effects so that you can discuss these with your doctor.
• It is often helpful to keep a log of products, doses amounts and timing so that you can understand what is working best for your symptoms.

Patient Precautions

• Treat your cannabis medicine the same way you treat your other medication. This medicine may have different effects on others so do not share your medicine with family members, friends or children. Use your medicine as recommended by your doctor.
• Don’t overuse your cannabis medicine. Follow your doctor’s instructions and listen to the advice you received at the dispensary. Remember that “less is more” when using cannabis medicine.
• Keep cannabis medicine away from children and pets. Edibles may look appealing to children and animals, so make sure to avoid any accidental ingestion by keeping your medicine in a safe and secure location.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery under the influence of cannabis medicine. If you are using the non-psychoactive form of cannabis (CBD-rich products), try it first at home before you drive or operate heavy machinery to make sure that you do not have limited ability. Wait a number of hours to see how long the medicine lasts in your system so you are aware of the duration of the medicine.
• It is recommended that you do not use alcohol at the same time that you take your cannabis medicines. The combination of cannabis with alcohol may lead to dizziness, increased risk of injury, poor judgment and excessive impairment.