I often meet with people who have never used cannabis, and they want to know how they can start safely. As an experienced cannabis nurse, I follow the general principle of “start low and go slow.” If you have been to a medical marijuana dispensary, you’ve probably heard the same thing from budtenders.
What exactly does “start low and go slow” mean? First, it is important to understand that cannabis is not like the pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medications most of us are used to. Cannabis doesn’t come with a specific dosing for general consumption. Cannabis effects differ based on an individual’s consumption method, body composition, metabolism, and other factors. If you have underlying medical conditions, your ability to process cannabis will be different than someone who does not share that underlying medical condition. If you take oral medications, then these must be factored into your dosing amount and the timing of consumption.
It is also important to factor in your mindset and the setting in which you are consuming. If you are consuming for the first time and happen to be at a gathering of lively friends, your experience will be much different than if you consume in the evening at home where the environment is calm.
How do you start? First, decide on your preferred method of consumption. Inhalation offers quick effects and is short-acting, but not everyone likes that. Tinctures take a bit longer to kick in and last longer than inhalation, but less than edibles. Edibles take longer to kick in than tinctures and last the longest but interact more with medications. We will save topicals and transdermal for another time.
Let’s use edibles for example. If you choose a gummy and the gummies come in 10 mg squares, begin with ¼ of that gummy square. See how it works for you and your system. If ¼ of a gummy does not give you the desired effect, then increase to ½ gummy when it is time for your next dose. Follow this method until you find what works for you. I never recommend you increase or double your dose while the first dose is still active in your system, though. Cannabis can have an accumulative effect, so if you take ¼ of a gummy, then another ¼, then another ¼ all within a brief period, the effects can add up, and you end up with a negative experience. Keep in mind that you may need ¼ of a gummy, but someone else may only need 1/8, while someone else needs ½ or a whole gummy. Why? Each of us has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that works only for our body. Everyone’s ECS is different, and one must learn how to best keep it in balance. That is also a topic for another article.
Medical cannabis education can be overwhelming, and as a cannabis nurse, I see it regularly. If you have never used cannabis and have any fears or concerns, talk to a healthcare professional that knows and understands cannabis. I love budtenders, but they are not healthcare professionals. They can give useful product direction, and many know a great deal about cannabis, but you need a cannabis nurse, physician, or pharmacist to help, especially if other medical conditions or medications are involved. 2 Leaf Nurses has cannabis nurses ready and able to help you get started on a safe and successful road with cannabis.
Dedee Culley, RN, is the founder of 2 Leaf Nurses, an educational consultancy working with both patients and facilities.
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