How to dose medical cannabis tincture
Read the mg THC per mL on the label. Measure with the dropper or a 1 mL oral syringe. Start at 1 mg to 2.5 mg THC. Hold the liquid under the tongue for 60 to 90 seconds. Wait 2 hours before taking more. Raise the dose in 1 mg to 2.5 mg steps every 2 to 3 days.
how many drops of cannabis tincture should i take
Find the mg THC per mL
A 30 mL bottle that holds 300 mg THC is 10 mg per mL. A full 1 mL dropper is 10 mg. Half a dropper is 5 mg. A quarter dropper is 2.5 mg. If the label lists mg per bottle without a per mL figure, divide total mg by total mL.
Shake the bottle for 5 to 10 seconds before each dose. Oil and alcohol separate on the shelf. If the dropper has no markings, ask the dispensary for a 1 mL oral syringe. Drug stores sell them at the pharmacy counter.
Sublingual or swallowed
Liquid held under the tongue reaches capillaries in the mouth. Onset runs 15 to 45 minutes. Swallowed liquid passes through the liver. Onset runs 30 to 120 minutes. Peak effect lands near 2 to 4 hours. Effects last 4 to 8 hours. Food in the stomach, body weight, liver enzymes, and other drugs shift those numbers.
Medical Cannabis Tincture vs. Edibles: Dosing Guide
Titration schedule
- Day 1: take 1 mg to 2.5 mg THC. Note symptoms and side effects.
- Day 2 to 3: repeat the same dose.
- Day 4: add 1 mg to 2.5 mg if symptoms remain and side effects are absent.
- Hold the new dose 2 to 3 days.
- Stop raising the dose when symptoms ease or side effects appear. Drop back one step if side effects last.
Keep a log
- Date and time of each dose
- Product name, batch number, mg THC, mg CBD
- Volume in mL
- Food eaten in the past hour
- Symptom score 1 to 10 at 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours
- Side effects and their length
Side effects
Dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, fast heart rate, anxiety, and nausea are common. Oral doses above 20 mg THC raise the chance of confusion and vomiting in some people. Stop the tincture and call a clinician for chest pain, fainting, severe confusion, or vomiting that will not stop.
Drug interactions
THC and CBD use liver enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C9. Blood levels of warfarin, clobazam, some statins, and some antidepressants can rise. Tell your pharmacist about every tincture and every prescription. Alcohol and opioids add sedation.
Storage
Cap tight. Keep out of light. Store at room temperature or cooler. Alcohol tinctures hold potency for 1 to 2 years. Oil tinctures hold 6 to 12 months. Check the expiration date. Discard a tincture that smells rancid or shows particles.
What is not known
No standard dose exists for medical cannabis tinctures. Potency varies by product and batch. State programs set purchase limits and per-serving caps, not clinical doses. Ask the dispensary for the certificate of analysis to check the tested THC content. A budtender can show the label but cannot give medical advice.