Delta 8 THC Dosage: How Much Should You Take
Delta 8 THC is a very dynamic space within the hemp market, with many delta 8 brands popping up like mushrooms after heavy rain — offering different forms of delta 8 THC to attract potential customers.
Years of research have provided us with a better understanding of the mechanisms used by cannabinoids and terpenes to produce their therapeutic and psychoactive effects. Today, delta 8 THC is infused into various products, such as vape cartridges, gummies, capsules, tinctures, etc.
However, we all have the same question as we start our journey with different cannabis products: “how much delta 8 THC should I take?”
Delta 8 THC dosage is easy to figure out if you know your tolerance to “normal” weed.
Before we answer this question, keep this one thing in mind — there’s no such thing as the universal delta 8 THC dosage. Everybody is different, and so is their reaction to delta 8 THC.
Hopefully, there are some tips that can make dosing delta 8 a lot easier.
We’re going to reveal them to you in this article.
Delta 8 THC Dosage: How It Compares to CBD
Since both cannabinoids come from cannabis plants, you might assume that finding the right dose of delta 8 THC is as easy as translating your CBD dosage into it.
Well, you can do this, but will it make sense?
Unfortunately, no.
Although no study has suggested that delta 8 THC has toxic effects in humans, it’s subject to similar safety standards as CBD and delta 9 THC.
Delta 8 is a mild intoxicant, meaning it can get you high, changing your sensory perception, cognitive functioning, elevating your mood, and giving you the munchies.
In high doses, it can lead to a benign cognitive impairment.
CBD doesn’t have such properties; it’s completely non-intoxicating.
So, to wrap it up, delta 8 THC uses different mechanisms to produce its effects than CBD, so its influence on the brain is also different.
As we said earlier, delta 8 THC can make you feel high. But the buzz is not as strong as with delta 8 THC. In fact, it’s about twice less potent as “normal” weed.
If you’re very sensitive to the psychoactive effects of delta 9 THC, you may want to start with lower amounts and gradually increase them until you find the optimal dosage that gives you the greatest benefit with no disturbing side effects.
Can You Overdose on Delta 8 THC?
If you’re asking about an overdose as in the fatal overdose, that’s physically impossible with delta 8 THC.
That’s because delta 8 – like other cannabinoids – doesn’t interact with the brain stem region that controls respiratory functions.
Scientists estimate that one would need to inject 50 grams of isolated THC to die from it.
And people don’t inject weed, you know. It’s not how you handle it.
Nevertheless, it’s possible to take too much delta 8 THC and experience discomfort. Deep relaxation and sleepiness are very likely; you may also feel lightheaded and confused, but not to such a level as with delta 9 THC. As a matter of fact, anxiety and paranoia are very rare among those who use delta 8.
You’ll also experience some typical side effects of cannabis, such as red eyes, dry mouth, and munchies.
According to various estimates, the high from delta 8 THC is about 50–70% as strong as the one induced by delta 9 THC. Most consumers describe the feeling as body-centered, with an improved mood and relief from pain, inflammation, nausea, vomiting, and sleeplessness.
The way you experience the effects of delta 8 THC relies on the dose. Low doses can enhance your energy and focus, while higher doses can be tranquilizing.
Delta 8 THC Dosage: How Potency Affects the Amount of Delta 8
Two factors come into play when it comes to finding the right delta 8 THC dosage: your product’s potency and the concentration of delta 8 THC per serving.
Different delta 8 THC brands deliver different potencies and sizes for their products. For example, some delta 8 tinctures are sold in 30 mL bottles, while others use 60 mL containers.
A similar pattern applies to gummies, vapes, and other forms of delta 8 THC.
To calculate the amount of delta 8 THC per serving, you’ll need to divide the total strength of the product by its size.
Let’s say you have a 1500 mg delta 8 THC tincture in a 30 ml bottle. You just need to divide 1500 by 30, which gives you 50 mg of delta 8 THC in every milliliter. This is amount is sufficient to experience a moderate to strong cognitive change even in regular cannabis users.
Therefore, if you’ve never tried cannabis, or you’re just a lightweight user, you’ll want to approach such potencies with caution and start at the lower end to learn how your body responds to delta 8 THC.
For solid products, such as gummies, you don’t need to make such measurements because these products come with a predetermined amount of delta 8 THC per serving. You simply take as many pieces as you meet to hit your dosage — and that’s it.
3 Tiers of Delta 8 THC Dosage
- First Dosage Tier (new users or reactive people): 5–15 mg per dose
- Second Dosage Tier (occasional users): 15–45 mg per dose
- Third Dosage Tier (daily users): 45–150 mg per dose
The above cheat sheet refers to the amount of delta 8 THC that people use with tinctures, but you may use similar doses for other consumption methods.
Maybe a little lower with vapes, and a little higher with gummies. That’s because vapes are more bioavailable and provide higher levels of delta 8 THC than gummies (which offer the lowest bioavailability of all formats).
Again, the best way to find your optimal delta 8 THC dosage is to begin with a low dose and keep increasing until you feel the desired effects without any adverse reactions.
How Long Does It Take for Delta 8 THC to Kick In?
In essence, you’ll need to wait a bit longer for the effects of delta 8 THC than you need with regular cannabis.
When you vaporize delta 8, you may feel the first signs of your high within 10 minutes.
For tinctures, this effect is delayed by 1–1.5 hours.
Gummies and capsules need even more time to take hold – up to 3 hours.
Since gummies have the most delayed onset, you may be tempted to take another dose if you don’t anything from the first one. However, you’ll be better off waiting these 3 hours to see what happens; otherwise, the effects of both doses will overlap and may get you too high.
Delta 8 THC Dosage Guide: How Much to Take (By Weight)
We’ve put together a delta 8 THC dosage chart based on different weight groups and the intensity of effects. You can use it as a general point of reference to find the right dose for your needs without experiencing side effects.
| Body Weight | Mild Effects | Strong 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 |
Your consumption method will also affect the delta 8 THC dosage because it changes the product’s bioavailability as well as the onset and duration of the high.
Bioavailability is the amount of delta 8 THC that ultimately reaches the bloodstream once it has been metabolized in the liver.
Other variables that should be considered if you want to gauge your effective dose of delta 8 THC effectively include:
- Your weight: smaller users usually need less delta 8 THC than larger people unless they’re using delta 8 THC to treat severe symptoms.
- Tolerance to delta 8 THC: you can build a tolerance to this compound twice as fast as you do with delta 9 THC. When your tolerance increases, you’ll need a stronger dose to achieve the same psychoactive effects as before.
- The type of effects: consider why you’re taking delta 8 THC. Are you aiming for more elevating and energy-boosting effects, or do you prefer deep relaxation before going to bed? Knowing your needs helps significantly is a huge helper when it comes to finding the right dose.
Dosing Delta 8 THC with Different Products
1. Delta 8 THC Tincture Dosage
Delta 8 THC from tinctures are absorbed by the set of tiny capillaries under your tongue. A regular dose is 20–40 mg of CBD/ml.
As with any other product you dose, you’ll need to divide the total concentration of delta 8 THC by the size of the bottle so that you know how much delta 8 THC you have per serving.
Most manufacturers use a half (½ mL) or a single dropper (1 mL) as the standard serving size.
2. Delta 8 THC Gummies Dosage
Delta 8 THC gummies offer a fixed dose of delta 8 THC per gummy – usually between 10–40 mg.
10 mg is considered a low dose, while the 40 mg is better suited for heavyweight users, and those with higher tolerance to the compound.
Wait for about 2 hours when you take one gummy. Delta 8 THC has a delayed onset when consumed orally, and the effects tend to vary depending on your metabolism, age, and weight.
This way, you can feel comfortable when you add another dose, slowly building your way up to the amount that makes you feel good.
3. Delta 8 THC Vape Dosage
Delta 8 THC vapes are arguably the most popular form of this cannabinoid.
There are three main types of delta 8 vapes:
- Bottled e-liquids
- Vape cartridges
- Disposable vape pens
The dosing principles are the same across all formats.
Three puffs make fur an average single dose of vaporized delta 8 THC. How much vapor you can draw into your lungs and the force at which you inhale also play an important role when it comes to the strength of your effects.
Using math, a single serving can deliver between 1–5 mg of delta 8 THC. But how can you be sure that you’re inhaling the same amount of delta 8 with each draw?
1 mL of vape liquid contains around 100 puffs. Using this figure, you can divide the total amount of delta 8 THC by the size of the bottle, just as you do with calculating delta 8 THC dosage for tinctures.
For example, if you take 5 mg of delta 8 THC in each puff, you can achieve the standard dose with 2–5 draws depending on the aforementioned factors. Individuals with higher tolerance may need to inhale 10 times at a time for strong effects.
4. Delta 8 THC Capsules Dosage
Delta 8 THC capsules work similarly to gummies. They’re convenient, easy to dose, and provide long-lasting effects. The bottle’s label should list the total amount of delta 8 THC and the dose per capsule. Usually, one capsule is taken as a single serving. Delta 8 capsules are mostly available in two strengths: 10 mg (low dose) and 25 mg (moderate dose).
5. Delta 8 THC Hemp Flower Dosage
Make no mistake, there are no delta 8 THC hemp flowers. This term refers to CBD hemp flowers that are sprayed with delta 8 THC distillate.
You can treat the dosage the same way as with vaping, taking 1–5 mg or 2–5 puffs for a start. However, since distillate may not be distributed evenly throughout the buds, dosing delta 8 THC flowers may be more difficult.
When smoking a delta 8 THC joint, it’s best to wait for up to 20 minutes after taking a couple of hits to evaluate the potency of your strain.
Final Verdict on Delta 8 THC Dosage: How Much Should You Take Ideally?
For new users, finding the right delta 8 THC dosage can be difficult at the beginning. It may take some time until you get a better understanding of how this cannabinoid works with your body and how different consumption methods make you feel.
If you’re looking for the most precise method of dosing CBD, tinctures are the way to go. On the other hand, vape pens may be better if your goal is to feel the buzz faster and with greater strength. Gummies and capsules are people who prefer easy dosing and don’t mind lower bioavailability and delayed effects.
Using the calculations and dosage charts from this article, you can make the process much easier and without too much error in your trial-and-error.
We hope this content has been helpful for you!
