Anyone keeping up with news about new studies in the fields of mental health is sure to have heard about researchers over the last several years performing psilocybin depression studies and similar research on how psychedelics like magic mushrooms can help mental health patients.
These studies yielded many positive results, exhibiting serious potential for the effective treatment of mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
The studies have worked with folks who have taken average doses of magic mushrooms and other psychedelic substances such as LSD, and while not a brand new practice, research is also ongoing into the effects of microdosing and how it might help benefit someone who does it. The findings in these departments are, once again, positive.
For the unaware, microdosing is the practice of taking much less of a substance than is normally taken in an average dose, rather than taking standard or even higher doses. For certain substances, such as psychedelics with psychoactive effects, this can produce desirable effects that can help the user feel a little more clear minded, productive, creative, and even a little introspective.
What if I Can’t Be in a Study?
Unfortunately, with psychedelic substances remaining illegal and inaccessible to law-abiding citizens who aren’t participating in research studies, options remain limited. However, some patients have also found relief from depression, PTSD, and other such conditions through the use of cannabis in states where it is legal medically or recreationally.
If one wants to try microdosing and has no access to any sort of medical research for psilocybin depression treatments or similar studies being conducted near them, they can always turn to their local dispensary. Living in a state where cannabis is legal in some capacity means that the patient can enjoy it at home, and might find that it can even help their mental state.
Is microdosing cannabis something that is even possible?
It sure is – just like it is possible to microdose with magic mushrooms and other psychedelics.
How Does Microdosing Cannabis Work?
The act of microdosing is simply to take less of a dose of a substance than normal to achieve some kind of effect. When it comes to cannabis, a good microdose will allow the THC to work on your body and mind without making you feel stoned, the state many folks get in when they have smoked a good deal of cannabis.
Microdosing cannabis typically involves smoking less than one normally would, or consuming less of an edible, or however one takes their cannabis. For example, if a medical patient normally wakes up and smokes an entire joint of cannabis in the morning but feels like microdosing instead, they should limit that joint to about a quarter of what they normally would.
How Much Cannabis Should You Use?
This is a factor that depends entirely on how much cannabis you are already accustomed to using. If you are brand new to cannabis and have never taken any before, this could be simpler than if you are a regular user of the plant.
For someone who is more experienced with cannabis, they should begin microdosing cannabis by cutting back heavily on the amount they use. This will allow the person’s tolerance to go down.
Tolerance is how much of a substance you need to use to feel the same effects as normal. People who use more of a substance on a regular basis normally have high tolerances. Folks smoking cannabis for the first time won’t have this issue, but for someone who smokes regularly, tolerance is something to think about.
Start off by taking only about a quarter of what you normally would. If you don’t feel anything at all, you can take a little more cannabis. Don’t let yourself get stoned, but allow yourself to see how much you need to feel the effects of the plant.
If brand new to cannabis, starting off with a small dose to see how it affects you is fine. This will be a good practice of microdosing, especially if you don’t want to experience any sort of high. Beginning with a bit of an edible or a quarter of a joint might be a good place to start for someone who has never used cannabis before.
The Effects You Can Expect
Microdosing cannabis can bring some of the best effects of cannabis to the user without making them feel stoned or unproductive, and there are all kinds of ways people can take their doses through all kinds of cannabis products. Here are a few of the benefits one can expect from microdosing cannabis.
- Pain relief
- Relief from depression and anxiety
- Chilled out feelings
- Help with insomnia
- Something for everyone
Microdosing Cannabis – A Good Practice?
Microdosing psychedelics has become a powerful area of study for psilocybin depression researchers, and it is study that is making some valuable progress in learning what kinds of things can treat people dealing with depression, anxiety, and a myriad of other mental health conditions, often helping to improve their well-being. Cannabis is another completely natural and helpful substance that is able to benefit people in various ways. From finding pain relief to escaping feelings of depression for awhile, cannabis helps a good amount of people all over the country, whether they live in a medical marijuana state or are going the recreational route. Microdosing cannabis at an effective dose could be just another practice that ends up helping folks who are having hard times in their lives.