Edibles Dosing Chart - How Much THC to Take by Goal and Experience
The single most common cannabis problem we see at Greenleaf is overshoot on edibles. The cause is almost always the same: someone takes a 10 mg edible, doesn't feel anything in 45 minutes, takes another 10 mg, and an hour later they are sitting on the couch experiencing both doses at once. This page is the dosing chart we wish every customer had before their first edible.
The single most common cannabis problem we see at Greenleaf is overshoot on edibles. The cause is almost always the same: someone takes a 10 mg edible, doesn't feel anything in 45 minutes, takes another 10 mg, and an hour later they are sitting on the couch experiencing both…
TL;DR
Beginners start at 2.5 mg or 5 mg THC and wait 90 minutes minimum. Casual users 5–10 mg. Regular users 10–25 mg. High-tolerance users 25–50+ mg. Beverages onset in 15–30 minutes (nano-emulsified). Tinctures sublingual onset in 15–30 minutes. Gummies, chocolate, and baked goods onset in 45–90 minutes. Duration 4–6 hours typical, 6–8 hours for capsules. CBD-balanced ratios reduce peak intensity. Never redose inside the onset window.
The dosing chart by experience level
Onset and duration by format
| Format | Onset | Peak | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sublingual tincture | 15–30 min | 60–90 min | 2–4 hr |
| Nano-emulsified beverage | 15–30 min | 45–60 min | 2–4 hr |
| Chocolate squares | 30–60 min | 90–120 min | 4–6 hr |
| Gummies | 45–90 min | 90–150 min | 4–6 hr |
| Baked goods (cookies, brownies) | 60–90 min | 120–180 min | 4–6 hr |
| Capsules | 60–90 min | 120–180 min | 6–8 hr |
The 90-minute rule
Do not redose inside the onset window. If you took a gummy at 7:00 PM and don't feel anything by 7:30 PM, do not take another. Wait until at least 8:30 PM. Most "I took too many edibles" stories share the same pattern: the second dose hits at the same time as the first, doubling the experience and producing the bad arc.
Why edibles feel different from inhaled cannabis
When you smoke or vape, THC reaches your bloodstream through your lungs, peaks in 5–10 minutes, and is broken down by the liver to less-active metabolites over 1–3 hours. When you eat THC, it travels through your stomach and is broken down in the liver first (first-pass metabolism), where it converts to 11-hydroxy-THC - a metabolite that is more potent, more body-leaning, and longer-lasting than parent THC. This is why a 5 mg edible can feel as strong or stronger than a 5 mg-equivalent vape hit, and why edibles last 4–6 hours versus 1–3 hours for inhalation.
Dosing for specific goals
These are general consumer-preference notes, not medical dosing advice - cannabis is not FDA-evaluated to treat any condition; consult a licensed provider.
- Sleep onset. 5–10 mg gummy or capsule, taken 60–90 minutes before bed. CBN-blended product (e.g., 5 mg THC + 2 mg CBN) often outperforms pure-THC for sleep without raising dose. Pair with Granddaddy Purple or other myrcene-dominant chemovar.
- Anxiety. 1:1 or 2:1 CBD:THC ratio, total 5–10 mg. Higher CBD reduces peak intensity. Avoid pure high-THC for anxiety.
- Body-heavy, longer evenings. 5–15 mg THC; some consumers choose CBN/CBD/CBG-blended products and caryophyllene-leaning chemovars from a GSC-family extract for a heavier body profile. Lower-dose ratio products are commonly preferred for all-day use.
- Mood lift / social. 2.5–5 mg, fast-onset format (beverage or tincture). Avoid sedating myrcene-heavy edibles for social use; prefer limonene-leaning extracts.
- Daytime function. 2.5 mg microdose. CBG-blended products (e.g., 1:1 or 2:1 THC:CBG) produce energy without intoxication for many users.
- Replacing alcohol at a dinner. Beverage form, 5 mg, sip slowly. Onset matches a glass of wine.
What to do if you took too much
- 01
You will be okay. No one has ever died from a THC overdose. Worst case is 4–8 unpleasant hours.
- 02
Hydrate. Water, a small amount of food.
- 03
Quiet, dim space. Lying down often makes it worse; sitting up with a calming environment is better.
- 04
CBD blunts THC. A pure-CBD tincture (10–20 mg) or CBD-flower hit can reduce THC peak intensity by occupying the binding-modulation pathways. Counterintuitive but well-documented.
- 05
Black peppercorns. Chew a few. Beta-caryophyllene from black pepper binds CB2 and is anecdotally calming. Worth trying if available.
- 06
Time. The peak passes. Most overshoot resolves within 4 hours.
- 07
Do not call paramedics unless there are heart-rate abnormalities you can't manage, severe vomiting, or symptoms in someone with an underlying cardiac or psychiatric condition.
Compliance
Adults 21+ only · Keep out of reach of children and pets · Cannabis cannot be transported across state lines · Do not drive or operate machinery under the influence · NV state cap: 100 mg THC per edibles package · Single-transaction cap: 2.5 oz flower or 0.25 oz (1/4 oz) concentrate.
For format detail by category, see Edibles Near Me. For cannabinoid science, see Cannabinoids Explained. For tolerance reset, see Tolerance Break.
Greenleaf Wellness is licensed by the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board. 1730 Glendale Avenue, Sparks NV 89431. Adults 21+ only. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
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Questions worth asking, answers from real budtenders.
1730 Glendale Avenue · Sparks NV · 8 AM–10 PM daily.
You must be 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID to purchase cannabis products at Greenleaf Wellness.
Cannabis may impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of cannabis.
Greenleaf Wellness is a licensed Nevada cannabis dispensary operating under retail license D056 and cultivation license RC050, regulated by the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board. Cannabis cannot be transported across state lines.