Is 10 milligrams of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in an edible excessive?

From the Guidelines

For most beginners, 10mg of THC in an edible is likely too much, and I recommend starting with 2.5-5mg of THC if you're new to cannabis edibles. THC affects everyone differently based on factors like body weight, metabolism, tolerance, and individual sensitivity 1. Edibles take longer to take effect (30-90 minutes) but produce stronger and longer-lasting effects (4-8 hours) compared to smoking. Taking too much can lead to uncomfortable experiences including anxiety, paranoia, increased heart rate, and intense sedation. If you're experienced with cannabis, 10mg might be appropriate, but it's always safer to start with a lower dose and gradually increase as needed. You can always take more if the effects aren't sufficient, but you can't undo consuming too much. If you do consume too much, stay hydrated, find a calm environment, and remember the effects will eventually subside. Some key points to consider when using cannabis edibles include:

• Starting with a low dose and gradually increasing as needed
• Being aware of the potential for increased absorption when taken with a high-fat meal
• Understanding that the onset of effects may be delayed, and stacking doses can lead to adverse effects
• Recognizing the potential for drug-drug interactions, particularly with warfarin, buprenorphine, and tacrolimus 1
• Considering the limited high-quality clinical evidence on using cannabis and/or cannabinoids for management of cancer treatment-related toxicities, palliation of cancer symptoms, or improvement of QOL with cancer 1.

From the Research

THC Dosage in Edibles

• The question of whether 10mg of THC in an edible is too much depends on various factors, including individual tolerance, age, sex, and genetic polymorphisms 2.
• Research suggests that the response to cannabis products is biphasically dose-dependent, with low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition, and wide individuality in responses 2.
• The safest way to use cannabis-containing food products is to start low, go slow, and stay low, as the exact same dose and preparation of cannabis may be beneficial for some but toxic to others 2.

Adverse Effects of High THC Dosage

• Adverse effects from higher doses of THC can include fear, distrust, and a profound state of unease, hallucinations, ataxia, stupor, and seizures 3.
• Long-term use of high THC doses can result in respiratory and cardiovascular toxicity and has been associated with a range of psychiatric conditions 3.
• Children are more susceptible to cannabis toxicity, particularly seizures and coma, and therefore may require additional supportive care for these potential symptoms 3.

Factors Affecting THC Response

• The response to cannabis products depends on exposure factors (delivery route, duration, frequency, and interactions with food and drugs), individual factors (age, sex), and susceptibility factors (genetic polymorphisms of cannabinoid receptor gene, N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing enzymes, THC-metabolizing enzymes, and epigenetic regulations) 2.
• Regular cannabis users may develop tolerance to the effects of acute cannabis administration, with cognitive function showing the highest degree of tolerance 4.
• The acute intoxicating, psychotomimetic, and cardiac effects of THC are also blunted upon regular exposure, but to a lesser extent 4.

Edible Cannabis Products

• Edible cannabis products with different levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) can have varying effects on users, with THC-dominant products producing more intense subjective effects 5.
• Participants who used a CBD product reported less intoxication relative to participants who used a THC+CBD or THC-only product, suggesting that CBD may mitigate some of the effects of THC 5.
• Further research is needed to establish whether edible cannabis products with CBD pose less risk to users and to examine whether these effects generalize to samples of infrequent users 5.