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I’m not entirely with the group who sings the praises of cannabis for everything, but I’m convinced it’s worth a second look in microdoses to help manage stress and insomnia with significantly fewer side effects in low doses.

Many people won’t take a serious look at cannabis because they only think it’s about smoking and getting high, or they’ve heard horror stories of an edible gone awry and don’t want to risk it. I’m here to change the narrative.

So what exactly is microdosing cannabis?

Most dispensary operators will tell you that a low-dose product is around 10mg of THC per dose, but most new emerging cannabis consumers will experience quite a “high” with 10mg of THC per dose. This is important because you can easily be turned off from cannabis, or any supplement, if you have a negative experience.

I define a microdose product as one having 5mg of THC or less.

That said, I always give the advice to start low and slow and by low and slow I mean LOW and SLOW! Start with a dose of no more than 2.5mg of THC. If taken after work via an oral consumption method (via tincture or edible, not smoking), the effects will definitely kick in slowly and over time and last several hours, producing a state of relaxation. Microdoses of cannabis can also be taken orally before bed and will produce more restful, longer lasting sleep.

The reason why this works is because of the way that your body process cannabis when it’s consumed orally. When you smoke cannabis, you get very sharp peaks and valleys. When you ingest (or eat) cannabis, it is processed by your liver in a much different way. The effects build gradually and last 6-8 hours.

As mentioned previously, low-dose options are also now available in more traditional methods of administration, such as liquid tinctures and capsules. These methods of administration make it incredibly easy to know exactly what you are getting and to precisely control the dose. Just like you know that the ibuprofen you are taking for that hangover is exactly 200mg. They also offer a lot of discretion! No smell! No smoking.

I’m also convinced cannabis is a great substitute for alcohol. You don’t have to replace your alcohol consumption entirely to experience the benefits of cannabis. In low doses, people can reap many stress-reducing benefits of cannabis without experiencing any undesired side effects such as coordination issues, drowsiness, paranoia or appetite stimulation. And in low doses, there’s no “getting high.”

Another important thing to note about cannabis, especially relative to alcohol and prescription medication for stress and sleep, is that there’s never been one lethal overdose of cannabis worldwide. Not one. 100,000 Americans die every year from adverse reactions to routine use of FDA-approved prescription drugs and more than 30,000 deaths from alcohol every year, not including alcohol-related accidents or homicides, which would increase that number to almost 90,000.

Petra Mints by Kiva

My favorite microdosing product in any category for price, quality, consistency and effect is Petra Mints by Kiva. Kiva designed Petra with low dosing and new cannabis consumers in mind. With 2.5mg of THC per mint, Petra offers a reliable way to get the relaxing benefits of THC without the disruptive psychoactive effects of THC in higher doses. I’m telling you… I have tried a lot of products. A lot, in six states, and these are by far my favorite. They are portable. Taste great. Discreet. Kiva offers two flavors: Moroccan Mint and Eucalyptus, and they are both great.

Peppermint Pastilles by Goodship

If you are living in the state of Washington and looking for *the best* low dosing product on the market, the Goodship Peppermint Pastilles are the ones for you! There is excellent value with 40 mints per box and only 2.5 mg of THC per mint so the dosing is perfect for new cannabis consumers looking for a replacement to their evening glass of wine, or just to take the edge off. Another thing I like about the Pastilles is the variety of flavors. My personal favorite is the peppermint but it also comes in tart cherry and lemon-lime. There are a few annoying packaging issues here but overall, I give these great accolades for flavor, consistency and effect.