Delta 8 THC is a fast-growing space within the hemp market, developing rapidly with lots of D8 brands popping up out of the blue.

Years of research have provided us with a better understanding of how cannabinoids work. Today, you can find delta 8 THC available in various products, including tinctures, capsules, concentrates, vape cartridges, gummies, and more.

If there’s one question that bothers every new delta 8 users, it relates to dosing.

There is no such thing as the best delta 8 THC dosage for everyone. Everybody is different and what works for your friend may not necessarily work for you — and vice versa.

Today we’ve prepared an all-around guide to dosing delta 8 THC. Read on to learn how to find the best delta 8 dosages for yourself.

Is Delta 8 THC Dosage the Same as CBD Dosage?

Of course, many people would assume that you can approach the dose of delta 8 THC dosage to concepts behind dosing CBD.

We’re not saying that you can’t do it, but the question is: will it be accurate?

Although there’s no evidence that delta 8 THC is toxic in any way, the standard that we use for dosing CBD doesn’t translate to other cannabinoids. Delta 8 THC is active, which means it causes a change in the perception of sensory information — unlike the completely non-psychoactive molecule, CBD.

In other words, delta 8 THC uses a different mechanism of action than CBD, so its effects on the brain are also different. For one, delta 8 THC can get you high; it’s around half as potent as delta 9, but it still has formidable psychoactive properties.

If you’re sensitive to the effects of delta 9 THC, you may want to start at low doses and gradually work your way up to the sweet spot.

What Happens if I Take Too Much Delta 8 THC?

So, what can happen to you when you go overboard with delta 8 THC?

You’ll likely feel dizzy and confused. Some people who are not used to THC may experience feelings of unease for a brief period of time, but even high doses of delta 8 won’t get you as anxious as delta 9 THC when it backfires.

According to various estimates, the high produced by delta 8 THC is around 50–70% of the high created by delta 9 without side effects such as anxiousness, paranoia, and racing heart. Most users describe it as a body high that makes them feel elevated; the specific effects of delta 8 THC are dose-dependent; for example, lower doses tend to have an invigorating effect, while higher doses might kill any motivation you have.

Delta 8 THC Dosage: Understanding Potency

Your optimal delta 8 THC dosage depends on two factors: the strength of your product (the total number of milligrams) and the strength of delta 8 THC per milligram.

Different companies use different strengths and volumes in their products. For example, some sell delta 8 THC tinctures in 30 mL bottles, while others use 60 mL containers. The same pattern applies to gummies, vapes, and other forms of d8.

You want to figure out the number of milligrams of actual delta 8 THC in a single serving. Delta 8 companies provide their serving recommendations on the product’s label so that new users can easily estimate how much delta 8 THC they need to achieve the expected results.

For liquid products like tinctures and vape carts, the strength of delta 8 THC is measured in milligrams per milliliter. For example, our delta 8 THC tincture contains 1200 mg of delta 8 in 30 mL. Therefore, a single serving of this tincture — 1 mL — contains approximately 40 mg of delta 8. This is enough to provide effects in even the most seasoned cannabis users — so if you haven’t taken delta 8 THC before, we suggest that you start with about a quarter of a dropper.

Solid products, such as gummies and capsules, come with a premeasured dose of delta 8 THC in each piece, so there’s no measuring involved. You take as many capsules or gummies as you need to meet your dosage requirements, and that’s it.

Delta 8 THC Dosage Chart

• 1st Delta 8 THC Dosage Tier (low tolerance): 5 – 15 mg per serving
• 2nd Delta 8 THC Dosage Tier (medium tolerance): 15 – 45 mg per serving
• 3rd Delta 8 THC Dosage Tier (high tolerance): 45 – 150 mg+ per serving

The above chart applies to delta 8 THC tinctures, as well as other forms of administration. Delta 8 THC is around half as potent as delta 9 THC. It’s not something to mess with, though. There have been cases of people who have taken too much delta 8 THC, and it hit them too hard, making them not in full control of their cognitive functions. The best way to find the right delta 8 THC dosage is to try a little, then keep increasing until you feel satisfied with the effects.

In the next sections, we’ll share a few tips on dosing delta 8 THC depending on the product type.

How Long Does Delta 8 THC Take to Kick In?

Delta 8 THC usually kicks in within 10-20 minutes when vaped, 1-1.5 hours if ingested through tinctures, and 2+ hours when you take products like capsules or gummies.

Delta 8 THC works similarly to any other product that you would inhale or ingest. That being said, you need to be careful with the dosage, as some products (e.g., gummies and capsules) may cause you to think that you need to take more to get high, while in reality, they have a delayed onset and thus need more time to reach the bloodstream.

To sum up, we recommend waiting at least 2 hours before taking another dose of delta 8 THC.

Delta 8 THC Dosing Guide

A delta 8 THC dosage chart is a good starting point if you want to find the right amount for yourself without experiencing any side effects. You can use the chart below to find your ideal starting dose. It’s a good idea to start with the lower dose, and then increase the dose for each session until you find the desired effects.

The consumption method is another important factor because it determines the product’s bioavailability and the duration and onset of effects.

The reason why we need to cover each consumption method is simple; each of these formats affects your body in a slightly different way. For example, one method takes more time to absorb, while others may hit you after a few minutes. In other words, taking a 20 mg gummy can give you a subtle elevating effect, while vaping the same amount could make the high more intense.

There are also other factors to consider, such as:

1. Body mass – in essence, those with a greater body mass need higher doses than smaller users.
2. Delta 8 THC tolerance – the tolerance to delta 8 THC increases rapidly, so you need to keep it under the radar. Some people have a naturally higher tolerance to certain compounds. If you have a high tolerance to delta 9 THC, the chances are that your tolerance to delta 8 will reflect that.
3. Your goals – what is your purpose for using delta 8 THC? Are you looking for a little encouragement or do you want to have an unusual delta 8 experience?

1. Delta 8 THC Vape Dosage

Delta 8 THC vapes are among the most popular products of all, which is why we’ve brought them here first. There are three basic types of delta 8 vapes on the market: disposable vape pens, bottled e-liquids, and vape cartridges. Dosing is the same regardless of the format, so let’s get down to it without further ado.

An average single dose of vaporized delta 8 THC is one to three puffs, with one being the best starting point for new users. Factors like the depth of your inhalation and how much vapor you can draw into your lungs at once will affect the strength of your high.

To be more precise, you can take 1–5 milligrams per serving. So how do you calculate that? Well, it’s actually pretty simple.

There are about 100 puffs in one milliliter of e-liquid. So using that knowledge, we can divide the number of milligrams of delta 8 in the total vape product by its volume (the number of milliliters in the bottle, cartridge, or pen. Then you divide that number by 100, and it tells you how many puffs you need to reach your dosage.

Our pens provide about 4 mg of delta 8 THC per puff — so a standard dose is anywhere between 1 and 5 puffs. Experienced users may take up to 10 puffs on the pen at a time for very strong effects.

2. Delta 8 THC Hemp Flower Dosage

Delta 8 THC flower is just CBD hemp flower infused with a delta 8 THC distillate. Like vapes, you should take 1.5 milligrams, or 1–3 puffs, as a good amount to start with. However, delta 8 THC flowers are more difficult to dose because the delta 8 may not be evenly distributed throughout the bud. Therefore, when you take those 1–3 puffs, we suggest that you wait 20 minutes after taking the first one, especially if you’re new to THC.

3. Delta 8 THC Gummies Dosage

Edibles like delta 8 THC gummies come with a standard dosage between 10–40 milligrams per piece. Ten mg is ideal for total beginners; when you take one gummy, it’s best to wait about 2 hours to let the effects develop, and once they do, you can see how you feel and adjust the dosage as needed.

Our gummies contain 20 mg of delta 8 THC each — so the recommended dose is between half a gummy and 2 gummies per dose.

4. Delta 8 THC Capsules Dosage

Like gummies, delta 8 THC capsules are easy to dose out, as the bottle gives you precise information about the total amount of delta 8 and the number of milligrams in each serving. Usually, one capsule counts as a single serving, according to most manufacturers. Therefore, delta 8 THC capsules usually contain 25 mg of delta 8 THC per capsule.

5. Delta 8 THC Tincture Dosage

Delta 8 THC tinctures are absorbed by tiny blood vessels under the tongue. A standard dose is 20–40 milligrams. To calculate this, you need to divide the amount of delta 8 per bottle by the number of milliliters, and you’ll always know how much delta 8 THC is in a single serving.

That’s because a single dropper (1 mL) is almost always a single serving size. It’s easier to find the right dosage with delta 8 THC tinctures because they give you precise control over the amount of delta 8.

Our tinctures deliver 40 mg of delta 8 THC per mL (equal to one dropper) — so the recommended dose is between a quarter of a dropper (10 mg) and a full dropper (40 mg).

Final Thoughts on Delta 8 THC Dosage

While at first glance, finding the right delta 8 THC dosage can seem challenging, understanding how different ways of administration work in your body will help you choose the proper format and calculate the dose according to your goals with delta 8. At Area52, we provide delta 8 THC distillates in all basic forms, including tinctures, vapes, and edibles, so that new users can choose the product type according to their needs and preferences.

Use the principles and calculations above to find the right potency and dose to get a smooth experience with delta 8.