The dosing ladder
Brand-new users: 2.5 mg. Occasional users: 5-10 mg. Regular users: 10-25 mg. Tolerant users: 25-50 mg. Above 50 mg, you're in heavy territory — diminishing returns and increased risk of an uncomfortable experience. Michigan edibles must be sold in 100 mg total packages (10x10 mg, 20x5 mg, 40x2.5 mg are common splits).
Why edibles hit different
Swallowed THC passes through the liver, where it's converted to 11-hydroxy-THC. That metabolite is more potent and longer-lasting than the THC you inhale from flower or vape. A 10 mg gummy can feel like 25 mg of smoked flower. This is why edibles surprise even experienced flower users.
The 90-minute rule
Onset for swallowed edibles is 60-90 minutes. On a full stomach it can stretch to 2 hours. The biggest mistake new users make is redosing at the 45-minute mark — then the original dose hits, plus the new one, and you're well past where you wanted to be. Set a timer. Wait the full window.
What to do if you took too much
Edibles peak around 2-3 hours and last 4-8 hours. If you took too much: stay calm, hydrate, eat plain food (no fats), find a quiet space, and sleep if you can. CBD can blunt the high — a high-CBD edible or tincture taken alongside helps. You cannot overdose on cannabis in a medically dangerous way, but a heavy edible can feel rough for a few hours.
Stacking edibles with flower or vape
Edibles + inhaled cannabis compound. If you've already smoked or vaped, drop your edible dose by half. If you eat first, wait the full onset window before adding inhaled cannabis. Stacking sloppy is the fastest path to feeling overwhelmed.
- Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency — adult-use marihuana rules and bulletins index — Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency
- Grotenhermen F — Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids — Clinical Pharmacokinetics (via PubMed)