What is THC microdosing and does it work?

THC microdosing refers to using sub-intoxicating doses of THC (typically 1–5mg) to achieve therapeutic effects without psychoactive impairment. The theoretical basis is the biphasic dose-response of THC: low doses may reduce anxiety, pain, and nausea while high doses worsen anxiety and impair cognition. A 2022 study (Cuttler et al.) found that 7.5mg THC reduced stress more effectively than placebo, while 12.5mg increased negative affect. For pain, a 2015 crossover trial found that low-dose vaporized cannabis (1.29% THC) reduced neuropathic pain more effectively than medium or high doses. However, most microdosing research is preliminary, and individual variation in THC sensitivity (driven by CYP2C9 genetics and CB1 receptor density) makes universal dosing recommendations impossible.