The Case for "Macro-Dosing" Cannabis

I have seen a lot of talk about micro-dosing cannabis lately and that is great but there are benefits to consuming excessively large amounts too. Micro-dosing is fine. It is approachable to newer consumers and it allows people to feel a little better without having any real sense of being altered. However, high doses of cannabis (particularly when taken orally) can be quite a different animal from the normal high one experiences from smoking or eating a small amount. It can bring one to a state of mind that borders on the psychedelic. It can provide a very intense and very altered feeling that is not quite like anything else. "Macro-dosing" can increase some the medicinal effects of the drug and this style of cannabis consumption can also be a great deal of fun. While micro-dosing does have its strengths and seems to be popular at the moment, we shouldn't forget the value of getting way too high every now and again.

Before going forward, it would be helpful to define what a "macro-dose" of cannabis actually is but doing this is more complicated than it may seem. Tolerance can very greatly from consumer to consumer and this makes determining a proper dose difficult. That being the case, it is best for an individual to decide how much weed they personally need to get into the high dose zone. A good rule would be to expect to consume more than twice the amount of a typical recreational dose. From there one can choose to consume more if he or she wishes to venture deeper into the higher end of cannabis usage but "more than double" is a good place to start.

Right about now, some of you are thinking that being too high can be unpleasant and that certainly can be true but this is less of a problem that one may think. If someone is going into the experience with the knowledge that he or she will be way more stoned than normal, the likelihood of a "bad trip" is greatly decreased because the intense buzz doesn't come as an unwelcome surprise. Even if a "freak out" does start to overwhelm a consumer, there are steps he or she can take to reduce any unwanted negative effects like anxiety or paranoia. Something as simple as changing the music or the lighting in a room can go a long way toward altering the "feel" of an experience. Sometimes eating a flavorful snack or having a stimulating beverage can also steer one away from the more unenjoyable aspects of high dose cannabis usage. The important thing to remember is that you are safe. Cannabis doesn't kill and as long as one keeps that in mind, he or she can move past any chemically induced fear.

I have heard some people compare "macro-dosing" cannabis to using psychedelics and, while I think that this is a bit of an overstatement, it is not a completely misguided view. Psychedelics can be quite a bit more "forceful" and profound in the way they alter a person's perception but cannabis has some similar qualities at very high doses. Once a person crosses a certain threshold with cannabis (particularly with edibles), the way he or she experiences the drug seems to change. The "buzz" becomes more trip-like in the sense that thought becomes very different from that of a sober mind. Strange connections become easier to make and abstract ideas seem to flow far more freely than under normal circumstances. Obviously, one will not feel as those the secrets of the universe are being reviled before his or her eyes as he or she would with psychedelics but that isn't always necessary to facilitate productive self-exploration. Sometimes the deep introspective thought and the silly mind-set that a "macro-dose" of cannabis can bring is enough to get someone to where they want to go.

Some of the medical effects of cannabis can be increased at higher doses and this adds to the value of "macro-dosing." Cannabis is well known to aid in the fight against cancer, it can reduce pain and inflammation, and has a whole host of other benefits. By significantly raising the amount one consumes, he or she adds to the effectiveness of the drug at treating some of these conditions. Cannabis is unique in this respect, since most medicine does not work in this way. Morphine would certainly help reduce a person's pain but too much could easily kill that person. Since cannabis is about as safe as a thing can be, there is no reason to stunt its medical qualities by using only low doses.

High dose cannabis usage can be great fun and that should not be discounted. It allows a person to have something a little more special than a simple "buzz" without the need to seek out a new drug. People need to cut loose every once and a while. Stress, fatigue, and the monotony of modern life can take a toll on a people's mind. Sometimes the cure for these things is as simple as a night of pure recreation and a "macro-dose" of cannabis can make that a reality. With all the talk about the medical benefits of cannabis, it is easy to forget that recreation is also a valid use. Despite what some would have us believe, pleasure and fun are not immoral nor are they unproductive.

The only warning I would give in regards to using cannabis at is extreme doses is that it should not be attempted until one has a fair amount of experience with the drug. Someone with no tolerance will likely not react well to a sudden jump in intensity. They would still be safe, of course, but the possibility of an unpleasant "trip" is greatly increased. One must know his or her own limits before he or she can venture beyond them.

Peace.

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