Everything You Need to Know About Microdosing Psychedelics and Cannabis

Microdosing psychedelic and psychoactive substances is said to have a range of potential benefits. While it shouldn’t result in a psychedelic experience, it is thought to be able to lift people’s energy and cognition and can potentially change lives.

In this very simple overview, we explore microdosing in general, so you can get a sense of what it is, how it works, and if it’s for you. If it is, then we have more dedicated articles about specific drugs.

What is microdosing?

Microdosing is a slightly contested term, but the most common definition states that a microdose is sub-perceptual—that is, a dose of drug that cannot be consciously perceived by the user. Despite not having effects that can be perceived phenomenologically, microdosing is said to offer subtler effects that can accrue over time if a schedule is maintained.

While most microdosing guides suggest taking sub-perceptual doses, some proponents of microdosing take doses that are perceptible but don’t cause what most people would describe as a “high”. Rather, the effects of these perceptual doses are characterised by a slight heightening of the senses and perhaps increased energy. In reality, it’s very hard to draw a line between sub-perceptual and perceptual, as some people state that they feel energised on a sub-perceptual dose, whereas others argue that this feeling is inherently perceptual.

An easier way of thinking about microdosing is that it involves taking very small doses of a drug, leaving users able to continue with their day as normal.

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How much is a microdose?

A microdose is commonly assumed to be between 1/10th and 1/20th of a normal dose. The amount not only differs greatly depending on the drug in question, but the specific strength of the drug as well. For reference, a typical psilocybin microdose could be around 0.1 grams of dried magic mushrooms.

But if you intend to start microdosing, it’s important to do some more in-depth research on your drug of choice to get an idea of where to start. And, most importantly, adjust the dosage to whatever feels right for you! Microdosing is by no means an exact science, so it’s up to you to decide what feels appropriate.

The origins of microdosing

Albert Hofmann, the man who synthesised LSD, is said to be the first to suggest the practice microdosing. He claimed that doing so with LSD could have beneficial physical and mental effects. Hofmann himself microdosed into his old age, taking long walks through the woods on low doses of acid. And it seems he must have been doing something right, as he lived to 102.

Since then, Dr James Fadiman has become known as the “Father of Microdosing”. He conducted some of the most important research into psychedelics in the 1960s, before it became illegal. Since 2010, he has been the leading researcher and proponent of microdosing, and created the “Fadiman protocol”, which is the most popular microdosing schedule.

The recent popularity of microdosing can be traced to Silicon Valley in California. For better or for worse, it’s among software developers that the new microdosing craze took off. They claimed it made them happier, more productive, more efficient and, ultimately, richer—and so it spread.

And now there is growing evidence that microdosing can be helpful for people in a number of ways.

Which substances can you microdose?

While microdosing began with LSD and psilocybin, the practice has been expanded to include the likes of various other drugs, including the following:

• LSD: 10–20 micrograms

• Psilocybin: 0.1 g of dried shrooms

• Mescaline: 10 mg of freebase; 1–3 g of dried cactus

• DMT: <10 mg

• Cannabis: 2.5 mg of dried flower

• Ketamine: 0.5 mg/kg

Microdosing cannabis vs psychedelics

Depending on the intentions behind your microdosing practice, you might choose to microdose cannabis instead of psychedelics. While microdosing psychedelics is more understood, many people find microdosing cannabis to be an effective way to exploit the benefits of THC without feeling too inhibited or lethargic. For instance, for those who find cannabis to be helpful in regards to sleeping, but don’t want to get stoned every night, a microdose might be exactly what they need. The same is true for those who use cannabis in hopes of boosting energy.

Some even propose that microdosing CBD could be helpful, but this is an even less-understood practice. Though technically psychoactive, CBD is not inebriating, even at high doses. Therefore, it is unclear what benefit microdosing CBD would have over taking larger amounts.

Microdosing psychedelic and non-psychedelic mushrooms

Many people start with microdosing psilocybin, as it’s easily done and safe if you inadvertently dose too high. However, non-psychedelic nootropic mushrooms are very popular these days, and some people like to microdose them too. These so-called adaptogenic mushrooms are said to offer a range of benefits, and science backs some of these claims up (Malík and Tlustoš, 2022).

Note that these mushrooms are not drugs, and therefore are unlikely to elicit a profound effect. A microdose is, in its broadest definition, a small dose of a substance that can have subtle mind-altering effects. As non-psychedelic mushrooms are at best very nutritious foods, “microdosing” them is little more than taking very small portions.

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The benefits of microdosing

The benefits of microdosing haven’t been proven, but there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to support it, and a growing body of scientific research is starting to back up certain claims. That said, the following are claims reported by the community—not proven facts.

Benefits of microdosing may include:

• Improving creativity

• Increasing feelings of general well-being

• Increasing energy levels

• Increasing empathy

• Improving productivity

• Helping with focus

• Fostering beneficial change

• Helping with being present

Potential risks of microdosing

Microdosing is generally deemed safe, but it’s not without some risks.

The primary risk is that you overdo it and end up high. Even at very low doses, psychedelics can be disinhibiting, making tasks such as driving extremely dangerous. What’s more, stressful situations can quickly become overwhelming when even slightly high, and this can pose numerous risks and disruptions.

Moreover, some people find that microdosing psychedelics can induce a sort of mania. For people with bipolar disorder, this is a particular risk (Morton et al., 2023), but reports from the community suggest that even people without bipolar disorder can experience similar but milder effects.

For some, taking regular small doses of psychedelics can stimulate the nervous system and make it very hard to calm down, even days or weeks after the last dose, in some cases. As such, it’s very important to keep an eye on yourself and to stop immediately if you find yourself becoming overly stimulated. These effects tend to feel like an overly excited/nervous feeling and can be pleasurable and uncomfortable at the same time.

Examples of a microdosing schedule

There is no single proven microdosing schedule, although a couple have emerged as the most reliable and most followed. The most common microdosing schedule is to dose every third day—this is the Fadiman protocol. The rationale behind this is that you experience the dose on one day, followed by one day of “afterglow” effects, then one “normal” day to rest and reset your tolerance.

This cycle often takes place over a period of ten weeks, during which you observe your experience, take notes, and follow your normal daily routine while doing so. Interesting changes to look out for include any modification in behaviour, outlook, emotions, and energy levels. Obviously, if any negative effects are experienced, you may choose to stop microdosing.

There are variations on this protocol. Some people prefer to microdose every fourth day or less, while others microdose sporadically, when the mood strikes them. Microdosing every day tends not to work, for two reasons; one, the body builds up a tolerance to psychedelics quickly, and so microdosing daily will bring diminishing returns. Two, microdosing daily can take a toll on the mind and tip the balance towards negative symptoms like lethargy. A similar argument applies to microdosing every other day, though this schedule does have its proponents.

Do some research and, most importantly, experiment to see what works best for you. For some people, a sporadic model works very well, listening to the rhythms of your body and mind rather than sticking to a preset schedule.

Also, note that it’s advised to take your doses early in the day, as even microdoses can make it hard to fall asleep at night.

Does microdosing really work?

It certainly seems likely that microdosing has the potential to positively influence people’s lives, as many vouch for this practice. Namely, many report increased creativity, mood, energy, and focus. However, what remains to be seen is whether microdosing is truly sub-perceptual, as most people who microdose do admit to feeling different on the days they do it. It’s also interesting to consider if taking less frequent but larger doses would have the same cumulative effects or not.

If it intrigues you, microdosing presents few risks if practised mindfully. This article only scratches the surface, so if you’re interested, take a further look at drug-specific microdosing guides.