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In a world rife with highs and lows, discussing something as simple as cannabis potency should be a breeze, right? It’s not even really a question: Higher potency is best, always… isn’t it? The question of higher potency vs lower potency cannabis products has wracked the brains of many a stoner, but with varying degrees of success or failure.
We think this debate is a little silly, because like the plants themselves every single one of us is a unique “crop” of physical & mental health. What gets you nice and chill might blitz me out of my mind, and vice versa. Not only are our cannabis tolerances so variable from person-to-person, our ability to absorb cannabinoids & terpenes can change over time, or without any obvious explanation.
Raise your hand if you’ve been smoking a strain you always do, when suddenly you get super baked, even though the dose is the same – or even lower than your usual?! This isn’t an example of someone spiking your buds, or you “losing your tolerance” all of the sudden. It’s not even just a question of high THC vs low THC. So what gives?
The effects of high potency weed can sometimes be matched or exceeded by lower concentrations of similar phytocompounds, meaning that not every dose will hit you the same, even if you’re familiar with the type of cannabis. This is a hint from nature itself – cannabis, like much of the natural world, is unpredictable… And that’s OKAY!
We hairless apes like to think we’ve got a handle on everything, and yet nature keeps us guessing at almost every turn. We’re not here to spell out the exact formulations for the perfect dosing for every person – because that’s impossible, plants are too variable, even when professionally cultivated. What we are motivated to accomplish with this blog is to detail the benefits of low potency cannabis and high potency cannabis benefits, so that you can experience the best of both the highs and the lows.
What Is Considered High Potency vs Low Potency?
Before we figure out whether you’re a high THC vs low THC kind of person, or you’re one of those balanced bud smokers who can benefit from both ends of the potency spectrum, let’s quickly discuss the terms “high potency cannabis” and “low potency cannabis”. For the sake of this article, we will be using the term “potency” with regards to a cannabis product’s psychoactivity.
There are many people who prefer not to “get high” when consuming cannabis, but because the vast majority of stoners seek this particular characteristic of cannabis, we’ll stick to it. That being said, don’t forget that “potency” can also include factors like health benefits, such as
HIGH THC VS LOW THC
If you walk down any bustling cannabis-friendly metropolis and ask stoners “what do you consider to be high potency?” you’ll probably get hundreds, if not thousands of different answers. Sure, a hit from a 500 mg THC Disposable Vape Pen might seem like an insanely potent product to some, but for many long-time smokers & vapers this is just another weekend’s worth of fun THC time. On the flip side, a measly 10 mg of THC from a Blue Foot Gummy doesn’t sound like the most intense high you’ve ever experienced, and yet for many Canadians this is enough to send them on a fun trip down the rabbit hole.
How about those stoners in your life, maybe a friend, coworker or family member, that just seems to be born on a different planet when it comes to consuming THC. Some freaks of nature can dab in the hundreds of milligrams of THC their first time, whereas most folks have to follow the tenets of the golden rule of cannabis dosing: start low & go slowly. It’s not uncommon to be shocked or surprised even at your own ability to absorb high doses of THC without losing your head (too much).
All of this to say, and we haven’t even discussed plant genetics on top of the mystery surrounding our own personal genetic predispositions to cannabis tolerance. The point that these examples illustrate is this: everyone’s tolerance to cannabis is not just dependent on familiarity, nor is it only a matter of ‘luck of the draw’ from genetics – it’s a bit of both, and then some.
Some people can naturally – aka “without having to practice or have any prior experience” – dose some pretty insane amounts of cannabinoids & terpenes, such as with live resins, hash, shatter or any number of highly potent cannabis products.
Other people have to be very careful & calculated with their doses of marijuana, whether it’s “just a few puffs” of a joint or “half a gummy”, or specifically 6 mg of THC from their favorite cannabis tincture.
HIGH POTENCY WEED EFFECTS & LOW POTENCY WEED EFFECTS
Another point to consider is what kind of potency is in question. More often than not, “potency” refers to THC contents in a cannabis product, but let’s not forget about all the other important cannabinoids & terpenes. A potent CBD product might be in the hundreds of milligrams of Cannabidiol, and yet CBG or CBN potency values will typically be much lower – in the 20’s and 50’s – because these cannabinoids are much less prevalent in most strains of cannabis.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the one most of us are focused on or concerned with because it’s the known instigator for that “high” we get from consuming cannabis. Does this mean that Cannabidiol (CBD) is more of an inducer of the “low” chill we feel from weed? Not necessarily, but this is how most stoners divide the two most dominant cannabinoids in the market today.
Keep in mind that the phrase “high potency weed effects” sometimes scares people away from a product because they’re seeking low THC vs high THC. Since the CBD boom in 2018, millions of people all over the world have turned to the non-psychoactive effects of high CBD products to treat their pain, inflammation, sleep disorders and anxiety problems.
POTENCY = PERSONAL PREFERENCE
You can see how the separation between high potency vs low potency is not easy to define, with some people after the high potency benefits of THC and others more comfortable with low potency benefits of CBD.
One of the important takeaways we’d like you to consider is this: potency is more about your own personal preferences or needs, and less about what gives you the most noticeable feelings/effects.
Yours truly is proud to be able to eat a 250 mg THC space cookie or two, but that doesn’t mean that “my cannabis tolerance is more potent than yours” if you prefer to stick to bite-sized, 25 mg THC edibles. Potency is personal, and it matters to each of us differently because each of our health & wellness journey and circumstances are unique to each individual. It’s important that we don’t forget that in our pursuit of the best prices on the most potent cannabis products that our hard-earned money can buy.
With all theses caveats out of the way, let’s shift gears back to the dichotomy between high potency cannabis benefits vs low potency cannabis benefits.
High Potency Cannabis Benefits
We can keep this section and the next nicely short-and-sweet, because when it comes to high potency weed effects they’re pretty obvious to the common stoner: it’s all about that high, baby. Here’s a few more points on what makes high potency weed effects the most beneficial to those among you who like to ‘ride the high’:
FAST-ACTIN’
One of the best parts about sticking to the most potent stuff is how quickly it comes at you. Who has time to waste these days? Even if you’re just wasting time, getting stoned, why not get to the good part as fast as possible by consuming high doses of potent cannabis? Time is money, so less time waiting for those edibles to kick in sounds like money saved in a roundabout, stoner-logic kind of way.
LONG-LASTIN’
The ‘more the merrier’ is a phrase you’ll hear often surrounding cannabis potency, and we agree – the longer your high lasts, the better the cannabis is for you. Potent THC products deliver a quicker mind-melt, but they also typically stay in your system longer which means they’ll last for a lot longer than lower potency products. The difference in THC potency can mean the difference between getting high Friday night, and being high into Saturday!
FUN, FUNNY, FUNNIEST
A potent THC product can really make or break your night in terms of the fun-factor. Everything is just funnier, more fun and overall more enjoyable when you’re high – and what’s the best way to get more high? More potency.
INTENTIONAL INTENSITY
If you’ve got a medical need for weed, potency isn’t just a choice – it’s a necessity. Intentionally dosing higher values of cannabinoids or terpenes goes a long way towards guaranteeing those health benefits you’re after. High potency weed effects are the obvious way to go when you rely on cannabis for more than just fun or free-time.
BANG FOR YOUR BUDS
Let’s face it, prices for weed definitely reflect what you’re going to experience when you smoke it, dab it, rub it or eat it. Potency and price are forever linked, but when you shop at Haute Health you’re going to get way more buds for each buck you spend than other online dispensaries. The best way to make sure your hard-earned dollars score you the most of the best, keep Haute Health bookmarked on your homepage and you’ll never be wanting for high-potency, low-priced, high-quality cannabis.
Low Potency Cannabis Benefits
For those among you who don’t do so well with the brain buzz, body high or psychoactive properties of THC, perhaps you’re meant for a more relaxing, chill and soothing cannabis experience? If so, here’s some reasons why you might benefit from some low potency cannabis products:
SAFE & SERENE
The safer option for the more casual amongst you is to go with lower potency cannabis products. You can experience much of the same benefits, albeit to a lesser degree, when you stick with a lower potency – simply dose more often or increase to your safety/satisfaction.
MICRODOSE
Low potency cannabis benefits aren’t limited to full doses – you can microdose both high- and low-potency options to skip the high and stay at a comfortable low-key state. Microdosing usually involves taking very small amounts of potent cannabis products, but microdosing low potency ones can be equally beneficial if you figure out a balanced dosing schedule.
NONE OF THE HIGHS, NONE OF THE LOWS
Low potency weed effects might not be so noticeable, but you can keep a low profile, stay chill and feel relaxed, all while avoiding the pitfalls of scrambling your brain from too much THC. If keeping calm and carrying on is one of your mantras, then low potency cannabis is definitely your shtick.
DAYTIME FRIENDLY
For all the weekend warriors who work hard and party harder, daytime dosing might not sound like so much fun. However, a growing number of cannabis users are turning to microdosing or low-potency daily doses to help them improve their focus, productivity, mental alacrity, or cut down on detracting factors like stress, anxiety, fatigue or nausea.
PRICE IS NICE
Wait, both high potency and low potency products can make for a good deal?! Absolutely. Lower potency products are typically priced accordingly, whereas many high potency options will reflect the higher cannabinoids values in their costs. Thankfully at Haute Health, whether you’re after the highest potency or some lower concentrations, you will find exactly what you’re looking for, for an even better price than you hoped to find.
