Budtender Training · Module 3
Dosing and Potency Education
Dosing is the number one source of bad experiences in cannabis. A two-minute dosing conversation prevents most of them.
Start low, go slow
This is the single most important phrase in cannabis consumer education. Repeat it until every customer leaves the store repeating it back to you.
- Edibles: start with 2.5mg–5mg THC for a new or occasional consumer.
- Inhalation: one puff, wait ten minutes, reassess.
- Wait the full onset time before redosing — 15 minutes for inhalation, 90 minutes for edibles.
What potency numbers mean
THC percentages on flower are not linear with effect. A 30% flower is not twice as intense as a 15% flower for an experienced user. Terpene profile, method of consumption, and tolerance all matter more than the headline number.
Edible mg in real terms
Customers often treat an edible package like a snack package. It is not. Walk them through the math: a 100mg chocolate bar with 10 squares is ten separate servings, not one chocolate bar.
Flag the green-out risk
Over-consumption is rarely medically dangerous but feels terrible. Tell customers: hydrate, eat, lie down, and wait. Reassure them it will pass in a few hours.