Microdosing with psilocybin or cannabis: what are the differences?

February 12, 2025
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4 min read

Microdosing has been gaining popularity in recent years, especially with psilocybin from magic mushrooms or truffles. But what about cannabis? Cannabis contains several cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, which can potentially affect mental health and well-being.

Yet these two drugs differ significantly in action, dosage and effect on the body. In this blog, we dive into the similarities and differences between microdosing with psilocybin and cannabis, focusing on current scientific understanding and potential risks.

What is microdosing?

Microdosing involves taking a very small dose of a psychoactive substance so that you experience the possible positive effects, but not the hallucinations or narcotic effects. Most commonly, microdosing is done with psilocybin from magic mushrooms or truffles, but some people also experiment with other substances, such as LSD and cannabis.

Microdosing is being investigated for potential benefits such as:

Improved focus and creativity (Cameron et al., 2020).
Slightly increased sense of well-being (Prochazkova et al., 2018).
Possible effect on depressive symptoms (Anderson et al., 2019).

Important to know: scientific research on microdosing is still in its infancy. Although positive experiences are being shared, many effects have not yet been adequately proven in clinical studies.

Similarities between microdosing with cannabis and psilocybin

1. Finding the right dosage is personal

Whatever drug you choose, finding your optimal dose (called the sweet spot) takes time. This is because:

Everyone has a unique metabolism.
Factors such as lifestyle, diet and genetics play a role.
Cannabis and psilocybin act on different receptor systems in the brain.

In psilocybin, serotonin plays a major role, while in cannabis, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved. This system regulates processes such as mood, sleep and pain (Lu & Mackie, 2016).

2. Personal experience varies by individual

There are many anecdotal stories of people experiencing positive effects from microdosing. For example, some people report:

Less anxiety and stress.
More clarity and focus.
A better mood.

Still, it is important to take your own experiences seriously and not rely blindly on other people’s stories. What works for one person may not necessarily have the same effect for another.

The differences between microdosing with cannabis and psilocybin

1. Mechanism of action and chemical complexity.

Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug that is converted in the body to psilocin, a substance that binds to serotonin receptors in the brain. This affects emotions, consciousness and perception.
Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds, including THC and CBD. These act on the endocannabinoid system, which plays a broader role in pain, inflammation, mood and appetite.

It means that cannabis is much less predictable when microdosing than psilocybin. Psilocybin has a more consistent effect, while cannabis is highly dependent on the strain, THC/CBD ratio and method of consumption.

2. Dosing and ease of use

Psilocybin microdosing is relatively simple: the dose is weighed out and often taken in capsules. There are ready-made microdosing truffles that are easy to dose.
Cannabis microdosing is trickier: because each plant is different, the exact concentrations of THC and CBD can vary. In addition, the method of administration plays a role:
- Smoking/vaping: Fast absorption, but difficult to dose.
- Edibles: Delayed absorption, longer effect.
- Tinctures: Better controllable, but still difficult to dose.

Is cannabis suitable for microdosing?

Although cannabis microdosing is possible, it brings additional challenges. Compared to psilocybin:

Is the dosage less accurate.
Are the effects less predictable.
Is there less scientific research on the benefits.

Want to start microdosing

Microdosing with both psilocybin and cannabis can have interesting effects, but there are important differences in action, dosage and reliability. Psilocybin is more scientifically researched, while cannabis is more complex to dose and less predictable.

Resources

Anderson, B. T., et al. (2019). “Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: Evidence and mechanisms.” Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Blessing, E. M., et al. (2015). “Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders.” Neurotherapeutics.
Carhart-Harris, R. L., et al. (2021). “Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: A randomized controlled trial.” New England Journal of Medicine.
Prochazkova, R., et al. (2018). “Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting.” Psychopharmacology.

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