What to Expect Your First Dab: Effects, Dose, and Duration
Your first dab hits within seconds and lasts 1 to 3 hours. Here is what it feels like, how much to use, and what to do if the high is too strong.
How to take a marijuana dab safely
Take a dab in four steps. Measure 5 mg to 10 mg THC. Heat the nail to the temperature from the device maker. Let the nail cool. Inhale one short pull. Use a carb cap and a water pipe. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before a second dab. Do not drive. Do not mix with alcohol.
What to Expect Your First Dab: Effects, Dose, and Duration
A dab is a dose of cannabis concentrate. THC content in concentrates can run from 60% to 90%. A 1 g jar at 70% THC holds 700 mg THC. A 10 mg THC dose is 0.014 g of that product. A 5 mg dose is 0.007 g.
best way to take a dab at home
Measure the dose
Read the product label. Find the THC percentage. Use a 0.001 g scale to weigh the dab. Start at 5 mg THC. Keep the first dab at or below 10 mg THC. A rice grain size is a rough guide, not a dose. Potency varies by product and batch.
how to take a dab without a rig
- New users: 5 mg THC.
- Users with tolerance: 10 mg THC.
- No label: use a dose the size of a grain of rice and stop after one pull.
Set up the rig
Use a clean water pipe, a quartz banger or a device with temperature control, a dab tool, a carb cap, and a torch. Fill the pipe with water. Keep the torch upright. Set the torch on a stable surface. Keep paper, cloth, and alcohol away from the flame. Open a window or use a room with airflow.
step by step how to take a dab
Clean resin from the banger with 91% isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab after the banger cools. Do not use a hot banger with alcohol.
Heat and cool the nail
Heat the banger with the torch. Move the flame over the quartz. Stop when the banger reaches the target temperature. Many rigs work at 450 F to 600 F. A device with a digital coil removes guesswork. Without a thermometer, heat the banger, then wait 30 to 45 seconds before the dab. Test the heat with a small dab. If the oil burns and the vapor smells harsh, wait longer next time.
Inhale one pull
Place the dab on the dab tool. Touch the dab to the banger. Put the carb cap on the banger. Inhale a short pull. Stop at one pull. Do not hold vapor in the lungs. Holding vapor does not add THC to the blood. It can irritate the throat.
Wait 10 to 15 minutes. Inhaled THC reaches peak effects in about 10 to 15 minutes. Take a second dab after 10 to 15 minutes if the first dose has no effect.
Lower the risk
- Do not drive or operate machinery after a dab.
- Do not mix cannabis with alcohol or sedatives. The combo can raise impairment and nausea.
- Use legal products from licensed sellers. Black market THC vapes have a link to EVALI.
- Keep dabs away from children and pets. Store them in a locked box.
- Do not use cannabis if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under 21, or have heart disease.
- Stop use if you have repeated vomiting, stomach pain, or a need for hot showers. These are signs of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome.
Handle a bad reaction
High THC can cause anxiety, paranoia, a fast heartbeat, nausea, and dizziness. Stop use. Sit down. Drink water. Move to a quiet room. Most reactions pass in a few hours. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for chest pain, fainting, repeated vomiting, or confusion. Call 911 for trouble breathing or a seizure.
Store the product
Keep concentrate in the original package. Store it in a cool, dark place. A locked box adds a barrier for children and pets. Label the box. Record the THC percentage and the date you opened the product. Do not use a product with mold, a change in smell, or a broken seal.