What strength of THC is safe?

• Start with products containing 1–5mg THC or less than 20% THC per serving, California's Department of Cannabis Control recommends.
• Look for the ratio of THC to CBD: Newbies might prefer a higher-CBD-lower-THC ratio.

Cannabis drink serving sizes vary.

• Don't assume: Cannabis drinks often contain multiple servings.
• For example, Cann drinks contain two 2mg servings (4mg THC per can). But CQ brand bottles pack 100mg of THC — 50 servings in one container.

Is the CBD or THC product unregulated?

• To stay safe, look up the brand to see if it's had labeling violations — and check the California cannabis recalls portal.
• Look for a certificate of analysis (COA), typically found via a QR code on the product's label.

Smoking weed vs. eating an edible

• If you're smoking or vaping, wait between puffs to feel the full effect, California's Department of Cannabis Control says.

• If you're taking an edible, remember it can take hours before it really kicks in. "Once you feel an effect, it's going to last a long time," Ziva Cooper, director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, tells Axios.

Rule of thumb: "Start low and go slow."

More from Axios:

• THC levels have quadrupled since the '90s
• Where marijuana is legal and for what use
• Hemp-derived THC: The "junk food" of cannabis?