CBD Dosage: How Much Should You Take?
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bryan Doner, Chief Medical Director — Written by Christopher Visser, Founder of Cannabidiol Life & THCGummies.com — Updated on November 9, 2020.
DISCLAIMER:
CBD Dosage is one of the most important topics in regards to adding CBD to your diet and life. This article is based on time-relevant medical and scientific research studies. This information is our opinion and should never replace the direct guidance of a medical professional. All recommendations for medical cannabis dosing should be monitored by your medical-cannabis-qualified physician.
INTRODUCTION:
Learn how to accurately calculate your own individual CBD dosage, A.K.A. your very own “CBD sweet spot”.
This is the best way to make sure that you get the desired effects from CBD that you’re seeking.
Let’s begin…
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Is CBD Dosage?
If you do a search for “CBD dosage definition“, you will not find a credible source…
until now.
Below we have authoritatively defined each word separately, to which then, we defined these words conjunctively.
CBD Definition:
CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is a non-intoxicating as well as the second most popular cannabinoid (chemical compound) naturally found in Cannabis plants. [1]
Dosage Definition:
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, it is the addition of an ingredient or the application of an agent in a measured dose. [2]
Now that we understand these terms individually, we can put them together accurately. With the help of Jessica Arent, Director of CBD Compliance, here is the first credible definition for CBD dosage.
CBD Dosage Definition:
The specific amount of CBD that a person/patient has been suggested/prescribed to ingest, inhale, or apply.
As you see now, CBD can be consumed pretty much just like any other nutritional supplement, but with a few more options!
HOW TO TAKE CBD
Most people assume that eating CBD is the only way to take it, this couldn’t be more wrong. Here are the three most common ways of consuming that you should learn before blindly deciding your CBD intake method.
INGESTIBLE CBD (Sublingual & Edibles):
This is perhaps the most popular way of taking CBD because there are so many different options to choose from. These include, but not limited to the following options:
- CBD Oil
- CBD Tinctures
- CBD Gummies
- CBD Capsules
- CBD Edibles
- CBD Isolate
- CBD Water
- CBD Distillate
CBD topicals, A.K.A. Appliable CBD, are CBD products that are specifically designed to be consumed through our biggest bodily organ, our skin. While this method is the second most popular, it is considered the safest CBD intake method.
The 3rd most popular way to take CBD is through inhalation (vaping and smoking). Now, it is extremely hard to accurately dose CBD when inhalation is the form of intake because the amount of CBD inhaled depends on the length of the breath taken.
Longer breath in = more milligrams of CBD
Shorter breath in = fewer milligrams of CBD
IMPORTANT FACT TO REMEMBER…
Everyone has different needs.
These “needs” (your needs), should definitely be examined in order to justify your method of CBD consumption. The question now is…
“What’s the best way to calculate your individual CBD dose?”
HOW TO CALCULATE
The following three resources are considered the best ways to QUICKLY and ACCURATELY calculate how much CBD you should be taking.
#1. MATH FORMULA (manual)
By using our Medical Professional approved mathematical formula, we’re able to calculate and suggest accurate CBD dosages anywhere and anytime. By having a very specific dosage mathematical formula, we’re able to accurately find CBD dosing recommendations; now you can too!
If you don’t like manual calculations, do not fret as we also have an automatic CBD oil dosage calculator as well!
Best CBD DOSAGE FORMULA
For ingestible CBD products, here is the standard formula for you to use in order to calculate the perfect CBD Serving Size:
Body Weight (lbs) x 0.325mg (CBD) = Recommended CBD MG Dose
Here is a real-life scenario/example:
If John or Jane Doe weighed 150lbs, this would be the mathematical equation:
150lbs x 0.325mg of CBD = 49.75mg of CBD
(round up to 50 mg of CBD to make life easier)
#2. CBD OIL DOSAGE CHART (semi-manual)
We’ve created the following CBD Dosage Chart for further understanding as well as to provide another CBD dosing tool for your discretional use.
#3. CBD Dosage Calculator (automatic)
Use this automatic CBD dose calculating service created and provided by Cannabidiol Life.
Let education continue!
Next up, some direct information on the use of CBD in the medical field.
CBD DOSING MISCONCEPTIONS
- Disregard product labels and begin with a low dose of CBD and work your way up as needed. At Cannabidiol Life, we disagree with this method and we actually recommend taking a high CBD dose and work your way down. We don’t want you to waste money or second guess the powers of CBD by not experiencing how amazing it works with our Endocannabinoid System (E.C.S.).By taking lower doses or by decreasing your CBD serving size, you run the risk of actually wasting money and NEVER finding your CBD sweet spot… not getting relief immediately is our biggest fear.
Our advice: Get the relief you’re looking for then work your way down to save money. We also recommend speaking with a medical professional prior to your first CBD dose.
- The higher the concentration of CBD, the more effective it will be.
- You only need 25mg per dose of CBD
- CBD dosage shouldn’t be adjusted regardless of the type of CBD product (full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, pure CBD) being consumed
- The active ingredients and carrier oils used does not have an effect on the absorption or bioavailability of your CBD
Common METRIC CONVERSIONS You Should Know
Since there are so many different CBD products on the market, I can almost guarantee that you will need to convert some of the metrics used to measure both the CBD content as well as the volume of the product. The top 3 most used conversions are as followed:
- Drops to ML
- MG to GRAM to KG
- MG to ML
DROPS TO ML CALCULATOR:
how many drops are in an ml?
There are 20 CBD drops per milliliter of CBD.
MG TO KG CALCULATOR:
How many mg in a kg?
- 1,000 mg of CBD = 1 gram of CBD
- 1,000 grams of CBD = 1 kilogram of CBD
- 1,000,000 milligrams of CBD = 1 KG of CBD
MG TO ML CALCULATOR:
how many milligrams in a milliliter?
1 mg of CBD is equal to 1 mL of CBD.
HOW TO AVOID UNWANTED CBD SIDE EFFECTS & DOSING ERRORS
- Choose and use either the CBD dosage mathematical formula, CBD dosage chart, or CBD dosage calculator to create an actual CBD dosage plan
- Choosing unit based CBD products like CBD Gummies & CBD Capsules. These have a set amount of CBD per unit. The only downfall is that it’s kind of hard to hit your exact recommended CBD dose. Either way, their an excellent alternative to tinctures because the dose is automatic.
- If the company you are buying from doesn’t offer you dose information on their website or on their product label, DO NOT BUY and REPORT them.
6 Reasons You Didn’t Get The Results You Wanted
The CBD industry is getting more regulated as time passes by. Unfortunately, the CBD industry was not really regulated at all for a while. In a non-monitored industry, sadly, people take advantage of others by either offering the wrong information or by falsifying the actual CBD content inside the product.
Nonetheless, we’d like to share with you the six most common reasons why you didn’t get the CBD results you were looking for:
1. YOU DIDN'T TAKE ENOUGH
Our studies suggest that each person needs to multiply their weight (lbs) by 0.325mg of CBD. This is your minimum suggested CBD dose.
Failure to take this minimum usually leads to insufficient results.
2. YOU STOPPED TAKING CBD TOO SOON
Most people tend to stop taking CBD too early, completely missing the homeostasis opportunity within the Immune and Central Nervous System.
We always recommend taking CBD for a minimum of 45 days. After 45 days, we recommend decreasing your CBD dosage slowly until you reach 25mg per serving (daily wellness dose).
3. BIOAVAILABILITY & ABSORPTION FACTORS
Another factor that could prevent CBD from producing the excellent results that we all read about is the actual bioavailability of the product and whether or not your body is in a position to absorb the CBD in the first place.
- CBD users miss out on an average of 30-60% of their CBD dose due to natural environmental exposures and low bioavailability
- Diets Rich In Omega-3 fatty acids Increase CBD Bioavailability
Meaning, if you can increase your omega-3 intake in your daily diet, theoretically, CBD will be more bioavailable [3]. - High Cortisol Levels Reduce CBD Bioavailability
Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone”. Therefore, someone with high-stress levels will usually need a higher dose of CBD in comparison to someone with low levels of Cortisol [4].
4. THE QUALITY OF CBD WAS SUBPAR
Always check the COA (certificate of analysis). A COA is a third-party lab report that tests the quality (purity percentage) of the available and detectable cannabinoids that are inside the product.
5. YOU TOOK A "CBD PRODUCT" THAT HAD NO CBD
Unfortunately, there are companies out there that do not have your best interest in mind. That is why the FDA has sent out multiple rounds of warning letters to companies that are making incorrect CBD claims as well as falsifying the CBD content inside of the product.
Always check the Certificate of Analysis to verify quality before you buy it.
6. YOU PURCHASED THE WRONG TYPE OF CBD PRODUCT FOR YOUR NEEDS
There is a huge difference between full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs pure CBD products when it comes to the overall quality but also, the effectiveness of the product.
We highly recommend reading and learning about the multiplying effect of the entourage effect.
FAQ’s
Is CBD Addictive?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, CBD isn’t addictive, and when someone stops using it, there are no withdrawal symptoms either.
Will Taking CBD Make Me Fail A Drug Test?
Since CBD is not psychotropic (does not cause a high), which is certainly NOT the case with its sister cannabinoid, THC, you should never fail a drug test. Drug tests are for the detection of THC, not CBD.
Will CBD Make Me High?
CBD cannot and will not cause you to get high. In fact, this study shares that CBD might even counteract the side effects of THC by binding to CB1 receptors first, disallowing THC to bind at free will.
What's The Best Way To Take CBD?
There are a lot of ways to take CBD, including in capsules, in a tincture or spray, added to a drink, in creams and lotions, candy, in a vape, and others.
If you want to know exactly how many milligrams (CBD dosage) you’re taking, the best way is the capsule (or a gummy) as the bottle will tell you exactly how much is in each capsule. If you’re using a tincture, it would be difficult to get the exact dose you’re looking for. Another benefit of capsules is that there’s no taste. With tinctures, there’s going to be a taste, and tinctures don’t always taste great.
The fastest way to feel the effect is to use a tincture or spray and place the CBD under your tongue and letting it be absorbed by the mucous membranes in your mouth for 60 to 90 seconds. Many people will feel the effect in around 20 minutes. If you take it in a capsule, or if you swallow a CBD liquid, it has to pass through your digestive system and be metabolized by your liver, so it could take an hour or two hours. Using CBD topically is better for dealing with chronic pain in a specific area.
Speed isn’t necessarily the most important factor in choosing how to take CBD. For some people adding it to their drink or smoothie is the most convenient, and for others, a capsule is best. No matter which way you choose, it’s a good idea to time it for the best effect. If you’re taking it to sleep better, you may want to take a capsule a couple of hours before bed, or a tincture 20 minutes before going to sleep.
CBD oil dosages (CBD consumption intervals) should be based on the suggested serving size that is recommended and found on the label of the CBD product.
In response to the above, we say “YES” and “MAYBE”.
Here’s why…
We say, “YES”, in regards to following the instructions on the CBD Product label, we would never recommend doing otherwise as we have no idea what’s inside someone else’s product and we would hope to assume that they know their product enough to give general guidance.
The problem with that is, the CBD industry is being built on an unbeaten path. There are no road signs or specific directions. That is where our “Maybe” comes into play.
We use the word maybe because there have been countless instances where big-name CBD companies have been scrutinized (publicly) for mislabeling their products.
Therefore, our recommendation is the folto base your dose on scientific research AS WELL AS follow the guidance of the product label a medical professional. Further, we invite you to use this article and our cited sources as useful references to share with your primary care physician in order to more accurately find your CBD dosage sweet spot.
How Should I Store My CBD Between Dosages?
The absolute best storage practices for CBD products are to store up high, away from the reach of children. Also, store in a cool, dark, and dry place. Lastly, remember that CBD has a recommended shelf life of 365 days. If your CBD product doesn’t have an EXPIRY DATE, report that company as they are breaking CBD labeling laws.
When should you increase your CBD dosage?
When should you decrease your CBD dosage?
How Long Does CBD Take To Work?
This really depends on which type of CBD you are consuming. Ingestible CBD products can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours to kick in.
With CBD smokable products, such as CBD vape juice or CBD cigarettes, you could experience relief in seconds to a few minutes. Lastly, topical CBD.
On average, you can experience relief in under 10 minutes if the product is of good quality.
How Many Doses Should I Take Per Day?
You shouldn’t have to take CBD more than 3-4 times in a single day regardless of the condition. If you end up finding yourself taking more than 4 doses of CBD per day, simply increase your current CBD dose by 30%; monitor and adjust as needed.
How Often Should I Take CBD?
While there is no evidence suggesting that you can take too much CBD, a good rule of thumb is to follow the product label instructions and double-check the suggestions with a medical professional.
If you are consuming CBD topically, you can take it as much as you need to.
Is CBD Legal?
Short answer, No. CBD is legal at a Federal Level, but each state has the option to rebuke it if they want to. It’s important to know that CBD that is extracted from Industrial hemp plants are LEGAL, CBD that is extracted from high-THC cannabis plants is very ILLEGAL. Your CBD product must be below 0.3% in order to be considered legal.
Do You Need A Prescription For CBD Oil?
CAN YOU OVERDOSE BY TAKING TOO MUCH CBD?
A very popular question indeed, according to the NIH, the answer is no.
HOW MUCH CBD IS CONSIDERED TOO MUCH FOR A SINGLE DOSE?
Carrier oils (MCT, Olive, Hemp Seed, etc), body weight, cortisol-levels, and the number of liver enzymes available are the key essential factors that can affect the suggested CBD serving size.
- CBD products that are infused with carrier oils containing MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides), will be more readily absorbed than those without fatty acids
- People who are heavier (weigh more) will need a higher dose than those who weigh less
- People with high cortisol levels will need a higher CBD dosage than those with low cortisol levels
- Taking CBD after a big meal is a definite “no-no”. Your liver enzymes would most likely deplete trying to dissolve the previously eating meal, leaving no liver enzymes to properly digest the CBD you took after.
LOCATION-BASED CBD DOSAGE RECOMMENDATIONS
Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to personalized CBD dose recommendations. However, a lot of people seem to really go for the 25 mg CBD per serving suggestion. Coincidentally, this is the same CBD potency found in each one of our CBD gummies and CBD capsules.
While 25 mg of CBD is common, our experience says this simply isn’t enough.
Based on the varying national and international average weights of people from around the world, we’re able to use our CBD dosage calculator to confidently average out and suggest a specific beginner’s dose of CBD to people all around the globe.
Below you will find the average human weight per continent Here is what we came up with:
- North America: 177.9 pounds
Therefore, the average CBD dose for people living in the United States & Canada is approximately 57.8 mg of CBD - Australia: 163.4 pounds
Therefore, the average CBD dose for people living in Australia is approximately 53.1 mg CBD - Europe: 156.1 pounds
Therefore, the average CBD dose for people living in Europe is approximately 50.7 mg CBD - South America: 149.7 pounds
Therefore, the average CBD dose for people living in South America is approximately 48.7 mg CBD - Africa: 133.8 pounds
Therefore, the average CBD dose for people living in Africa is approximately 43.5 mg CBD - Asia: 127.2 pounds
Therefore, the average CBD dose for people living in Asia is approximately 41.3 mg CBD
When considering these national averages of weight per person as well as our suggested CBD dosage formula (weight multiplied by 0.325mg), we realize that the average CBD dose per person in America
TALK TO A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
When it comes to working out which dosage of CBD you should use, talking to your doctor is your best bet. While not all doctors will be able to provide information on CBD — depending on the laws in your state — some may be able to help recommend dosages or high-quality brands. Speak with your doctor before trying CBD, especially if you’re currently taking any medications.
BOTTOM LINE: HOW MUCH CBD SHOULD YOU TAKE?
Take your weight in pounds (lbs) and multiply it by 0.325mg of CBD. The result will be the exact amount of CBD that you should take or at minimum, start off with.
Last medically reviewed on November 9nd, 2020.
32 Sources:
Cannabidiol Life has strict editorial guidelines. We strictly source our information from certified medical professionals, scientific data, clinical trial results, peer-reviewed studies, and academic research institutions. We avoid news media outlets to the utmost degree.
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/CBD
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dosage
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- Labeling Accuracy of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.11909
- Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.11909
- DOI: 10.1007/s11920-017-0775-9
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