Many people rely on using cannabidiol (CBD) since it became legal in 2018. Thousands of CBD products are now available to the general public for us. How much CBD should I take? How much CBD oil can I take? If you find yourself asking these questions about a CBD dosage, this article is for you.
TL;DR – Many people will be ok starting with a CBD dosage of .15 milligrams – .25 milligrams of CBD per pound of bodyweight. Unfortunately, there is no standard CBD dosage for all forms of CBD oil products, and dosage depends on several factors.
How Much CBD Should I Take?
When it comes to figuring out a CBD dosage to use, it always depends on personal preferences, your body type/make up, as well as the form and type of CBD oil product you use.
There is no standard serving size for CBD oil products. That said, there is an accepted consensus that users must always start with the lowest dose possible to feel any effects. If you’re new to CBD oils, a good rule of thumb is to use between 0.15 milligrams – 0.25 milligrams of CBD per pound of body weight. This is an average CBD dosage, and will serve most people well. This dose can be used for people new to CBD, or seasoned CBD users alike.
If you’re unsure about the amount of CBD in a certain product, or the directions of use are unclear, check the product label.
Most CBD labels look something like this:
A proper label will have a lot information on it. If your CBD label doesn’t look like this, or is missing crucial information, please do not use it. If you can, find a different product that is properly labeled.
Some of the things to look for on your CBD label is: CBD dosage amounts, lot numbers, a QR code that links to a third party lab report, serving size info, and nutritional info.
How Much CBD Can I Take: More Info on Dosing
The effects and therapeutic benefits of CBD may vary from person to person. This means that if someone you know used 60 milligrams of CBD capsules for their back pain and reported immediate pain relief, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be an effective CBD dosage for you, too.
First time users will need to do a bit of trial and error before they can find their correct dose.
CBD amounts can be different for everybody. Even when two people weigh the same, there’s no assurance they will respond the same way to the same dose. This is largely due to how our endocannabinoid systems (ECS) work.
To be honest, this bodily system was just recently discovered in the mid 90’s. There is a lot we still don’t know about it, which is probably why we can’t give a straight answer when it comes to exactly how CBD interacts within us, or why different people feel different effects from a different CBD dosage.
The ideal dosage depends on the following factors:
- The potency of the CBD product
- Form of CBD product (tincture, topical, or edible)
- Body weight of the user
- Physiology or medical history
- The severity of the medical condition you’re treating
- Tolerance of CBD
- Individual body chemistry
These factors have to be considered when you calculate your CBD dosage. Even when a product recommends a certain dosage, you still need to consider these factors when you start your CBD journey.
If you are trying to figure out your CBD oil dosage, try using our CBD dosage calculator later on in this article. It makes life much easier on you. 🙂
First Time Users: How Many MG of CBD For Your First Time?
As mentioned previously, there is no official recommended dosage, or best CBD dosage. First time users should do exactly as instructed by the label of the product they bought in order to reach a desired effect. Look for serving sizes, amounts, and the total amount of CBD per serving.
This type of information will absolutely be found on any premium CBD oil product. If you have a CBD tincture without this information on it, please, do not use it.
For first time users dosing pure CBD oil, I would even recommend cutting the serving size in half, and seeing how your body responds. The goal should be to take the least amount of CBD possible to feel any signs of relief. Only work your way up as needed.
For example, if a label on a CBD oil tincture said one serving is 1mL at 30mg of CBD per serving, I would recommend cutting this in half to: 1/2 mL at 15mg of CBD.
First time users usually find a 1000mg CBD tincture as a great starting product. Some companies even offer a CBD starter kit that has a little bit of everything, so you can experience all the joys of the different forms of CBD – for a fraction of the price.
CBD Dosages of Different Product Types
One of the most important factors that can determine dosage is the form of CBD product you use. There will be differences in the amount of CBD that gets into your bloodstream depending on whether you used CBD drops, creams, edibles, balms, or vapes.
The term bioavailability refers to the percentage of actual CBD that gets into your bloodstream. CBD in vapes and tinctures are supposed to give you the most, because they go straight into your bloodstream.
Edibles, like gummies, need to pass through the digestive system first before being absorbed by your body. This takes time, and as you can imagine, your stomach acid can destroy some of the CBD in the process.
Topicals, on the other hand, have very little bioavailability because they affect a very exact location on your body. CBD topicals are limited in their benefits as they cannot be used for anxiety disorders, sleep, and other important health benefits of the compound. Their desired effects are usually in the form of an anti-inflammatory repose.
However, they excel at helping manage things like joint pain and arthritis issues.
Here are the estimated percentages of the bioavailability of the different forms of CBD items:
- CBD Topicals = Less than 4%
- Oil Drops = 20 to 30%
- Capsules and Edibles = 5 to 15%
- Vapes = 56%
It’s important to know this stuff, because a 25 mg serving of CBD gummies will not have the exact same bioavailability as CBD tinctures.
If you’ve used oil drops before, you’ll notice you’d need to have more CBD gummies to experience the same effects.
This isn’t a bad thing, however. Many people prefer something like CBD gummies for pain over a balm or tincture. It’s all personal preference.
Many Many MG of CBD Should I Take? Calculate CBD Dosage Here
For general purposes, here is how you can calculate your CDB dosage, all on your own:
(Your body weight) x (0.25mg of CBD) = your dosage in mg
For example: 100 pounds x 0.25mg = 25.00 mg
Alternatively, you can use this CBD oil dosage calculator to help you do the math. It’s much quicker.
This could mean for an individual who weighs 100 pounds, a dosage of 25 mg per serving is the optimal dosage. You can take one serving in the morning, and another at night for a daily dosage of 50 mg when you start using CBD.
When Should I Use More?
Research suggests that individuals who are taking CBD for the first time start with a low dosage like this and increase by 5 mg, only if you do not feel any relief from discomfort.
Nick Jikomes, a renowned neuroscientist, believes that the best CBD dosage does not exist because your body goes through physiological changes throughout your life.
A serving that may work for your insomnia today may not work for you after 6 months. Jikomes states that “there will never be a universal or static dosage because the body goes through several changes as time goes by, and so do the cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system.”
Can You Take Too Much CBD?
Experts believe that you cannot fatally overdose on CBD because the endocannabinoid system is not involved with the brain stem, which controls things like respiration.
However, there have been reports over the years of people vomiting, losing consciousness, speech slurring, and even becoming unresponsive after taking large doses of CBD. These side effects normally only show themselves when taking too much CBD, too.
Incidents like these are rare, but since studies on the effects of CBD are still in their early stages, it is always best to exercise caution. A 2011 study revealed that the human body can tolerate up to 1500mg of CBD per day without experiencing adverse side effects.
If there are side effects, though, the following are the most commonly reported:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Changes in weight
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Lower blood pressure
- Dizziness
If you don’t feel any effects after taking a certain dosage of CBD and it’s your first time taking it, please don’t take more CBD. Although CBD is considered safe, experts advise you to wait at least one week before increasing doses.
While there are no studies that conclude a maximum daily effect, you probably shouldn’t use more than 3-4 doses, per day. If you wish to exceed this ideal CBD dosage, consult your healthcare provider.
Other Important Tips
Aside from learning to calculate your personal CBD dosage, you also need to know a few things so you can take advantage of CBD’s full potential:
1. Shop Smart
Don’t just buy any CBD product you find. Always, always, always buy from companies who do third party testing. Since the FDA does not regular CBD oil products, there’s a high risk that manufacturers do not label their products properly. A certain study that reviewed 84 CBD oil products discovered that 26% were not transparent with the amount of CBD their products had.
These products contained less CBD than advertised. Third party tested products will never have this issue.
2. Talk to Your Doctor About CBD
If you have a medical condition or you had one before, talk to a doctor who knows about your medical history. He or she may help you calculate your dosage, depending on your weight, medical history, as well as the condition you’re trying to treat. There is no substitute for professional medical advice.
3. Use Before Bedtime
A dosage of CBD that’s 45mg or higher can possibly cause sedative effects. If you drive, operate machinery, or are caring for a child or elderly, don’t take more than 20mg or better yet, only use pure CBD oil products before going to sleep.
Common Questions
I’m fairly confident we answered most of your questions in regards to what amount of CBD you should be using, but here are a few common questions people normally have that haven’t been talked about, yet.
How Much CBD Can You Take in a Day?
To be clear, there is no recognized limit on the amount of CBD you can take in a day. That said, exercise common sense. Only take as much cannabidiol (CBD) as you need, when you need it. Most people will never consume a CBD dose of more than 200mg of CBD a day.
How Much CBD to Relax is Needed?
CBD oils can act as a mild sedative, at higher doses. If you struggle with anxiety, this dose may be more up your alley. According to reports, people talk about using around 45mg of CBD to relax, or so. Remember, everyone has their own experiences with CBD oil items. The concentrated dose that relaxes someone else, may or may not relax you.
How Much CBD is Needed to Get High?
This is a trick question. CBD cannot get you high. Usually, people new to the world of CBD assume it can get you high since it is found within the cannabis plant. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is non-intoxicating. You cannot get high off of any CBD dose, no matter how much you take.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is responsible for getting you high. Hemp-derived CBD products will never have enough THC in them to get you high. No CBD oil dosage will get you high, unless it contains THC in it.
Related: How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?
Summary – Figuring Out Your Appropriate Dosage of CBD Products
There is no one-size-fits-all dosage for CBD oil products. Factors need to be considered despite a CBD oil product having directions for use.
Because these products are unregulated by the FDA, and there is no standard serving size, you need to do your due diligence in making sure you’re taking the proper amount of CBD oil items to experience safe and effective results.
References:
Current Drug Safety: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22129319/
Leafly: https://www.leafly.com/news/health/whats-the-right-dose-of-cbd
