How Much CBD Should I Take

Once you decide to take cannabidiol, or CBD as it is more commonly known, the next question is generally how much CBD you should take. Ideally, this amount is one that provides positive results for you, but does not result in any unwanted side effects.

Admittedly, finding the right CBD dosage for you as an individual isn’t always easy. But it is possible as long as you take into consideration a few different factors, the first of which is CBD quality.

Unfortunately, not all manufacturers sell high-quality CBD. Put another way, some CBD products are made from poor strains of industrial hemp.

In cases such as these, the dosage of CBD you take would need to be much higher in order to provide any benefit. Conversely, if you choose a CBD oil that uses a higher quality of cannabinoids, the amount of CBD you need to notice positive benefits is much lower.

Whether the CBD oil is a full-spectrum product or an isolate can also impact the product’s level of quality. The former utilizes cannabinoids extracted from the whole cannabis plant—which means that you get the benefit of all of the cannabinoids—and the latter contains only one cannabinoid: CBD.

Because of this, full-spectrum CBD oils generally work better at lower doses, whereas CBD isolates often require higher doses to create any noticeable effects.

Another factor that could impact how much CBD you need to take is the form of the CBD oil. There are many to choose from (such as vape pens, lotions, and tinctures), each of which has a different effect.

For example, if you take CBD gummies, CBD capsules, or CBD edibles, you lose some of the CBD during the normal digestion process because it is broken down by your digestive enzymes. This means fewer cannabinoids left to interact with your endocannabinoid system and provide a positive effect.

Alternatively, if you take your CBD oil sublingually, using a dropper to place the oil tinctures under your tongue, your body has an easier time absorbing the cannabinoids. This equates to more of the CBD oil being available for use.

Other factors to consider when determining how many mg of CBD are right for you include:

The more you weigh, the more CBD you’ll likely need. Individuals with lower body weights typically need less to obtain a therapeutic effect.

If you are a first time user, your recommended CBD dose will be lower than if you’ve used CBD products regularly over a longer period of time.

THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the psychoactive compound within the cannabis plant. If the CBD oil contains THC, you may require a different dosage of hemp oil because the two cannabinoids work together to create a synergistic effect.

Given all of these factors, you may still be wondering which dose of CBD is right for you.

If you are a first-time user, Spruce recommends that you start with 25mg and adjust to a higher dose if needed. Additionally, the preferred form is a CBD tincture that is taken under the tongue as this offers the most beneficial effects.

It’s also important to pay attention to the serving size recommendations for the specific product you plan to using. In some cases, one serving is a full dropper. In others, it is half. Pay attention to this so you don’t take high doses of CBD unintentionally.

One final suggestion is in regard to CBD safety and it involves being aware that, while there are many benefits of CBD, there are also some instances in which CBD should not be taken.

For example, CBD can potentially interact with certain prescription medications. A few to consider include those that are changed by the liver, such as Clobazam, Lorzone, Elavil, Zofran, and Pravacid. [1]

Therefore, if you’re currently taking any type of prescription medications, it is best to speak to your healthcare provider before starting a CBD oil regimen.

In the future, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will likely supply more stringent guidelines about how much CBD oil is necessary to obtain certain health benefits. Until then, start with a low dose and increase it in increments until you’ve achieved the desired effects of CBD.

This will ensure that you’re consuming this product as safely as you can.

 

Sources:

[1] “Cannabidiol (CBD).” MedlinePlus. Accessed Sep 17, 2019. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/1439.html