CBD dosage guide

Highlights 

• CBD has different effects on people depending on their metabolism, dosage, and other factors. 
• Start low and increase CBD dosage slowly to find the right dose for you. 
• Dosage is calculated in different ways for vapes, flower, gummies, and other CBD products. 

While cannabis is obviously celebrated for its many properties, some folks prefer the advantages without the intoxicating effects. Enter: CBD, one of the major cannabinoids in cannabis that has promising potential for several medical conditions, including pain and anxiety. [Source]  

Although only a licensed cannabis specialist can advise on how much CBD to take, this guide will help to understand the factors that impact dosage and how to calculate CBD content for a variety of products.  

There is a variety of factors that can determine how much CBD to take, including tolerance, metabolism, the type of product used, other chemicals in it (THC, terpenes, etc.), and much more. Whether taking CBD to treat a serious condition or simply to relieve stress or occasional muscle pain, it will take some experimentation to find the right dosage. 

This CBD dosage guide makes it easier to understand how cannabis oil, gummies, ointments, and vapes deliver CBD and how to adjust dosage when switching between products and how THC interacts with CBD to maximize its benefits.  

Ready to learn more about CBD dosage and how CBD can relieve symptoms? Read on. 

How does CBD Dosage work? 

First and foremost, there isn’t one dose that works for all. Similarly, there isn’t a specific dosage determined for beginners or any specific conditions. Therefore, it isn’t an exact science, however there are effective measures to get it right. 

As always; it’s always safe to start with the lowest possible dosage and increase it slowly and gradually while closely monitoring experiences and feelings. It is important to experiment with the effects of CBD. Taking a large initial dose of any medication can be risky, and CBD is not an exception. 

It is important to be patient.  

If you start with the lowest dose and allow a few hours to feel the effects, you may find that it’s the perfect dose for you. Increasing dosage too soon, may cause the effects of the original dose to be lost in translation. And if it’s not the case, increasing the dose slightly and giving it another few days to see if it works is always a safe option. 

Your CBD Dosage Journal 

There’s a certain amount of uncertainty an individual will feel after taking a certain amount of CBD. The best way to keep track of the effects of CBD on the mind and body is to keep a journal. But also, just take it slow and discover the correct dosage. 

Create a list of symptoms to track. Rate symptoms on a scale of 1 to 10. Were you relaxed? Did you sleep better? Did you feel tired? Keep track of every detail. This will help you understand the effects of CBD.  Stop by a RISE Dispensary to share the journal with a cannabis professional to adjust your dosage. By consulting a CBD dosage chart, it becomes easier to pinpoint which dosage to add or what works best for you.  

How is CBD Dosage Calculated? 

Different cannabis products come with different kinds of information, and it is important to learn to read the labels of your marijuana products. So how is the dosage of CBD are in CBD oil, gummies, or vapes determined? 

CBD oils usually come in a bottle with a dropper, which makes measurement considerably easier than with other products. The bottle will typically be labeled with its total CBD content in mg and the total volume in ml. To make calculations easier, some brands include 1 ml droppers.  

Otherwise, there will be information in the packaging or label as to how many ml are in a full dropper.  

If the total content of the bottle is 500 mg CBD and the volume is 10 ml, there are 50 mg in each full dropper. 

CBD Oil/Tincture Dosage Calculation 

Calculating the exact amount of CBD per dose might feel challenging but don’t worry. Here’s some example that might help. 

Example: How much CBD is in one drop from a 10 ml bottle of oil or tincture containing 1000 mg of CBD? 

• 1000 mg in 10 ml   
• 1 ml=20 drops 
• 1000 mg in 200 drops  
• 10 mg in 2 drops  
• 5 mg in 1 drop

Gummies, Pills, Capsules Dosage 

CBD gummies are a very popular way to consume cannabidiol, so are pills and capsules for a variety of reasons like being discreet and easy to dose.  

Knowing how much CBD is in these products is easy when compared to other products. Gummies and pills usually indicate CBD content on their packaging, for example, how many mg of CBD each pill or single serving of gummies contains.  

When reading the label on gummies, make sure you differentiate between serving size and single gummy. Sometimes, two or three small gummies are considered a single serving, and this will impact how to calculate CBD content.  

Once again, it’s important to be patient, especially when consuming edibles. Edibles may take longer to take effect but usually have a more long-lasting impact. Allow a couple of hours to feel the effects of CBD-infused edibles. 

CBD Vape Dosage 

To calculate how much CBD is in each puff from a vape pen, divide the total CBD content of the vape liquid bottle by the total volume in ml. Then, identify the volume each vape cartridge or vape pod takes. This way, you will know how much you have consumed once you finish each cartridge. 

How to Calculate CBD Vape Dosage 

Once the CBD content of the vape oil and the size of the vape tank is identified, calculate approximately how much CBD you will get from each puff. 

Example #1: CBD Tincture 

• 20 ml bottle – 1000 mg CBD
• 1000 mg divided by 20 ml= 50 mg 
• 1 ml – 50 mg 
• 2 ml vape tank – 100 mg 
• 100 puffs per ml 
• 200 puffs per vape tank 
• 200 puffs – 100 mg 
• 2 puffs – 1 mg 

Example #2: Vape Cartridge Dosage Calculator 

• 0.5g vape cartridge with a label indicating 10% CBD & 200 inhalations per cartridge 
• 0.5 g package x 10% CBD = 0.05 g CBD in the cartridge.  
• Convert to mg = 50 mg. 50 mg divided by 200 inhalations is equal to 0.25 mg CBD per inhalation. 

Important to note: Some of the vape liquid is lost in vaporization, so this calculation is not 100% exact, but it will provide a good idea of CBD dosage. 

CBD Flower Dosage 

When you buy CBD flower, the packaging will give you the bud’s CBD content as a percentage.

So for example, if you get 1 g of 20% CBD flower, you are getting 1 g*20%=0.2 g of CBD. As 0.2 g equals 200 mg, your 1 g flower contains 200 mg of CBD.  We don’t recommend consuming even close to this amount of CBD in a one-time dose without first consulting with a licensed physician. 

Again, there is no perfect dosage for everyone. Always keep in mind that this varies by the individual. Start low, increase slowly, and wait at least 15 minutes before smoking more. The effects of flower are usually faster but you must be patient. Smoking too fast, or too many puffs too quickly may cause unwanted effects. 

Can I Overdose on CBD? 

Clinical research reveals that CBD is safe for humans, even in very high doses. According to researchers, “Chronic use and high doses of up to 1500 mg per day have been repeatedly shown to be well tolerated by humans.” [Source] 

This is not to say that anyone can take such a high dose of CBD.  

Scientists are still looking at how CBD interacts with certain medications. To be on the safe side, consult with your doctor. 

How Does CBD – THC Ratio Impact Dosage? 

Some CBD products may contain THC. For example, full spectrum CBD products contain a wide variety of compounds, including low amounts of THC.   

When you buy CBD products, there will often be a CBD:THC ratio listed on the label.  

For example: A 5:1 CBD:THC ratio indicates the product contains 5 times more CBD than THC. When there is an equal amount of THC and CBD, the ratio is 1:1. 

THC and other cannabinoids and terpenes can often interact with CBD and produce what is known as the Entourage Effect. This means that pure CBD and CBD combined with other compounds cause different effects, even if using them in the same dosage. 

The information about the cannabinoid and terpene profiles of the products can be found on the packaging and label. 

What Is The Right CBD:THC Ratio for Me? 

It is impossible to recommend an ideal ratio for everyone. Each person’s endocannabinoid system is unique.  

To avoid the potential intoxicating effects of THC patients and customers alike can opt for pure CBD products to start or broad-spectrum CBD, that contains terpenes and other cannabinoids but not THC. 

CBD Dosage FAQs 

How is CBD oil dosage calculated? 

Tincture bottles will usually come with a pre-marked measuring syringe built into the lid for easy dosing. It’s easy to calculate how much CBD is in each ml. For example, if you purchased a 10ml bottle with 1000 mg CBD, taking 1ml will give you 100mg CBD. This means that if you want to take 20 mg, you need to take 0.20 ml. 

What is a standard CBD dose? 

There is no such thing as a standard CBD dose. Always want to start with the lowest dose that your product allows. 

How can I safely increase CBD dosage?  

Keep track of the experience and feelings during this process using a dosage journal. The safest way is to start with the lowest dose and increase it gradually and slowly.

Sources:

• Rapin L, Gamaoun R, El Hage C, Arboleda MF, Prosk E. Cannabidiol use and effectiveness: real-world evidence from a Canadian medical cannabis clinic. J Cannabis Res. 2021;3(1):19. Published 2021 Jun 23. doi:10.1186/s42238-021-00078-w
• Iffland K, Grotenhermen F. An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017;2(1):139-154. Published 2017 Jun 1. doi:10.1089/can.2016.0034
• Drugs (psychoactive): Cannabidiol (compound of cannabis) | World Health Organization