As successful and popular as CBD has been thus far, the industry is still relatively young. After all, CBD was only recently legalized in 2018! Because of CBD’s recent arrival onto the wellness scene, some new consumers may not know how much they need to take to experience its benefits. Fortunately, you can refer to our CBD dosage chart to accurately and safely measure how much CBD we recommend you take!
Table of Contents
How Much CBD Should You Take?
The amount of CBD you should take is largely dependent on many different factors. Everyone has different tolerance levels, and it’s beneficial to know the variables that determine an individual’s tolerance. To determine your optimal dosage, the following factors must be considered:
- Weight
- Tolerance
- Body chemistry
- CBD concentration
- Fatigue
There are even more variables — such as what you’ve had to eat up until taking CBD — but weight and CBD concentration are among the most crucial. Taking CBD with other medications may pose some unknown risks and reduce the effectiveness of the medication. We highly recommend that you talk to your doctor about the appropriate dosage for you, as well as clarify any potential risks before consuming CBD.
CBD Dosage Chart – Basic Guidelines
Because CBD is still largely unregulated by the FDA, there are no official guidelines on how much to take. However, we’ve created a basic set of guidelines in this CBD dosage chart that you can use to find a good starting point.
We generally recommend taking 0.25 mg of CBD per pound of body weight for a regular dose. For example, someone that weighs 160 pounds would take 40 mg of CBD for a regular dose. (160 lbs x 0.25 mg/lb = 40 mg)
For increased benefits and stronger effects, you can take a more potent dose of CBD. A good starting point would be about 0.5 mg of CBD per pound of weight! The same 160-pound individual would take about 80 mg for a stronger dosage of CBD. (160 lbs x 0.5 mg/lb = 80 mg)
If you’re new to CBD and unsure of how much to take, you can always start with a lower amount and gradually work your way up. As you become more used to CBD and its effects, you can adjust as necessary to match your needs!
Frequency: Depending on your method of consumption, the effects of CBD can last anywhere from 4-8 hours. You can take CBD once or twice a day, depending on your needs, or re-dose throughout the day to feel sustained effects!
Can You Overdose on Too Much CBD?
There has never been a case of someone overdosing on CBD because it is non-psychoactive and doesn’t produce any extreme side effects. Studies have shown that most people can safely tolerate up to 1500 mg of CBD. You would need to take over 20 servings of CBD per day to reach that number!
Like most things, everything is better in moderation. CBD is not meant to cure any diseases and should not be taken in large amounts if you feel extreme discomfort or negative thoughts. Consult a doctor if necessary to determine your best course of action.
Related: Can You Overdose on CBD Oil? Here's Why It's Impossible
What are the Side Effects of CBD?
CBD is extracted from hemp, a non-psychoactive cannabis plant that shouldn’t produce any intoxicating effects. In fact, many people have started to switch over to CBD from THC to get away from the euphoric “high” marijuana induces. Most can tolerate CBD very well, with very few people claiming to experience side effects.
Any reported side effects are typically minor and go away within a short amount of time. Potential symptoms that some people have experienced are:
- Dry mouth
- Slight drowsiness
- Mild diarrhea
- Change in appetite or mood
Even if you end up taking more than the recommended amounts, there’s no need to worry! No matter how much CBD you take, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll start feeling high or intoxicated since it’s a non-psychoactive compound. On the positive side, you might even experience a heightened sense of relaxation or relieved discomfort!
Is CBD Dosage the Same for All Products?
No, CBD dosing is not the same for all products. When we recommend taking 10 mg, we’re referring to the amount that you eat, smoke, mix into your food, or drop into your mouth. However, the percentage of that 10 mg that ultimately winds up in your blood stream varies depending on which product you take. This is known as bioavailability.
Simply put, bioavailability refers to the percentage of a substance that makes it through the various stages of digestion/inhalation and makes it to your bloodstream. This doesn’t have a significant impact on CBD’s effects. Though, bioavailability does change the amount of time it takes CBD to kick in, as well as how long the effects last. These factors can help you determine which product is best for you. Let’s take a look at each form of CBD consumption.
Inhalation
Smoking CBD through inhalation is one of the fastest and most efficient ways for your body to absorb CBD. The smoke or vapor goes directly into your lungs and enters the bloodstream almost instantly. By inhaling smoke or vapor, it bypasses the digestive system, allowing you to feel CBD’s effects right away.
Inhalation also has one of the highest bioavailabilities at around 40-50%! One of the best things about smoking or vaping is that you can continue to take small hits until you build up to the desired effects. Give at least 1-2 minutes between each hit until you get to the level you want.
Topicals
CBD topical products have the unique trait of being the only CBD-infused products applied to your skin, rather than being internally metabolized inside the body. When applied, the CBD will penetrate deep into the skin and muscle tissues to provide localized and general body relief. Topical bioavailability is roughly 45%.
It’s quite challenging to dose out 10 mg of a topical, so we advise starting with a pea-sized drop. Rub it into your skin and wait 30 minutes to ensure there are no adverse effects. Slowly increase the amount of lotion you use until those sore muscles or aching joints start to feel better!
Edibles
Taking edibles can be a great and fun way to enjoy your CBD. Although edibles typically have lower bioavailability than other methods, the CBD effects often last the longest (around 6-8 hours). The effects typically take about 30 minutes to an hour to kick in, and the bioavailability is 10-20%. This is the tradeoff of speed vs. duration of effects. You won’t feel the effects of CBD edibles as quickly as inhalation, but the benefits last much longer.
Since edibles last a long time, you probably won’t need to take them more than once a day. You can follow our dosage recommendations to figure out how many CBD edibles to take! Most edible products — like CBD gummies online — are pre-dosed to make it easier for you to calculate.
Sublingual
Taking your CBD sublingually or under the tongue can be an extremely quick and easy way to feel its effects. You can add a few drops of CBD oil tincture under your tongue and wait about 30-60 seconds to allow the glands to absorb the oil.
CBD taken sublingually enters your bloodstream faster than swallowing or ingesting orally. The potency is typically the same as taking edibles, but the effects don’t last as long and kick in much faster. The bioavailability is 20-30%.
Related: Best Way to Take CBD Oil: Tips, Tricks & How to Get Started
Which CBD Product is Right for You?
There is a wide selection of fantastic CBD products for you to try. With so many great options to choose from, anyone would feel a little overwhelmed.
Since there are plenty of quality CBD options for you to pick from, we highly recommend giving each product a try so that you can figure out which one works best for you.
From CBD flower to CBD concentrates or if you are looking for something quick or long-lasting, there is a CBD product out there for your every need! Remember to our CBD dosage chart’s guidelines to determine how much to take!
CBD Legalities
Under the 2018 Farm Bill, all hemp and hemp-derived products are legal for sale, production, and manufacturing! As long as the hemp crops or CBD products do not contain over 0.3% THC, they are completely legal across the United States.
Any product that has over 0.3% is considered marijuana, which is still illegal federally. Since state and federal law can often differ, remember to check your state’s policies on CBD!
Final Thoughts – CBD Dosage Chart
We know that figuring out what works for you isn’t always the easiest task. That’s why we made this dosage chart — to make it easier for you. While CBD has countless wonderful benefits to offer, careful dosing and knowledge is always our top priority.
Here at Hollyweed, we want to be sure that you walk away happy, informed, and confident in how much CBD you need to keep your body healthy and balanced. Feel free to use this dosing chart as a starting point until you know exactly how much CBD you can take!
