How much CBD should you take?

Posted by Christian on 9th Aug 2021

All potential first-time CBD users will be wondering how much of this therapeutic compound they need to take to experience its remarkable effects. Sadly, there’s no specific answer due to several variables, such as size, metabolism speed, intake method and more.

But in this article, we’re going to help CBD beginners become more informed on what’s often referred to as the ‘Cinderella molecule’, and help devise a rough dosage plan that will enable comfortable CBD use, and give the confidence to experiment with it until a personalized dosing set-up is established.

The Cinderella molecule


The reason medical marijuana has been receiving much more positive press in recent years is overwhelmingly thanks to cannabidiol (CBD). While THC was discovered way earlier, the psychoactive compound has always had a stigma for getting users “stoned,” a side effect not experienced with CBD use. Children, adults and the elderly have all found relief through CBD, and its all-encompassing healing abilities have proven transformative for the medical marijuana movement.

Why would somebody want to take CBD? The compound has therapeutic properties for mental and physical conditions. Some use CBD for its calming, anti-anxiety effects, whereas others consume it for chronic pain relief or to ease symptoms from serious illnesses.

Treatment-resistant epilepsy is one such serious illness that CBD is proving incredibly useful for. When administered in high dosages, CBD medication is able to reduce or eliminate seizures in around 50 percent of patients. An anti-inflammatory, CBD may also have potential as a treatment for arthritis, IBS and more. Since inflammation is the cause of many types of pain, it’s clear as to why CBD is being touted as a possible medicine for so many conditions.

Where does CBD come from?


CBD is extracted from industrial hemp and marijuana. However, while the latter typically has much higher concentrations of the compound, because it’s marijuana, the restrictions on its cultivation, sale and possession are much tighter. Industrial hemp, on the other hand, is more readily accessible in all 50 states. Hemp-extracted CBD oil contains negligible levels of THC, and therefore cannot be used to get high, explaining the more relaxed legislative approach.

Many believe that marijuana-extracted CBD is of a higher quality to hemp CBD, since marijuana oil is full-spectrum, containing other helpful cannabinoids and terpenes. These produce what is known as the “entourage effect”, or, in other words, a multiplier effect, giving users a more potent, and therefore more cost-effective oil.

However, there are also hemp-derived CBD oil products that are full-spectrum, containing all the cannabinoids (CBN, CBC, CBG etc.) and terpenes (myrcene, linalool) from cannabis oil, except psychoactive compounds like THC.

CBD hemp oil products are legally required to consist of no more than 0.3% THC. All industrial hemp tends to meet this grade, although the composition of other compounds varies depending on strains. Recently, CBD-orientated cultivators have developed marijuana strains high in CBD, but with very low levels of THC.

THC also has medicinal properties, and was the compound that helped secure some of America’s early legislative wins for cannabis. For some ailments, THC treatment is a necessity, however CBD remains viable and effective for the majority.

If you don’t live in a legalized state or state with a thorough medical program, there’s no legal way of obtaining THC – even if you bought it in a legal state and tried taking it back home. Therefore, hemp-derived CBD oil is the only option for many Americans. Thankfully, hemp CBD is still stacked with therapeutic qualities.

How much CBD should a first-time user take?


Now we’ve clarified CBD and what type of products are available, let’s look at recommended dosages for new users.

Exercising common sense is important with all types of medication, and this is the same for natural CBD. Start with very small doses, as this will allow you to observe the reactions and effect the substance has on you. When starting out, don’t consume your entire dose at once, but split it up over the course of several hours. Stick to your plan for around a week to fully understand the effects of CBD at low dosages.

If you find this set-up works for you, then just stick with it! However, if you feel it isn’t quite enough or you’re not experiencing any relief, then steadily up the dosage over the next few days. Remember that CBD’s effects change depending on the dose – in small doses, cannabidiol is a stimulant, however in larger doses it has a more sedating effect.

CBD dosage tips for various ailments


Dosages can vary slightly depending on how you’re intaking CBD, but for the following ailments, here’s a rough blueprint on how much new and long-term users should dose with.

For chronic pain, first-time users should administer around 2.5mg CBD. As tolerance builds, consider upping the dosage to 50mg and higher.

For sleeping disorders such as insomnia, anywhere between 50 to 150mg CBD should suffice.

For those consuming CBD as a dietary supplement, aim to take between 2.5 to 15mg CBD per day.

These could be viewed as conservative estimates, since research has shown the body can safely take 1,000mg CBD daily. Ultimately, once you’re consuming upwards of 50mg, you’ll be an accomplished judge of your own CBD dosages.

Additional CBD dosage advice


How big are you? This may seem a bizarre question, but it can be crucial in determining what is the appropriate CBD dosage for you. Small people need less CBD, whereas larger people need more. If you consider yourself on the bigger side, perhaps add a few extra milligrams to recommended dosages.

Talk to a professional: If you take other medication and are worried about how CBD may interact with it, consult a medical professional who can offer specific advice for you. They’ll be able to tell you how much CBD you should be taking, and how you should be consuming it. Doctors and medical experts are becoming increasingly familiar with CBD and medical marijuana altogether, so your queries will come as no surprise!