How Much CBD Should I Take?

Use our helpful CBD dosage guide to learn how much CBD to take, what lifestyle factors affect CBD dosage, and how to choose the right CBD product for you.

Factors that Affect CBD Dosage

1. Lifestyle

Every individual will respond differently to CBD due to lifestyle factors including: health status, stress levels, diet, genetics, diseases, and more.

2. Tolerance

First time users are recommended a lower starting dosage of around 10mg. Doses can be increased slightly every day, but should stop when significant benefits are noticed to avoid overloading the body’s cannabinoid receptors.

3. Sensitivity

It’s important to always listen to your body to determine how much CBD you should take. Pause, take note of how you feel before taking your product and then make a note to tune back in half an hour later.

4. Extracts

CBD is a chemical compound present in the cannabis plant. When it is extracted and isolated without any other cannabinoids, we call it isolate. CBD isolate is pure CBD. Everything else has been totally removed, including essential oils from the cannabis plant or any trace amounts of THC — the hemp-derived compound that makes you feel high. CBD isolate is considered the purest form, because the cannabidiol is separated from all the other components present in the cannabis plant. Now, like in many products, purity is optimal. It’s up to each person to decide what suits them best. We recommend and provide only CBD isolates.

Which Type of CBD Should I Choose?

CBD Capsules & Edibles

When cannabinoids are digested through the gut, they undergo a chemical change that alters their structure as the body metabolizes the cannabinoids. This alters their chemical structure resulting in benefits within 30-90 minutes and long-lasting up to 7 hours.

CBD Oils & Sprays

A traditional CBD oil-based tincture or spray is meant to be taken sublingually (under the tongue), as the rich veins on the bottom of your tongue absorb the CBD directly into the bloodstream. This allows the CBD to travel throughout the body and work its magic before returning to the liver to be metabolized, providing effects within 20-40 mins and lasting 6 hours.

CBD Vapes & Smokeables

Smokable CBD extracts are the fastest-acting dosage method. You may feel effects within a few seconds after inhaling, with peak effects occurring after just a few minutes, and lasting up to 3 hours. This is a great product for those who enjoy the process of smoking cannabis and need quick relief.

CBD Lotions & Balms

CBD topicals come in a variety of forms to meet your needs: CBD balm, CBD lotion, CBD massage oil, and more. Effects may be felt within 30-90 minutes, with a lasting duration of up to 6 hours. This is the ideal product for those primarily concerned with using CBD for physical discomfort.

Product Types Bioavailability Onset Duration
CBD Capsules & Edibles Low 30-90 Mins ~7 Hours
CBD Tinctures & Sprays Low-Mid 20-40 Mins ~6 Hours
CBD Vapes & Smokables Mid-High 2-5 Mins ~3 Hours
CBD Lotions & Balms Low 60-90 Mins ~6 Hours

How Much CBD is Too Much?

Always remember to start low and go slow with CBD dosage, especially as a first-time user. Practice patience and give the CBD time to build in your system in order to allow it to exert its maximal effects. If one is already taking a larger dose and feeling comfortable, they should not be at risk for an overdose.

With that being said, there are certain signs and symptoms that some might consider symptomatic of an overdose, or better yet an adverse reaction to CBD. This is most commonly seen in individuals who aren’t familiar with nutrient dense foods, herbal medicine, or new to CBD.

The symptoms one may experience with too much CBD include dry mouth, vomiting, decreased appetite, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and diarrhea. Some of these symptoms can be considered very common to cannabis as a whole and may be experienced at a very low dose for some individuals or at a very high dose for others.

Recommended CBD Dosage: In Conclusion

Every person is different. Age, weight, lifestyle, genetics, and environment all play an important role in your serving. Additionally, your WHY for taking CBD will impact what an appropriate serving for you is. For example, whether you are taking it for overall health and wellness or whether you are taking it for a specific condition. Also, how severe your condition or symptoms are.

CBD is safe to take. It does not have adverse side effects and you will not overdose. Because of this, some people think that means they should just start by taking a large serving right away.

We are all about peak safety and health, so we like to take a more conservative approach. Even though we know that CBD is safe and that we don’t have to worry about anything crazy happening when we take it, we love to treat our bodies like the temples they are!

So, we suggest that you start with a low serving (like one of our CBD gummies or CBD tinctures) and see how it feels. Keep that serving for a couple of days and monitor your mood and your calmness. If you don’t notice a change, check with your vetted healthcare professional to discuss increasing your serving. If you do decide to increase your serving, continue to monitor your feelings for a few more days. Rinse and repeat until you find your sweet spot.

Take your time, but don’t waste it. Choosing which CBD option is best for you may still seem a little overwhelming. Take your time with the decision-making process but be sure not to waste it. That means don’t buy from companies you don’t trust and don’t wait too long to start enjoying the benefits associated with a life enhanced by CBD.