Have you just started using CBD? Are you thinking about it? Or maybe you want to know a little more about it before you take the leap? You are in the right place. Regardless of whether you are a newbie or experienced in the world of CBD, you’ve probably asked yourself a lot of questions about CBD. Does CBD have any side effects? What should you consider when buying CBD oil? How much CBD should you take? What’s the correct CBD dosage for beginners?
The last one is one of the questions we often ask ourselves in the EveryCBDthing offices. And today, we are going to try and answer it. When we started down this rabbit hole, we thought that the answer would be pretty clear cut. But the answers weren’t that clear cut.
The difficulty in finding an answer to this question shows how little we know about CBD. Although CBD was discovered in 1940, most of the research into it is pretty recent. And there is still a lot of research that is ongoing.
There is still a lot we don’t know about CBD and why it works the way it does, but with research, we will get there.
How Exactly Does CBD Work in Humans?
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) has receptors known as CB1 and CB2 has shown that CBD affects the body by binding itself to specific receptors and proteins in the cells. It then sets in motion specific physiological reactions, which are found in the brain, central nervous system, and immune system. These are receptors for the cannabinoids that are found naturally in the human body.
So, when external cannabinoids from plants enter the body, the CB1 and CB2 receptors interact with them the same way they do with internal cannabinoids. These phytocannabinoids, CBD being one of them, activate positive responses in the body, which are beneficial.
Although we know that CBD has a positive interaction with the ECS, we don’t know how it happens.
One of the studies that attempted to understand this phenomenon looked at how CBD could help patients with epilepsy. The researchers focused on the effect of CBD on nerve cells’ sodium channels.
The researchers found that CBD can control the flow of sodium in the nerve cells, minimizing epileptic seizures.
Their studies led to the development of the first FDA-approved CBD infused drug, Epidiolex.
Apart from being useful in the treatment of epilepsy, CBD has several other health benefits.
CBD Extracts
When we first got into the CBD community, we were shocked at the sheer amount of CBD products available. And each product mentioned a different extract. Suffice it to say. We were confused when we bought our first CBD product.
As a beginner, these different CBD extracts are bound to confuse you. And this confusion is going to make it difficult to determine your CBD dosage.
So, let’s get into it. There are three kinds of CBD extracts from the hemp plant.
These are Broad Spectrum CBD, Full Spectrum CBD, and CBD Isolate. Some knowledge of these three will make it easier to determine your CBD dosage.
Full-spectrum CBD
The main thing you should know about Full Spectrum CBD is that it closely resembles the compound profile of the plant. This means that it contains all the compounds and cannabinoids found in the plant.
Full-spectrum CBD does contain THC. However, federal law limits the amount of CBD it can contain. According to US federal law, industrial hemp used to make should not have more than 0.3% THC.
Broad-spectrum CBD
At its most basic form, broad-spectrum CBD is full-spectrum CBD without the THC. Like full spectrum CBD, it also has the entourage effect but at a weaker level because it lacks THC.
It’s the best choice for those who want to experience all the benefits of full-spectrum CBD without any THC. As a beginner, determining your CBD dosage with broad-spectrum, CBD is easier than with full-spectrum CBD.
CBD isolate
CBD isolate is what it sounds like, an isolated form of CBD.
It is the purest type of CBD in the market and one of the most popular with beginners. As a beginner, it offers you the chance to monitor your body’s reaction to CBD. It’s also the easiest for beginners to get the perfect CBD dosage.
However, as you progress on your CBD journey, you’ll notice that it doesn’t offer the same benefits as the first two. This is because you can’t experience the entourage effect while only using CBD.
How to Use CBD
Beginners are usually shocked at the large number of ways that they can use CBD products. There is no right way or wrong way to take CBD, and each product has its upsides and downsides. It comes down to individual preferences, lifestyle choices, and even convenience.
Beginners need to understand that each method will affect their CBD dosage because a different amount of CBD is absorbed in each.
Common Ways CBD is Taken
- Capsules: capsules make it convenient to consume CBD as the doses will be exact every time. It’s tasteless and odorless; however, it’s not the best choice if you’re looking for a fast absorption rate.
- Tinctures/oils: the absorption rate is very fast as the capillaries under the tongue transmit it directly into the bloodstream. With this format, CBD can be consumed orally or added to foods and beverages.
- Vaping/smoking: absorption and bioavailability rate is high, and effects are felt almost instantly. However, some people are wary of these two methods because of possible health risks.
- Topicals: these are used to relieve pain and inflammation in specific areas of the body. Topicals can be applied to the skin or muscle to cause relief without getting absorbed into the bloodstream.
- Edibles: CBD can be consumed via processed edibles like snacks. The absorption rate is lower since it goes through the digestive system first. It’s not the best delivery method if you want better doses of CBD.
There are other ways in which CBD is consumed, like rectal and vaginal delivery, as well as intravenous injections.
However, these methods are not very common or even convenient for the general public.
How Much CBD Do You Get Per a Drop of Oil?
If you are taking CBD in capsule form, you are probably aware of the exact CBD content per capsule. That info is usually on the side of the bottle or a separate instruction paper, which shows you the amount of CBD in mg per capsule.
It can be a different matter if you are taking liquid CBD using a dropper or even spray. Most companies will provide info on the amount of CBD you should expect for every drop. However, this may not always be the case. You might be aware of CBD content in the whole bottle, but not for every drop. Don’t worry. It’s easy math.
For our calculations, we’ll assume that a single drop has a volume of 1ml.
So, if, for instance, you have a 20ml bottle containing 200mg of CBD, one drop should carry 10mg of CBD. Once you figure out the number of drops in the bottle, you divide the amount of CBD in milligrams by that number to get the CBD content for every drop.
How Much CBD Should You Take?
As we have already figured out, there is no specific CBD dosage for everyone. This is because there are a lot of factors that come into play, some which may include:
- Physical and medical conditions
- Bodyweight
- Your metabolism rate
- The delivery method you intend to take CBD etc.
First of all, if you are taking CBD as a medical prescription, then it is up to your doctor to come up with the right dosage for you. Your doctor will be taking into consideration your medical history, possible reactions as well as potential risks as he/she tailors the dose to your specific needs.
On the other hand, if your doctor is not part of your decision to use CBD products, then it’s advisable to start with small dosages. You can gradually increase the dosage as you go until you reach what is called an optimal dose.
The optimal dose is when you feel the treatment is working or showing positive results, and you are comfortable with the amount you are taking.
The best place to start as a beginner is 10 to 20mg of CBD.
From there, you can make gradual increments of about 5mg while you observe how your body reacts to it. There is one crucial thing to keep in mind when you are determining your ideal CBD dosage. Stick to the lowest dose that gives you results with few to no side effects.
Starting dose for beginners taking into consideration body weight:
| Body Weight | Starting Dosage |
| 100 to 120 lbs | 10-20 mg |
| 120 to 130 lbs | 14-26 mg |
| 140 to 150 lbs | 18-30 mg |
| 160 to 170 lbs | 22-34 mg |
| 180 to 190 lbs | 26-38 mg |
| 200 to 210 lbs | 30-42 mg |
| 220 to 230 lbs | 34-46 mg |
| 240 to 250 lbs | 38-50 mg |
| 260 to 270 lbs | 42-54 mg |
Is Taking This Much CBD Safe For You?
Are you wondering if these doses of CBD are safe you? The bigger question should be, is CBD safe for human consumption? The answer is yes. In fact, according to this review from 2017, doses as high 1,500 mg per day are perfectly tolerated by humans.
Nick Jikomes, a world-famous neuroscientist, had interesting things to say about CBD consumption. In his interview with Leafly, he noted that physiologies of people tended to change over time throughout their lifetime. This included the Endocannabinoid System, which makes the optimal ratios and doses of compounds less constant but prone to change.
What he was saying is that with time, your body may need more and more of cannabinoids as your optimal ratio changes. In some cases, you might need fewer quantities of CBD. For this reason, we advise keeping a CBD journal to track your intake of CBD and its effect.
If you notice that a particular CBD dosage is giving you more negatives than positives, you should change it.
What About the Side Effects?
Are you surprised that CBD has side effects? Most beginners trying to find the perfect CBD dosage are shocked when they discover that CBD has side effects.
The good news is that these side effects aren’t as adverse as the side effects of other compounds. Plus, the side effects aren’t that common.
These side effects include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Weariness
- Changes in weight and disturbed appetite
- Low blood pressure
- Dry mouth
Usually, weariness is the most reported side effect, but all in all, when it comes to CBD, side effects are pretty rare.
People Who Should Not Be Taking CBD Products
While CBD is generally safe, as a beginner, you need to know the risk groups that should avoid taking CBD.
1. People on medications
It is advisable for people who are on medication to avoid CBD as it may interact with the drugs they are taking. This group also tends to experience side effects, in which there is a certain conflict between CBD and the medication they are on.
The interaction between CBD and certain enzymes causes the reaction between medicine and CBD. This is a complicated topic, and we are going to do a deep dive into it soon, so keep an eye out for it.
Before you use CBD alongside any medication, you should consult with your doctor.
2. Pregnant/breastfeeding women
It is advisable for pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid CBD products as there is not enough research on the subject. It is too early to determine if CBD is safe for this group or not.
If you are pregnant and still want to use CBD, you should consult with your doctor. You should also consider getting high-quality CBD products to ensure that it’s safe for you and your unborn child.
3. Children
Just like in pregnant mothers, there are not enough studies to assure the safety of CBD in children. However, some parents decide that their children should use CBD.
This isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. You should talk to a doctor before making this decision.
How Long Does it Take to Feel the Positive Effects of CBD?
If you are in pain or struggling with anxiety, you might want to know precisely how long it will take for CBD to start working. But this depends on several factors, one of those being the dose you are taking. You have to take a dose that is optimal or ideal for you. Another deciding factor is the method of delivery. Let’s look more into that.
If you are taking CBD orally via capsules, pills, edibles, or powders, it will take a little longer for effects to set in. The CBD will have to go through your digestive system before it enters your bloodstream. You may have to wait as much as half an hour or even more.
If the method of delivery is sublingual via a dropper, CBD will enter directly into the bloodstream from under the tongue. The effects set in a lot faster, taking 5 to 20 minutes tops.
Inhaling CBD through vaping provides the fastest results. You may start experiencing positive effects within minutes. However, the effects usually don’t last long.
CBD lotions, oils, and balms that are applied topically also work fast as they are meant for treating targeted areas. Effects usually set in within minutes lasting a few hours.
Make sure you also go and check out “From Hit to Kick: Time For CBD Oil to Take Effect” to see how different CBD products take longer than others to take effect in your body.
Where Should You Buy CBD?
As you prepare yourself to go shopping for your first CBD product, there are few things you need to keep in mind. When CBD was a new product, only a few stores sold it. But things have changed. The popularity of CBD has resulted in a market flood as tons of companies race to join the bandwagon.
While having more options to pick and choose from is a good thing, there is a substantial downside, especially for beginners. Not all brands will sell you the same thing. You may fall into trial and error before you finally land on something that gives you value for your money.
In every industry, you will find high-quality products, low-quality products, and almost everything else hovering in the middle. The CBD industry is no different, and that is why we advise you to check out some of our vetted recommendations so that you don’t go shopping blindly.
Don’t be surprised at the possible high prices that CBD oil might bring. Check out “Reasons Behind High Price of CBD & Its Products” for more information.
What to Look For When Buying Your First CBD
Are you ready to go shopping for your first CBD product? Here are a few things to look out for so that you don’t end up with a dilute-and-repackaged product in your hands:
1. Check out the labels
Taking a look at labels and reading through them is the most important thing you can do. Otherwise, you won’t know what you are buying. Important information such as whether it contains full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate can be found on the labels.
You want to know CBD content in the product and how much you will be taking. Things like THC and other compounds are of value as they will affect how the product works.
2. Product origin
The environment plays a significant role in the development of the Hemp plant. Farmers in the US have to follow a strict set of guidelines when growing hemp. These guidelines limit the amount of THC and other substances in the hemp plant.
Look for CBD products where the manufacturer is GMP certified and registered by the FDA.
3. Lab tests from third-parties
A genuine CBD product is transparent about its tests. You might want to look for the Certificate of Analysis and third-party tests that shed light on the quality and safety of the product. These lab tests should be able to tell you if the product is free from harsh chemicals, additives, solvents, etc.
4. Brand reputation
The reputation of a brand matters a lot when it comes to the quality of a product, and it’s easy to figure out a brand’s reputation. Just look for reviews online and trust scores, especially on large merchant sites like Amazon. You will easily find testimonials on the brand’s product line from other customers.
5. The price factor
First of all, the price should not be a determinant when it comes to your choice of buying CBD products. Some companies sell excellent quality products at high prices.
On the other hand, some companies overprice their products for no reason at all. The best thing to do here is to evaluate the product’s content from different brands before deciding on which one to buy.
As a final thought, you should know that the dosage guidelines we provided above may not work for everyone.
That is because there is no specific CBD dose for everyone, as this depends on many factors. Our best advice is that you start with the lowest dose possible and go from there.
Do you have any tips for CBD dosage for beginners? Leave a comment below and let us know! Make sure you go and check out related content to improve your CBD knowledge like “Will CBD Oil Make Me Fail My Drug Test?” or even “CBD Beer Will Be Your New Favorite Drink“.
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