How Much CBD Oil Should I Take?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, as it is known in everyday parlance, is perhaps the single fastest moving trend in the health and wellness movement. Interest has skyrocketed, and the compound has gone from being unknown in mainstream circles to being available on the shelves of major grocers, department stores, and beauty retailers. The sales of products containing, or purporting to contain, CBD has risen in quite a parabolic fashion since the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act legalized a low-THC variant of the Cannabis Sativa (marijuana) plant known as 'Hemp.' This new designation is biologically identical to the illegal variants save one critical factor; it contains less than 0.3% of THC or the psychoactive ingredient that causes the infamous 'high' associated with marijuana. Still, it should be asserted that the designation of 'Hemp' is solely a legal distinction and not a biological one. Unlike THC or Cannabis Sativa that is grown with producing plants containing the highest THC content possible, Hemp and the CBD derived from it do not provide the same mind-altering impairment. 

Luckily, THC is far from the only useful compound in the cannabis plant. CBD, the second most well-known compound, is sought after for consumers for various reasons, mainly to promote wellness and support a healthy and active lifestyle. However, unfortunately, like many of the questions associated with this enigmatic and intriguing substance, there are very few easy or straightforward answers. We have provided a guide for determining how much CBD oil you should take, given your particular characteristics. This is necessary as how much CBD is practical will vary significantly based on weight, sex, lifestyle, genetics, and environmental factors. We will help you make responsible decisions regarding this exciting supplement.

First Things First: Make Sure You Are Taking CBD Oil

You would think we would easily be able to tell you how much CBD oil you should take. Unfortunately, due to the United States' regulatory approval process for supplements and medications, the answer to these questions, which is already scientifically challenging, can become even more obfuscated and opaque. However, many observers and industry critics have pointed out that the FDA's policy around the regulation of supplements has no mechanism or requirement that the US Government scientifically test or certify the contents of products sold by companies as supplements.

This means that without a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on a product, you have no way to verify the vendor's claims unless you have a state-of-the-art laboratory in your garage or attic. One study by industry site Leafly found that most products off-the-shelf had wildly diverging claims of CBD content from the levels they certified. Many products that purported to contain CBD contained little or none. Some products also contained far more CBD than they advertised. This is just as significant of an issue if you are trying to control the amount of CBD you consume in a precise fashion. Although it may seem elementary and obvious, in order to successfully and confidently administer the right amount of CBD, you have to be sure what amount of CBD a product contains. 

Here is a quick rule to help you out here. Do not purchase any products purporting to contain CBD that does not include a Certificate of Analysis from a laboratory that has tested its contents. A good COA will have the percentage of Cannabidiol in each product as well as some of the other chief cannabinoids commonly present in broad-spectrum and full-spectrum hemp extracts/CBD products.

How Can You Consume CBD Oil/Hemp Extract?

Another area that will have a significant bearing on how much CBD oil you should take is your administration method to consume your CBD. The compound is consumed in some popular ways, and in fact, it is probably one of the most versatile supplements on the market. The most common way people take CBD is by using a Tincture, or graduated dropper of pure oil, and then applying the desired amount directly under the tongue. Veteran users prefer this method, and many consumers love the earthy, rustic flavor of the synthesized hemp-extract.

If you are consuming CBD in an edible or drinkable form, as long as you are using a reputable vendor, they should have the correct dosage listed on their lab report or COA. So, in this case, it can be easier to control how much CBD you are getting since a gummy may contain exactly 5 mg of CBD, or however much. 

Topicals are much harder to measure exact amounts due to their formulation and the way they are distributed. Most topical containers will give you now way to know how much of the total CBD in the product you are consuming per use. Since the use in topical cases is usually for acute relief, the exact amount applied is far less significant than the user experience.

What Affects How Your Body Metabolizes CBD?

Several factors may affect how your body specifically will absorb and metabolize hemp extract and the different cannabinoids present in it. As with most things, the quality of the product will also be instrumental in determining how much you should take. Body mass is an essential factor. The more you weigh, the more CBD you will need to achieve your desired effect. Another thing maybe diet. Depending on what you eat, your body may process hemp extract very differently. Generally, across most of the industry, approximately one drop of CBD oil is equivalent to 1 mg. However, you need to ensure your product is lab tested, and then once you find out how much CBD it contains, you can then find how much liquid total it contains. With this simple equation, you can then determine how much CBD is in each drop.

Take the total amount of CBD in the bottle and then divide it by the number of ml in the bottle. Then you will know how much CBD is in each milliliter, and you can measure out your desired quantity effectively and accurately.