How Much CBD Should I Take for the First Time?

Determining how much CBD to take for the first time can be tricky if you don’t know where to start. While the CBD industry continues to grow, no regulations have been set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for dosages, so there are no set guidelines about how much CBD to take. Especially if you’re new to taking CBD, it can be difficult to know what the right CBD dosage should be for a beginner. There are many products like hemp oil or CBD oil, tinctures, and edibles like gummies that are widely available.

Although there may be no set CBD dosage guidelines, most experts recommend that if someone is trying a full spectrum CBD product, or even pure CBD in the form of CBD isolate for the first time they should start off with the smallest recommended dosage and gradually work their way up.

Here’s everything you need to know about how much CBD to take for the first time.

What Type of CBD Product Should You Use?

There are a variety of ways to get CBD into your system. Before you administer CBD, it’s best to determine how to consume it.

CBD Oils and Tinctures

They are products that are extracted from the CBD flower of cannabis plants. A common misconception of CBD oils and CBD tinctures is that they’re the exact same thing, but they actually aren’t.

CBD oil or cannabis oil is typically more concentrated with CBD, meaning it has higher potency, and may have an “earthy,” “grassy,” “peaty” taste with a hint of “nuttiness”. Also, pure CBD oil or CBD isolate doesn’t contain other cannabis compounds that are present in full spectrum CBD products.

Tinctures are typically alcohol-based. The potency of the CBD drop may not be as high as that of the CBD hemp oil, but they are typically considered the better tasting one out of the two. Also, a CBD oil tincture may be mixed with herbs and/or flavorings.

CBD tinctures and CBD oil products including pure CBD oil are administered sublingually. This means that after the right dose of CBD oil is appropriately determined, you place a few drops underneath your tongue and allow it to absorb. This method allows the CBD drop to enter the bloodstream more quickly and the effects of CBD to kick in quicker.

CBD Edibles and Capsules

If taking a hemp CBD oil or CBD tincture doesn’t appeal to you, you should consider CBD edibles or even a CBD capsule. While a CBD capsule is straightforward (you take them with water like any pill), there are a variety of options of CBD edibles available on the market.

The most popular CBD edible options include:

• Brownies
• Cookies
• Fudge
• Hard candy
• Puffed rice treats

If you can’t find any cannabis treats locally, baking with CBD is another great option for beginners, as you can limit the CBD concentration. CBD baking allows you to control the CBD dosing and the quality of the ingredients. If you’re health-conscious or have a strict diet, it’s important to keep in mind that many CBD-infused edibles may include processed ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial food dyes, and artificial sugar.

As for its effects, CBD edibles like CBD gummies, and capsules travel through the digestive system and start getting absorbed 30 minutes to 2 hours after being taken, meaning you won’t feel the effects of CBD right away like with a CBD oil and/or tincture.

CBD Creams, Lotions, and Salves

Depending on the type of health ailment and/or condition you’re living with, a topical CBD option may be better suited for your needs rather than a CBD oil, edible, and capsule. A CBD topical refers to CBD balm products, creams, lotions, ointments, and salves.

Topical CBD products may be a good choice for those who are suffering from or living with localized pain and inflammation. The CBD will only affect those parts of the body after it is directly applied to the skin, thus aiding in pain relief. Whether CBD topical products like CBD balm, or even inhaled CBD products like CBD vape, both are effective when the right dose is administered.

How Much CBD Should I Take?

If you’re taking CBD for the first time, the rule of thumb is to start at the lowest possible dosage and gradually increase it.

Everyone reacts in a different manner to the effects of CBD that affect the body’s cannabinoid receptors differently. Some people find a 10mg CBD dosage too strong while others may find it weak. In addition to dosages, there is no standard dosage to help manage specific health ailments and/or conditions.

Before you use CBD in any type of form like CBD gummies or CBD oil, it’s important to talk to your family doctor or healthcare team first about an appropriate CBD oil dosage and any potential risks and side effects — especially if you’re taking prescription medication. If your doctor tells you how much CBD to use, then use their CBD dosage recommendation.

However, if your doctor doesn’t recommend an appropriate hemp CBD dosage, many experts recommend CBD beginners start off with 25 mg of CBD. From there, they can either increase or decrease the dosage.

One way to figure out the proper dosage of CBD you should take for the first time is with a simple math equation.

CBD Dosage Calculator

Using a CBD dosage calculator is an easy way to find the appropriate and most accurate CBD dosage you should take depending on your weight and pain level. However, this CBD calculator method works is only suited for CBD oil or CBD tincture products.

To determine an optimal dose for you, look at this table of dosage suggestions based on your body weight and the severity of your pain level:

It should be noted that the data points of this CBD dosage chart are just starting point suggestions, you can increase or decrease your dosage according to your needs.

Here’s how to calculate the amount of CBD per dose:

How to Figure Out How Much CBD to Take

1. Look for the serving size and amount of CBD per serving. For example, 10 drops = 25 mg of CBD.
2. To figure out how much CBD a drop contains, divide the amount per serving by 10. For example, 25/10 = 2.5 mg. So each drop contains 2.5 mg of CBD.
3. Use the starting dosage from the chart above based on both your body weight and pain level, and divide by 2.5 to find out how many drops you need.

Here’s what a CBD dosage would look like if you were a 151 lbs person with mild pain: You will need 18 mg/2.5 mg = 7.2 drops of CBD to receive 18 mg of CBD. As for the .2 drops of CBD, it can be challenging to administer the exact amount, so you can decide to either round it to just 7 drops. Just like you may have learned in school, if the decimal is higher than 5, consider rounding up or rounding down. Do whatever you feel comfortable with.

How Will You Know When the CBD Is Working?

It’s important to know that CBD is a naturally occurring compound that’s used in a variety of goods to induce a relaxing and calming effect on an individual. Although CBD comes from the CBD flower of hemp plants, the cousin plant to the marijuana plant, it actually doesn’t produce a “high” effect or intoxication feelings when consumed. This means that it’s not a psychoactive substance, unlike other cannabinoid compounds.

In order to feel the “high” or intoxicating effects, you will need to use a hemp flower product that includes THC. If you do not want to feel these effects, there are plenty of THC-free hemp CBD products available on the market. Every product Bespoke sells is considered THC-free, even though they may contain trace amounts of the molecule. Any CBD-based product with 0.3% THC or less cannot make you high, and is generally considered to be free of THC.

Depending on how you consume CBD, it does take time for it to work and it varies depending on which type of hemp flower product you use. CBD bioavailability varies across products. Inhaled CBD and CBD oil tincture are known to have a high CBD bioavailability. For example, cannabinoid receptors could feel the effects of CBD within a few minutes when using it as a hemp CBD oil or tincture, or take several hours to begin to feel the effects if taken in edible and/or capsule form. Sometimes the effects of CBD can take several weeks. Continue to take it daily to allow your body to adapt to its effects.

Side Effects to Watch for When Taking CBD

Just with all types of recreational and/or therapeutic goods, there are some side effects to watch out for and/or be aware of when using CBD. Side effects of CBD include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Appetite changes
• Mood changes

In addition to these side effects to watch out for, it is also advised that you consume your CBD product on a full stomach. Consuming CBD on a full stomach may help prevent some of the above CBD side effects. However, if you’re advised by a physician and/or healthcare professional to take CBD with or without food, always follow your doctor’s instructions.

Conclusion

While more research needs to be done on the full effects and benefits of CBD, many people swear by it for pain relief, anxiety symptoms, and inflammation.

Questions like ‘How much CBD should I take?’ may seem daunting otherwise. The above guidelines are meant to help you identify the right CBD dosage that you should take for the first time. When you’re starting to take CBD for the first time, remember to start low and go slow to find your minimum effect CBD dosage. For example, If you’re taking a cannabis or CBD product, 25 milligrams is a good CBD dosing for a beginner CBD user. You will want to stay with a low dose of CBD for a few days, and then gradually increase the dose until you get and/or reach the desired effect.

Always consult your physician and/or healthcare team first before taking any type of CBD or Cannabinoid product like edibles or CBD hemp oil.