So you’re interested in adding CBD products into your life.The best and most straight forward advice we can give to CBD beginners is to start with a low CBD dosage and monitor the effects. If you’re comfortable with a low dose, then you can slowly increase the dosage until the effects fit your needs.
How Much CBD Should You Start With
Weight-based dosing is the most straightforward way to get started as it helps tailor the amount of CBD to an individual’s body mass, ensuring a more accurate dosing guideline. This is because people with different weights metabolize substances at different rates. Generally, a larger person may require a higher dose to experience the same level of effects as someone smaller.
Level 1 (Absolute Beginner)
A level one beginner is someone who has never taken CBD before. Starting out with a low dose of 0.1-0.2 mg per pound of body weight might be a good place to start.
It might be comforting to also know that the dosage for CBD is not the same as THC. CBD does not produce psychoactive effects and will not get you high. You should feel some relaxation in the mind and body at these doses, but it shouldn’t be very obvious or strong.
|
Body Weight |
Estimated CBD Dosage |
|
Up to 100 lbs (45 kg) |
10-20 mg |
|
100-150 lbs (45-68 kg) |
15-30 mg |
|
150-200 lbs (68-91 kg) |
20-40 mg |
|
200-250 lbs (91-113 kg) |
25-50 mg |
Level 2
You can still be a beginner and be interested in starting out in the level 2 range where the effects of CBD may need to be stronger. This can be for deeper relaxation, sleep, or helping to manage discomfort.
Again, it’s best to stick to the lower end of this range as higher doses of CBD too quickly can cause discomfort such as upset stomach or lethargy. At a more moderate dose, you’re looking at around 0.3-0.5 mg of CBD per pound.
|
Body Weight |
Estimated CBD Dosage |
|
Up to 100 lbs (45 kg) |
30-50 mg |
|
100-150 lbs (45-68 kg) |
30-75 mg |
|
150-200 lbs (68-91 kg) |
45-100 mg |
|
200-250 lbs (91-113 kg) |
60-125 mg |
How Much CBD for Each Product Type
How you take your CBD product can also affect how it feels. For example, smoking CBD products tends to come on a lot stronger but is short lived compared to eating CBD (CBD oils, gummies, or other edibles). This also has to do with how the body metabolizes CBD.
CBD Oil
Starting with CBD oil or CBD tinctures is a beginner friendly option that allows you to precisely scale your doses as you need. For example, with the same 2000 mg CBD oil product you can reach 33.3 mg with 0.5 ml of liquid (half a dropper) or take one whole dropper for 66.6 mg of CBD.
Smoking/Vaping CBD Products
Smoking CBD products is a little tricker to dose since you can’t accurately measure how much CBD you’re getting with every inhale.
Generally, you can expect the effects to feel much stronger because the CBD doesn’t have to go through the digestive system, where most of the CBD is broken down before entering the bloodstream.
Start with one long, steady inhale and wait 15-20 minutes before going in for another.
CBD Gummy
One of the great things about gummies is that they can be cut in half to get closer to your ideal dose. This means you can purchase 20-30 mg CBD gummies, but cut them in half until your body adjusts to the effects of a higher CBD dose. CBD gummies can be great for beginners because of the easy precise dosing in each gummy.
Other Cannabinoids
When shopping for CBD, you will start to see other cannabinoid options as well. Some formulas prioritize these cannabinoids, while others may supplement a CBD formula with small doses of cannabinoids, such as CBN, CBG, and RSO. If you want to know how to start measuring your dosages for these cannabinoids, then it’s best to read dosage guides specifically for the cannabinoid you are interested in.
The Takeaway: CBD for Beginners
We gave you our best recommendation for CBD dosages for beginners. However, while a guide is handy to follow, it’s important to know the factors influencing CBD dosage such as body weight, tolerance, and metabolism. These factors makes an appropriate dosage vary for each individual.
Too much CBD for beginners may feel overwhelming, so it’s crucial to follow our principle of “start low and gradually grow.” Finding your optimal dose of CBD can be a journey. But it’s a journey that can transform your approach to wellness.
