CBD Dosage: How Much To Take (Plus A Chart & Calculator)

Key takeaways.

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Cannabidiol, the stress-regulating compound you know as CBD, has many health benefits. Besides regulating stress, it has powerful antidepressant, anti-anxiety (anxiolytic), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, antiepileptic, and antinausea properties, just to name a few.

But finding the right CBD dosage is key to getting the most out of your chosen CBD products. Unfortunately, the internet is littered with convincing yet poorly-researched articles written well-intentioned people, which is making it that much more difficult to get a consistent and unified answer to the question: "How much CBD should I be taking?".

Here’s our in-depth CBD dosage guide, which includes a CBD calculator, a dosage chart for health concerns that have clinical studies, info on how to calculate the right CBD dosage for specific conditions, the latest research on CBD dosages, and any potential side effects.

CBD oil dosage.

Let us start off by acknowledging the fact that recent clinical trials on stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and PTSD all found that the CBD dosage sweet spot is approximately two doses of 150mg of full-spectrum CBD per day. We'll get into that later in the article.

That doesn't mean that you have to take exactly 150mg per dose, or 300mg per day, to benefit from CBD.

Expressed in milligrams, your personal CBD oil dose depends on multiple factors, like your body weight, metabolism, health goals, conditions, or symptoms. The quality and concentration of the CBD product you’re using will make a big difference to your dosage, which is why we only use organically grown clinical-grade actives in our CBD oils and cannabis products.

Most importantly, your CBD dosage largely depends on your unique Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which regulates all physiological and psychological processes—including motor control, behavior, emotions, the nervous system, immune function, and homeostasis.

Because our understanding of the ECS is still in its infancy, CBD dosage remains an area of active research. Additional large, high-quality studies are needed in different populations to determine appropriate dosing, efficacy, and safety guidelines.

How to dose full-spectrum CBD vs CBD isolate.

One thing we know for certain: when it comes to full-spectrum CBD vs. CBD isolate, full-spectrum CBD is empirically superior to CBD isolate.

A 2015 animal study concludes that while CBD isolate may offer certain health benefits, the effects are less notable the effects of a full-spectrum CBD product. The researchers found a bell-shaped dose-response curve for CBD isolate's effects, but a linear dose-response for a high-CBD full-spectrum product. That means that CBD isolate’s effects only occurred within a specific dosage range, whereas the effects of the full-spectrum products increase with the dosage.

Variables aside, most people start with two doses of CBD oil per day, with somewhere between 25 - 50mg per dose.

For example, your personal starting point might look like two 50mg doses of full-spectrum CBD oil or two 100mg doses of CBD isolate.

That number may be slightly lower for the highly sensitive, or more for those with an endocannabinoid deficiency or chronic conditions.

After a week of steady supplementation, adjust your dose based off of the desired results. If you choose to increase your dose, we recommend increasing it by 10mg intervals until you no longer feel any extra benefit.

Keep in mind that CBD oils are suspended in carrier oils, so 1ml of CBD oil does not contain 1mg of CBD. For example, we use MCT oil derived from coconuts that have been sustainably harvested. The same goes for edibles and CBD topicals. Carefully read the label of your chosen CBD product to ensure you're using the desired amount.

If you’re still not sure where to start, our CBD Dosage Calculator offers a questionnaire and CBD calculator to help you based on your specific symptoms and usage goals.

Read: Does CBD Work Better With THC?

Read: How To Choose Between Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, & Isolates

How to calculate CBD dosage.

When you consume CBD gummies, capsules or softgels, dosage is typically expressed per unit. For example, there may be 50 milligrams of CBD in each individual gummy. These products don’t offer much dosage flexibility since you can’t split up capsules easily. For instance, if one softgel capsule didn’t provide your desired result, you would have to take another full capsule, doubling the total dose.

CBD oil, on the other hand, makes it easy to begin with the lowest dosage of your choosing, though we recommend that you use our CBD Dosage Calculator. Plus, calculating the dosages of our CBD oils is straightforward. All of our oils and tinctures come in dropper bottles with the total liquid volume, total amount of CBD, and CBD per milliliter listed on the label. For example, our Full Spectrum CBD oil label states there are 1,500 milligrams of CBD in the 30-milliliter bottle, with 50mg CBD per milliliter.

But not all CBD oil labels list the breakdown. When that happens, you might be wondering "what does my dosage look like in milliliters?"

Here’s where math comes in. Let’s continue with the example above and calculate the amount of CBD per drop of a 30-milliliter bottle with 1,500 milligrams of CBD. Since we know that the bottle contains 50 milligrams of CBD per milliliter. Let’s see how many milligrams are in a drop:

1.  Start by figuring out the volume of a single drop in your dropper. On average, a drop of CBD oil from a tincture is around 0.05 ml in size.

2. Next, let's figure out the CBD concentration, i.e. how many milligrams of CBD there are per milliliter. Divide the total amount of CBD, which is typically expressed in mg (milligrams), by the total liquid volume of the bottle:

1500mg ÷ 30mL = 50 mg of CBD / mL

3. Now that we know that the bottle contains 50 milligrams of CBD per milliliter, let’s see how many milligrams are in a drop:

50mg/mL ×0.05mL/drop = 2.5mg/drop

4.  Now that you know how much CBD is in each drop, it’s easy to work out how many drops to take for your needs. The equation below shows how many drops you need to reach your goal dosage. For example, let’s say you want to consume 25 milligrams each day:

25mg ÷ 2.5mg/drop = 10 drops
10 drops ×2.5mg = 0.5mL

With this CBD oil dosage calculator as your guide, you would find that you need to consume 10 drops, or 0.5 milliliters, to reach 25 milligrams. And if you intend to consume 25 milligrams daily, you can expect this particular bottle to serve as a 60-day supply.

Again, our CBD products do this math for you and illustrate how many milligrams are in a milliliter, and our droppers are marked at 0.25mL intervals so you can measure exactly how much you’re taking.

How to take CBD oil.

CBD oil is a versatile supplement that can be consumed in several ways. Most experts recommend dropping the oil under your tongue, in what’s known as sublingual application.

Sublingual application allows much of the CBD to be absorbed directly into the blood vessels in the mouth. This means less is lost to the metabolic or digestive processes that occur when CBD enters the body through the lungs or the stomach.

Other popular ways to use CBD include adding drops to food or massaging it directly into the skin.

CBD dosage for edibles.

Many CBD and cannabis users report that edible CBD has a delayed and less predictable effect than CBD that’s inhaled or consumed sublingually. Be sure to give your dose 3 – 4 hours to take effect before making any judgments or taking more.

Again, keep in mind that 1 mg of an edible does not equal 1 mg of CBD. Always read labels carefully to check for concentrations and other ingredients and allergens.

Read: 9 Things I Wish Everyone Knew About CBD Edibles

Read: Why Is The Edibles Experience So Different? Edibles Vs Smoking Explained

CBD dosage chart.

The science of CBD is ongoing. Every month, new studies emerge showing the benefits of cannabis compounds to a range of conditions.

Below is a quick reference chart using clinical data on CBD dosages for different ailments and conditions. Note: Some of the formulations studied contained THC as well—not all available dosage research sticks strictly to CBD.

CONDITION	CLINICAL DOSE
Anxiety	300 – 600 milligrams per day[1][2]
Depression	200 milligrams per day[3][4]
Select forms of epilepsy	Starting at 20 – 25 milligrams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight twice daily[5]
Cancer	200 – 400mg of CBD per day[6]
Central neuropathic and cancer-related pain	135mg of CBD per day OR a 1:1 solution of CBD:THC with a maximum of 30 milligrams of CBD + 30 milligrams of THC per day[7][8]
Opioid addiction	400 or 800 milligrams a day[9][10]
Arthritis	A 1:1 solution of CBD:THC with a maximum of 30 milligrams of CBD + 30 milligrams of THC per day, or 250 milligrams of a 1:1 solution applied topically[11][12]
Schizophrenia	200mg – 1,000mg per day[13][14]
*Dosages are based solely on small, short-term clinical study results where CBD proved significantly successful over placebo. Much larger studies are needed to further strengthen the evidence.

Despite the growing number of studies, there is little guidance in Canada and around the world on how much CBD or THC you should consume for various conditions.

In many medical studies on CBD, you see administered doses reach hundreds of milligrams a day, which sounds severe compared to our starting dosage example of 25 milligrams. However, My Supply Co.'s Co-founder and Head of Product Education points out that patients in these studies are often dealing with serious flare-ups and pain-inducing conditions compared to everyday customers.

Read: Quick Guide To Finding Your Ideal CBD-To-THC Ratio

While the perfect dosage requires knowing more about individual factors, this is a good starting point for your CBD journey. The medical and research community still has a long way to go before figuring out what dose works best for each condition. At an individual level, you can experiment with caution until they find what works best for them.

Once you have an amount in mind, take a look at the concentration of your CBD edible or oil to find out how much to take. Keep in mind that CBD edibles have a bioavailability of 20% at best, meaning that only 20% of the CBD will be activated; the rest will be lost to metabolic processes. Conversely, tinctures have a bioavailability of up to 75%.

What the research says about CBD dosages.

Clinical studies involving human participants and CBD have used many different dosages to positive effect. These range between 20 – 1,500 mg.

Successful treatment has been recorded with a 40 mg daily dose for people with schizophrenia, a 150 mg dose for Parkinson’s, and high doses of over 1,000 mg to treat some patients with psychosis.

Another study found that doses up to 1,500 mg are well-tolerated by the majority of people. All of which further confirms that there is no “right” amount of CBD, only an amount that works for your needs.

Factors affecting CBD dosage.

Several factors can affect your CBD dosage, the biggest being the reason you’re taking CBD in the first place.

Those in significant discomfort or suffering from severe neurological conditions often benefit from much higher doses of CBD than those supplementing for general anxiety or daily wellbeing.

Bodyweight is any factor that significantly affects how CBD works, which is why we recommended calculating dosage by the pound.

Those on prescription medications may find that higher CBD doses cause drowsiness.

Previous exposure to cannabis and consumption of alcohol and other sedatives will also affect dosages.

Also, long-term CBD use itself is likely to result in a build-up of tolerance, meaning that dosages will need to be raised periodically.

How much CBD should I take for…?

Here’s what CBD researchers and consumers say about CBD dosages for specific conditions. Note that CBD isn’t a cure for chronic conditions, but many users have found relief from the daily discomfort and frustration that comes from an ongoing illness.

CBD dosage calculator.

Please enter your goal, severity, weight, and the amount of CBD in your products.

CBD dosage for anxiety.

For anxiety or nervousness, a good starting dose of CBD oil is between 150 and 300mg per dose per day. As with all uses for CBD, but especially anxiety, users can expect more successful effects from a consistent dosage that allows CBD to build up in the bloodstream.

For some, a much higher CBD dose has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms. In a review of studies published in 2015, the authors found that trials using 300 to 600 mg of CBD were most effective.

The review concludes that CBD has the potential to reduce anxiety in patients with SAD, in the treatment of PTSD, and for “enhancing cognitive behavioral therapy.”

Another 2021 study reviewed 8 clinical trials on CBD for stress using 150mg - 300mg of CBD per day. All showed that CBD was effective in significantly reducing the stress response and its manifestations (anxiety, fear, depression, and burnout). Two clinical trials compared CBD to pharmaceuticals (benzodiazepines and/or 5HT_1A agonists), and both showed that CBD was non-inferior to the pharmaceutical drugs.

CBD dosage for sleep.

Evidence suggests that CBD dosages for sleep are highly individual. However, many users report success when taking a moderate-to-high dose in comparison to their usual amount.

Researchers working in 2019 studied the effects of a 25 mg daily dose of CBD on sleep quality in 72 subjects, over half of whom also experienced anxiety. In the study, just over two-thirds of participants reported improvements in sleep and increased sleep duration.

A 2022 study on adults with insomnia found that a combination of 2 - 15mg of THC and 3 - 22.5mg of THC improved the quality of sleep in participants by up to 80%, including higher daily functioning.

Alternatively, you may want to consider CBN for sleep, which early studies show can improve sleep quality and duration.

CBD dosage for pain & inflammation.

Depending on the intensity of pain and discomfort, a good starting dose of CBD oil is between 50mg - 100mg of CBD per day. But as the studies show, this amount can be significantly increased in severe cases.

For joint pain and arthritis:

For inflamed joints, The Arthritis Foundation recommends starting with only a few mg of CBD, taken twice per day. Dosages should then be increased by small increments on a weekly basis until desired results are achieved.

The Foundation also highlights the importance of keeping doses regular in order to “maintain a stable level of CBD in the blood.”

CBD dosage for neuropathic pain:

When researchers conducted a small study on the effects of CBD on neuropathy pain, they found that participants reported a statistically significant reduction in symptoms when compared to a placebo.

The dosage used in the study was a CBD product that contained 250 mg of CBD.

Read: THC vs. CBD for Pain: Which is Better, and For What?

CBD dosage for autoimmune conditions.

Scientists have found a great body of evidence suggesting that the ECS could be a promising target for treating inflammatory and autoimmune conditions linked to the activation of immune cells. Medical cannabis and some of its components, like CBD and THC, seem to have the ability to calm down the immune response by interacting with different receptors. This leads to fewer immune cells moving to inflamed areas and a decrease in the release of pro-inflammatory substances.

This treatment could be useful for dealing with different autoimmune diseases like Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. However, there have not been many conclusive studies on humans yet. The details of how CBD works in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) won't be discussed here since we get into it in the next section.

CBD dosage for Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):

IBS and IBD can be classified into Crohn’s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), depending on the characteristics present. Despite the vast preclinical data showing beneficial effects of CBD in mouse and rat models of intestinal inflammation, clinical data are only beginning to emerge. As a result, there is no guideline for CBD dosages for IBS or IBD.

When researchers gave 30 participants with Chron’s a regular dose of cannabis (not CBD extract), they found that 21 were able to reduce their need for other medications and surgeries. 

We recommend starting with 65mg of CBD twice daily for a total 130mg per day. From there, if needed, you can work your way up to a dose that meets your needs.

Remember that when taking CBD orally, it can take time for your body to metabolize it. Wait a few hours before taking more.

CBD dosage for MS.

Research into the effects of CBD on specific conditions, like MS, reveals that CBD’s anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive qualities may help with MS symptoms, but human evidence is limited. Anecdotally, some people with MS say cannabis and cannabinoids help them with symptoms like pain and spasticity.

There’s even a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called Sativex, a 1-to-1 combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD that doctors prescribe to treat spasticity in people with MS. Research suggests that a 1-to-1 combination of CBD and THC is almost as effective as current treatments for MS, with fewer side effects. Cannabis may also help treat neuropathy-related pain in people with MS.

We recommend starting with 80mg of full-spectrum CBD twice daily for a total 160mg per day. From there, if needed, you can work your way up to a dose that meets your needs.

If you need additional relief, we recommend switching to 1 milliliter of our 1 CBD : 1 THC Oil per day, which delivers 25mg of CBD and 25mg of THC.

It should be noted, though, that THC has psychoactive properties and can cause cognitive impairment.

CBD dosage for cancer.

A large volume of research suggests that CBD demonstrates robust anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects some direct anti-tumor properties. Studies such as this one from 2019 have observed CBD’s ability to block tumor cell activity.

As evidenced by the large volume of literature reviewed above, CBD has demonstrated robust anti-cancer benefits in lab-grown cells and in mice with tumors, both in terms of slowing down the growth and promoting the death of cancer cells in various types of cancer. In comparison, CBD generally has milder effects on normal cells from the same tissue/organ.

Furthermore, CBD can stop tumors from spreading, invading nearby tissues, and forming new blood vessels. This suggests that CBD doesn't just target the tumor cells themselves; it can also influence the surrounding environment of the tumor, like changing the behavior of neighboring cells and immune cells.

More generally, CBD—as well as medical cannabis—may be a good option for anyone experiencing inflammatory symptoms as the result of cancer or cancer treatments. This includes nausea, headaches, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal irritation.

CBD dosage for cancer and cancer pain is highly individual and depends upon their severity, but 200mg per day is a good starting point.

For Canadians with cancer, talk to your healthcare provider for more information.

CBD dosage for epilepsy.

Multiple studies over the past decade have confirmed CBD’s status as an anticonvulsant, leading to its use in clinical practice—a rarity for CBD.

A CBD dosage schedule for seizures should be developed with your health care provider. Often, dosages begin at between 2.5 and 5 mg of CBD per kg of body weight and are reviewed and incrementally increased on a weekly basis, according to Medscape.

CBD dosage for high blood pressure (hypertension).

There’s growing evidence that CBD could play a role in helping to reduce hypertension and its symptoms.

In 2017, research from the UK found that a single, 600 mg dose of CBD lowered both resting blood pressure and stress-related blood pressure increases in males—though the study stopped short of recommending CBD for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

CBD dosage for dogs.

Dogs are vulnerable to several common inflammatory conditions, including osteoarthritis and canine anxiety. As a result, they can also benefit greatly from CBD supplementation.

** Always give dogs and other animals pet-friendly CBD products designed for non-human use. **

How to calculate CBD dosage for dogs.

There are three things to keep in mind when developing a CBD dosage for dogs:

1. The dogs’ condition
2. The dogs’ body weight
3. CBD product concentration

Using these factors, owners can give their dogs CBD with a starting dose of 0.2 mg per lb of their pets’ body weight.

Just like humans, dogs will benefit from a personalized dosage, and owners should experiment with what works for their pup. Increases of doses up to 0.7 mg per lb are generally tolerated well.

As with traditional medications, dogs can also build a tolerance to CBD, so dosages may need to be slowly raised over time to retain their effect.

Talk to your dogs’ healthcare provider to develop a specific dosage schedule for their individual needs.

Read: CBD for Pets 101

CBD dosage tips.

CBD dosage FAQs.

Read: CBD And Cannabis For Endometriosis

Read: Treating PCOS With Cannabis: Does It Work?

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