CBD Dosing Frequently Asked Questions | River Organics

CBD has the potential to offer many therapeutic benefits, including decreased pain and inflammation, reduced stress and anxiety, improved sleep, and a balanced mood.

Before taking CBD, there are some things you should know to ensure you have the best experience possible, starting with how much you should take, how often, and when you should take it.  Finding the best dose for you is vital for having a positive experience with any CBD product.  Not only will it allow you to get the most benefit, but it also prevents you from wasting money by using more than you need.

There’s a huge variety of CBD products on the market, from oils, lotions or balms you use topically, to gummies and capsules you swallow, and tinctures you drop under your tongue.  We’ll be discussing how to use our USDA Organic Full-Spectrum CBD Tinctures.

We’ll start with the basics and move on to dosage tips from there.

1. Will CBD make me high?

You cannot get “high” using CBD.  To be legal for sale in the US, CBD cannot contain more than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive compound responsible for the sensation of “feeling high.”  In simple terms, virtually no amount of CBD could be consumed to trigger the psychoactive effects commonly associated with THC, or with smoking marijuana.  To put this into perspective, there are small amounts of alcohol in toothpaste, but you wouldn’t get drunk by consuming several tubes of it.

Though they’re both found in a cannabis plant— either hemp or marijuana—using CBD (Cannabidiol) is very different than smoking marijuana.  They are both cannabinoids— molecules that support the functioning of our endocannabinoid system, which regulates our mood, sleep cycles, inflammation, immune response, and more – but they work in different ways. Studies indicate that both CBD and THC are relatively safe, but CBD may be safer, for several reasons.  CBD will not affect your motor skills or cognition, so you can use CBD and still drive your car. And while THC might leave you feeling paranoid, CBD is an anxiolytic (meaning it quells anxiety) and is an anti-psychotic.  THC decreases the perception of pain, while CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory.  

2. How do I take a River Organics CBD tincture?

Suggested Use:  Shake well before using. Twist cap to open the bottle, gently squeeze the dropper bulb and release, to fill the graduated dropper.  Gently squeeze the dropper bulb again and release the oil under your tongue.  Hold for 30 to 60 seconds (holding for longer than 60 seconds can help increase absorption rate), and then swallow.

The dropper is full when oil reaches the 1 ml indicator line.  Avoid touching the dropper to your mouth to preserve the quality of your oil.

Consistency is key for success, as with any supplement. Use once or twice daily or as necessary.

3. How much CBD do I need?

As a baseline, the suggested daily dose of our full-spectrum CBD tinctures is 0.25 mg CBD multiplied by your body weight in pounds.  

For example, a 120-pound person would take 30 mg CBD daily (0.25 x 120 = 30 mg).  

A 200-pound person would take 50 mg CBD daily (0.25 x 200 = 50 mg).  It is ideal to split your doses equally between morning and evening.

That said, there is no official serving size or standard dose, and the ideal dose varies from person to person.  Your ideal dosage will be based on a variety of factors, which we discuss below.  For the best potential for success, we recommend some experimentation and consistent usage to determine the right dose for you.  It can take up to 3-4 weeks to determine your proper dosage, and you will likely need to work up to it.

Once you consistently observe CBD's effects on your body, you'll better be able to decide how much to take and when to take it.  Please be patient and take your time.  Rushing this process could have adverse effects.

4. How do I find my ideal dose of CBD?

When beginning to use CBD, the recommended protocol is to always start low and go slow.  Accordingly, you’ll want to start with a low dose, approximately 5-10 mg at a time, and gradually increase every few days as needed.  How you increase will depend upon the benefits and side effects you experience.  If you begin to feel dizzy or lethargic, you should either stay at that dose or lower the dose and stay there for a few days before increasing.  

When determining your optimal dose, add a bit more (a few milligrams) every 3-5 days, and take note of how you feel.  Dial it back slightly if you don’t feel any extra benefit, or you feel worse.  In this case, decrease your dose a bit the next day, and stick with that dose for a few days, then re-evaluate.

For most, the sweet spot will be between 10 mg and 40 mg per day.  

When titrating up to find your optimal dose it is ideal to stay at 5-10 milligrams for a at least 4-5 days, up to a week, so you feel comfortable with the effects that are experienced at this dose.  It is good to discover how you react to a certain dose so you can ascertain whether a higher dose is giving you more relief or less relief.  If you look at the graph below, you will see that a bell curve forms when comparing the strength of dose versus benefits.  Most people experience a loss of benefits at a high concentration of cannabis, yet this concentration will differ for everyone.

5. What factors impact CBD dosage?

Several factors affect how much CBD you’ll need to obtain your desired results.  Again, these factors aren’t definitive, and everyone responds differently to CBD.  Below are some loose guidelines.

Height & Weight

In simplest terms, the more you weigh, the more CBD you’ll need to take to feel its optimal benefits.  The rate in which CBD is absorbed and metabolized varies, depending on your height and weight. The process differs in those who weigh more versus those who weigh less.  Typically, a higher concentration of CBD is needed if you’re a taller or heavier person.

Age

For the effects of CBD to be felt, the body must first break it down. Your body’s metabolism works to split CBD molecules into smaller parts, making it easier for them to circulate throughout the body.

Because metabolism slows as we age, how old you are plays a role in determining the best dose for you. Generally speaking, the older you are, the longer it may take for you to feel the effects of CBD.  As such, it’s important to be patient and give your body the time it needs to fully metabolize CBD.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the younger you are, the faster your metabolism is likely to be. This means you may feel the effects sooner, and you may need to take CBD more often to maintain the benefits.

Gender

There is some evidence that points to a difference in how men and women react to CBD.  It is believed that hormonal and behavioral differences between males and females may contribute to the efficacy of CBD.

Early research suggests that cannabinoids may have a more noticeable physiological impact on men in regard to energy balance and food intake. On the other hand, CBD may have a more profound impact on women in terms of mood disturbances and stress.

Experience with CBD

If you’ve taken CBD before, you may already have a rough idea of how much you need to obtain optimal benefits.  Even if you’ve used CBD before, it’s important to stick with dosing low and slow when trying a new product.  This holds especially true if it has been a while since you last used CBD.

6. Is it possible to take too much CBD?

You can’t overdose on CBD, but dosage is very personal, as everyone responds differently.  More is not necessarily better.  Taking too much CBD at once does carry a risk of minor side effects, including dizziness and dry mouth. The risk of these side effects can be greatly minimized by taking a low dose that is most appropriate for your needs.

Instead of taking a high dosage in hopes of getting fast, long-lasting results, it’s best to start with a low dose.  This allows you to listen to your body and adjust the amount as needed.    

Remember, dosing low and slow is a must. CBD works to bring harmony between the mind and body.  It supports your endocannabinoid system, helping to keep your body’s systems in sync and balanced. Balance doesn’t likely happen by flooding the body with CBD.  As with any supplement, too much of a good thing is not necessarily a good thing.  

7. When should I take CBD?

When beginning a CBD routine, the best time to try it is 30 to 60 minutes before bed, in case it makes you feel drowsy.  While CBD is not a sedative, it does make some people feel tired.  This could be due to its relaxing effects.  Even if it doesn’t make you feel sleepy right away, it will likely help you get a good night’s sleep.

If, after using CBD at nighttime for a few days, and you find it doesn’t make you feel tired, you can take it during the day.  When taken during the day, CBD has been reported to help balance moods, support increased focus or energy, decrease pain and inflammation, and a host of other benefits.  

Some people find a smaller dose during the day is right for them, while a slightly larger dose at night helps them sleep.  Others may find the opposite to be true.  Again, it is important to experiment to find what works best for you.

8. Should I take CBD daily?

Not only can you take CBD every day, but for optimal benefit, it is advised for people to do so. CBD is fat soluble, which means it accumulates in your body over time, adding to potential health benefits.

We recommend taking full-spectrum products, which contain multiple cannabinoids and terpenes, plant oils, vitamins, and more natural compounds.  It is believed that with full-spectrum products, you need a lower dose.

Again, everyone’s body is different.  Many people need to build CBD up in their system in order to start seeing benefits.  If you don’t see results right away, keep taking your daily dose(s) consistently for several weeks, paying close attention to the changes you feel in your body.  Sometimes the differences are subtle, and you only really notice them if you stop taking it.

Once you’ve determined your ideal CBD dose, you’ll feel more confident as you start maximizing the positive benefits of your CBD routine.