CBD and Delta-8 THC Dosing

So you want to begin your journey with CBD and Delta-8 THC, but what about dosing? Dosing can look different depending on the method you use for consuming CBD and Delta-8 THC, whether that’s smoking a vape, eating a gummy, or anything in between. Here is your helpful guide to dosing CBD and Delta-8 THC.

If you’re not sure which of the consumption methods below is right for you, be sure to check out our helpful guide before diving in to this article.

Your Guide to Dosing CBD and Delta-8

Smoking and Vaping: Flower Power

Compared to other methods, smoking or vaping only takes a few minutes until you start to feel the effects. This can mean that you’ll know quicker when you’ve hit your desired limit and can allow you to take “baby steps” (or in this case, baby hits – another word for inhale) until you reach your perfect state. Though smoking can be intimidating to first-time users, it can be a good option for beginners that are just starting to understand how different doses affect them.

For beginners trying Delta-8 THC, it’s best to begin with one to three short puffs, which will be about one to five milligrams (mg). After a couple of puffs, it’s advised to wait for about 20 minutes before you take another puff. This way, you can assess how you’re feeling and if the effects are kicking in.

In terms of CBD, you can start by taking one 3-second inhale, which contains about three mg of CBD (this will give you a similar dosage to 1-3 short puffs, but is a bit more precise). Again, you should wait wait 15 to 20 minutes before taking another so you assess how the dosage works for you.

Tinctures: Drop it Low and Slow

It will take slightly longer to feel the effects with a tincture – 15 to 30 minutes usually. However, the effects will often last for two to three hours. They are great to simply drop under your tongue or add to your favorite drink or even for stirring into your ice cream if you’re in the mood for a sweet treat! In terms of dosing, tinctures typically come in a standard 1ml dropper form, making it easy to know how much of a dose you’re receiving with each drop.

The tricky part is that not all tinctures contain the same dosage, so 1ml from one company may contain a much higher dosage than 1ml from another company. Before getting started, make sure to divide the total dosage (e.g. 1500mg CBD) by the total ml in the bottle (e.g. 30ml) to get the dosage per 1ml dropper (50mg per dropper in our example).

When using a tincture for the first time, take it one drop at a time. Start with one drop, then increase the number of drops until you feel comfortable with the effects.

It’s recommended you begin using a tincture only once per day and then work your way up.

Gummies and Edibles: Decadent Delights

Gummies and other edibles take from 30 minutes to two hours to kick in, and results can last for several hours. This means that you must be careful with how much you’re taking, and wait a full two hours before taking more, so you don’t accidentally take too much. If you’ve ever had a friend tell you they had a bad experience with edibles, they either didn’t know what dosage it contained and took more than they would be comfortable with, or they took a second edible thinking the first one would never kick in (classic).

Don’t let that scare you away! Gummies can be a great way to accurately know the dose you’re taking. Gummies are pre-measured and usually contain between 10 to 40 mg of Delta-8 THC, or 10-50mg of CBD. For Delta-8 beginners, it’s best to start with 5-10 mg, but more experienced users can try 10 mg or more. CBD beginners can start with 10 to 25 mg every day for a week, and then begin increasing their dose by 10 mg each week after.

Remember though that each person is different, and the right dosage for you can vary depending on your lifestyle, your metabolism, and what you are looking to address (e.g. the same dose of CBD can have a different impact if it is being used to target stress vs. inflammation). Also, keep in mind that CBD takes a bit longer to build up in your system, so starting with a low dosage every day and then increasing each week will most likely give you the best results.

We hope this guide was helpful! If you’ve been consuming cannabis for a while and aren’t seeing the results you’re looking for, check out our article on 3 reasons CBD might not be working for you.

If you still have any lingering questions, feel free to contact us!