Dosing CBD Gummies: How Many Per Day

Even if you haven’t yet dipped your toes in the rising ocean of hemp-based cannabis products, you’ve probably noticed the hype around cannabidiol (CBD). It’s hard to miss!

CBD is the dominant active compound in the hemp plant. As a naturally occurring hemp compound (a phytocannabinoid), it’s easily extracted directly from the plant—no laboratory tricks needed. That’s not the case with commercial delta 8 THC and HHC, which are converted from CBD using heat and chemicals. CBD products contain actual CBD extract.

You have a few options if you’re looking to reap the benefits of CBD. No delivery method will get you high (it isn’t psychotropic), but CBD gummies are one of the most popular ways to consume the cannabinoid.

Dosing CBD gummies can take a minute to get the hang of. You’ll need to experiment, and your perfect CBD dose can vary between sessions. 

What are CBD gummies?

These sweet treats are exactly what you’d expect: gummies infused with various concentrations of CBD. They’re available in various shapes, sizes, and flavors. 

Not only are gummies familiar to hemp aficionados and newcomers alike, but they’re also tasty and simple to work with. Hemp bud and CBD concentrates may be foreign territory to someone trying cannabis for the first time. But even if you’ve never touched weed in your life, you’ve probably eaten a gummy. 

There’s no set dose for a single CBD gummy. The CBD content in each gummy isn’t state-regulated like dispensary marijuana products. You’ll need to pay attention to what the manufacturer says about their product’s CBD concentration.

How do CBD gummies work?

Initially, your body handles CBD gummies just like it would other food products. They can’t reach your bloodstream unless they’ve first worked their way through the digestive tract.

It’s what happens next that sets CBD gummies apart from unmedicated snacks. Any CBD that’s absorbed in the stomach then needs to be processed by the liver. After it passes through the liver, you’ll begin feeling its effects. 

We’ll get into bioavailability later, but not every milligram of CBD will make it through this process unscathed. Only a small fraction will. 

CBD then interacts with cannabinoid receptors throughout the body—called the endocannabinoid system (ECS)—which help regulate essential functions like memory and sleep. CBD either blocks, ignores, or binds to ECS receptors, depending on which ones we’re looking at. CBD does not bind strongly with either the CB1 or CB2 receptors.

Intoxicating cannabinoids like delta 9 THC tend to bind effectively to the CB1 receptor, but CBD has no affinity for it. In fact, CBD is a CB1 antagonist and may even prevent psychotropic cannabinoids like THC from effectively binding with the CB1. The ways CBD alone works in the body are complex and not yet fully understood, but some CBD effects may depend less on ECS pathways than THC and its intoxicating cousins’ effects do.

Taking CBD gummies is less complex on the user’s end. All you need to do is pop one in your mouth and chew, assuming you already know how many milligrams to take. Your body takes care of the rest.

What variables affect CBD dose? 

Dosing CBD is a highly individual task. You only have so much control over how your body responds, and taking a specific dose won’t always have the intended effect. 

Everyone’s physiology is different. There’s no universal approach to dosing cannabinoids of any kind, given all the variables at play. You’ll need to consider:

• Tolerance: Regular CBD use boosts your tolerance. You may need to take a higher dose over time as your body adjusts and stops responding the way it used to. Take a periodic break from CBD to roll back your tolerance. 
• Metabolism: It’s a given, but if your metabolism is more efficient, CBD will likely get filtered out more quickly. You may also feel the effects sooner. 
• Body weight: Individuals with more body mass may need to consume higher doses of CBD. 
• Drug interactions: This is a big issue with CBD; it’s also why you should check in with your physician before starting, at least if you’re on any medication. 
• Health conditions: From a cold to chronic illness, your physical health can impact CBD’s effects. 

Also, consider how long it’s been since you last ate. Eating CBD gummies on an empty stomach could produce quicker effects than if you’ve just enjoyed a hearty meal. At the same time, taking CBD with fatty acid-rich foods may promote better absorption (and stronger relief). You might need a lower dose that way. 

All these variables may or may not apply to you. You’ll have to experiment with dosages to find your sweet spot.

Dosing CBD gummies: other considerations

CBD gummies have a few quirks compared to other delivery methods. As a result, you’ll want to keep the following variables in mind. 

Low bioavailability

Compared to inhaled or sublingual (under the tongue) delivery, edibles are less bioavailable. Which, of course, is less than perfect if you want to get the most CBD for your buck. 

You don’t absorb every milligram of CBD you consume when you use any type of product. Gummies, though, are an extreme case—as little as six percent of oral CBD will hit your bloodstream. Unless it reaches its target, you won't feel the effects. 

To maximize CBD’s bioavailability, try eating gummies with fatty acid-rich foods, such as nuts or fish. Cannabinoids (CBD and THC included) are fat soluble. 

By comparison, inhaled CBD has somewhere between 11% and 45% bioavailability. It’s absorbed rapidly by lung membranes and bypasses the digestive tract altogether, so you aren’t losing any during digestion. Inhaled CBD is also less likely to be filtered out by the liver before reaching its destinations. 

Injecting cannabinoids directly into your blood is the only way to achieve 100% bioavailability. But you can’t (and should never) do that at home.

Delayed onset

CBD gummies don’t take effect immediately, or even within a few minutes. How long you wait before feeling effects can also vary substantially from session to session.

Compared to CBD vape juice, oral CBD needs to cross additional hurdles before producing effects. Not only are you losing more along the way, but it also takes longer for CBD to arrive. 

Give CBD gummies between thirty minutes and two hours to take effect—and maybe even longer. Stay patient, and don’t bump up your dose too soon. CBD is usually well-tolerated, but side effects are still possible. And the only way to find a perfect dose is to give each experimental dose a chance to succeed before adding to it.

CBD dosage chart: how many gummies to eat

Starting low is always best. There’s no foolproof way to predict your ideal CBD dose in advance, so expect some trial and error. 

If you’ve never used CBD before, you’ll need to know what a “low dose” looks like for you. One recommendation is to take one to five milligrams of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight. That works out to: 

CBD gummies vary in potency, but 10 to 50 milligrams per piece is typical. How many you take depends on how much CBD each one contains. 

But remember that CBD gummies have low bioavailability. Perhaps even more than other delivery methods, experimentation is a key step in the process. You don’t know how much CBD your body will absorb. 

You can also find special calculators online to help out. Just keep in mind that these numbers are estimates—sometimes by vendors eager to sell more gummies—and that you never know exactly how your body handles CBD until you’ve tried it yourself. 

Tips for dosing CBD gummies

Consider the following when dosing CBD gummies for the first time:

• Ask an expert: You probably don’t have a CBD know-it-all on standby, but your doctor may be able to help; if not, try checking in with your local CBD shop. 
• Start low: It’s better to start with a dose that’s too low rather than too high, especially if you encounter side effects. 
• Be patient: Edibles are a waiting game, and if you’ve never used CBD before, you’ll need time to experiment. Don’t go back for more until the first dose has taken effect. 
• Know your desired effect: The science isn’t exact, but users seeking pain or inflammation relief may need a higher dose than those who only want to unwind. 
• Get familiar with the product: Most importantly, make sure you're aware of the gummy’s CBD concentration. You can also read user reviews or forums to see what others have experienced. 
• Trust your body: Dosage charts aren’t everything. If you feel CBD effects at a low dose, stop there. Alternatively, if a high dose isn’t doing anything for you, feel free to increase (within reason).