How Much CBD is in A Product?
The level of CBD in your cannabis is just as important, or possibly even more important, than the level of THC in the product. You might greatly benefit from a strain that is high in CBD yet not desire the effects of THC. Others are more partial to the euphoria provided by high levels of THC. The challenge lies in determining the level of CBD in a cannabis product. Here’s how to do it.
Determining CBD Levels in Cannabis Products
The quickest way to determine how much CBD is in the cannabis product you have in mind is to check the label. You can also find information pertaining to CBD levels of particular strains on the dispensary or other merchant’s website. It is interesting to note that tests for CBD levels are typically conducted after the THC level is analyzed.
Cannabis plants that have a high level of THC typically have a low level of CBD. As a result, it does not make sense to test those plants for CBD. Testing for THC in cannabis can yield the answer of the CBD level. However, if the plant has a low level of THC, it will have a higher level of CBD. It must be noted the specific level of CBD is not officially tested and quantified in such a manner. This generalized approach should only be employed if you are short on time and have the capability of performing such a test on your own. Let’s take a closer look at the subtleties of determining the specific levels of CBD in cannabis products.
CBD Levels in Cannabis
Cannabis breeders have gone to great lengths to determine the specific amounts of CBD in individual strains. Rewind time back to 2001 and the level of CBD within cannabis was determined to be around 0.28%. In subsequent years, this figure continued to decrease. Fast forward to ’14 and the CBD levels of cannabis had dropped to around 0.15%. This drop altered the ratio between cannabis CBD and THC, making most strains become that much more revered for their psychoactive components as opposed to their beneficial properties in terms of pain relief.
Today’s cannabis has more CBD than that of the aughts and even strains from half a decade ago. The average amount of CBD within cannabis is between 1% and 4%. This level is a considerable jump from that of yesteryear. However, as time progresses, CBD levels will likely increase all the more. It must be noted certain strains of cannabis have CBD levels in excess of 10%. Some high-CBD strains even have CBD at the level of 15%, making them quite effective for individuals saddled by chronic pain, headaches and other health maladies.
Calculating CBD Dosage
The consumption of CBD is expressed in a per unit measurement. Whether CBD is consumed in gummy form, soft gels or capsules, the CBD level will be quantified on a per unit basis. As an example, individual CBD gummies typically have around 50 milligrams of CBD. Such products do not provide considerable dosage flexibility as the capsules cannot be split with ease. Alternatively, calculating CBD within CBD oil is more complex. CBD tinctures and oils are available in dropper bottles, meaning the aggregate liquid volume along with the CBD contents are included on the bottle’s label.
As an example, a 30 milliliter bottle might state it contains 1,200 milligrams of CBD. If you are like most people, you are wondering what, exactly, does a single milliliter look like. The insufficient CBD regulation makes such a calculation quite tricky. If you want to perform a DIY measurement on your own, determine the volume of a drop within your dropper. The volume will likely be 0.05 milliliters. Divide 1,200 milligrams by 30 milliliters and you have a quantification of 40 milligrams per milliliter. In other words, such a bottle has 40 milligrams of CBD for each milliliter.
Verify the CBD Level Before Purchasing From a Dispensary
If you buy CBD products from a dispensary or other merchant, don’t assume the advertising or the word of the sales clerk is accurate. Take a look at the CBD concentration as listed on the COA. The COA is the certificate of analysis of the CBD product or oil. The COA is issued by a laboratory. This lab is a third-party meaning it is unbiased and objective. The best merchants make COAs easily available so consumers can understand the specific level of CBD as well as THC, terpenes and other components within products.