“Overdose” can be an emotionally tinged word that conjures images of illegal drugs and serious, often fatal, consequences.
The word’s definition, however, isn’t judgmental: “An excessive and dangerous dose of a medicine, a drug, etc.” And by that definition, it’s certainly possible to overdose on CBD, just as it’s possible to take a dangerously excessive amount of any substance. It’s difficult, but you can even overdose on water; that’s called hyponatremia, or water intoxication.
Taking too much CBD is extraordinarily unlikely to produce life-threatening consequences, though, and there are no documented deaths attributed to its use.
That means the better question is “How much CBD is it safe to use?”
The UK government recommends limiting CBD consumption to 10mg daily. However, a 2017 research review in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found that people can safely tolerate 1,500mg per day, and a 2011 study in the journal Current Drug Safety put the number much higher, saying a toxic (but not lethal) dose of CBD is about 20,000mg.
That leaves a lot of “wiggle room.” What’s the safe amount of CBD for humans to use?
Let’s narrow it down.
Is CBD a Drug?
Since many people associate “overdose” with “drug,” it seems appropriate to answer this question first.
No, CBD (cannabidiol) isn’t a drug. It’s one of more than 100 cannabinoids (including THC) found in cannabis and hemp plants, and it’s non-intoxicating and non-addictive.
Further, the cannabidiol used in CBD products is sourced from hemp, not cannabis; hemp contains only a tiny amount of psychoactive THC that’s not enough to make users high. CBD and THC are both cannabinoids that trigger effects in the body, and they’re similar in chemical structure, but they’re in vastly different categories when it comes to “drugs” and “addiction.”
Marijuana comes from cannabis plants, and according to medical experts, some users can become addicted to the effects of its THC. That’s why most countries classify pot as a drug. CBD extracted from hemp, on the other hand, isn’t addictive and isn’t considered a drug in most Western nations. Even the World Health Organization says there’s no risk of dependency.
That’s why CBD is legal in Britain. In fact, the government limits the amount of THC that can be contained in CBD products to about 0.2%, far below the level at which users would feel any intoxicating cerebral or physical effects.
Even though CBD isn’t a drug, though, it’s certainly possible to use too much. As we mentioned at the start, one research review found evidence that people can tolerate up to 1,500mg per day of CBD, and another found that a toxic dose would be 20,000mg. Those examples aren’t realistic in everyday life. Truthfully, it’s impossible to come up with a single dosage that would be appropriate or safe for users, because every user is different. More specifically, doses are often calculated after considering the user’s weight and the condition for which they’re taking CBD, making what’s right for one person wrong for another. And since cannabidiol products aren’t approved for the treatment of any condition except a few rare types of childhood epilepsy, it’s not possible to extrapolate from current treatment recommendations. To help narrow it down, though, here are some numbers to consider. Most advise increasing the amount slowly by 5mg or 10mg at a time if the suggested dose isn’t effective. These are other numbers to consider as well; they’re the daily dosages that have been used successfully for various conditions in research studies. Here’s the bottom line. Even the amounts that appeared to be effective in clinical research don’t come close to the 1,500mg dose that’s been deemed safe by studies that have been done to date. Add the fact that even the most potent bottle of CBD oil only contains 1,500mg of cannabidiol, and that’s why there’s little chance taking too much CBD could be life-threatening. What happens in that almost-unimaginable case, though? Let’s find out. There are only two known CBD toxicity cases commonly cited, and they’re far from conclusive. The uncertainty over those cases isn’t unsurprising, since repeated studies of CBD products have found many of them to contain less cannabidiol than promised, more THC than allowable, or other contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals. One of the best ways to avoid CBD toxicity is to only purchase and use products manufactured and sold by trustworthy companies. As we’ve explained, it’s impossible to specify how much CBD is “too much.” People’s weight, metabolism, physical condition, other medical issues, and general tolerance vary so much that there’s no way to assign a number for the maximum amount that’s safe to consume. However, side effects can rear their heads if you’ve overdone it; they include fatigue, upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhoea, dizziness, irritability, and agitation. In extreme cases, a CBD overdose might cause users to become delirious. Experts agree, though, that consuming extremely high amounts of cannabidiol, even the 20,000mg dose used as an example in the Current Drug Safety report we cited earlier, would not be fatal. Instructions for use and suggested doses are usually included with CBD products, but those are generally “one size fits all” recommendations that could either be helpful or wildly inaccurate for users and their individual situations. There are also CBD dosage calculators online, but they are complicated, difficult to use, and not necessarily correct. Since there are no guidelines on CBD use from the medical community, your best first step is to speak with your doctor or another healthcare professional. They can advise you on whether cannabidiol is the right choice for your intended use, and what dose of CBD would be appropriate to consume.
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How Much CBD is Safe to Use?
Reports of CBD Toxicity
What Happens If You Take Too Much CBD?
Determining the Right Amount of CBD to Use
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