Cannabis Oil and Tincture Dosage: How Much Sativa Oil Should You Take?

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: September 21, 2021 References

If you struggle with pain or anxiety management, you may have heard about cannabis oil before. Sativa oil is a type of cannabis oil that can help with pain, stress, and anxiety. Figuring out how much to take for your first dose can be tough, so we’ve answered some of your questions about it. Keep reading to learn how much cannabis oil you should take and how to measure it accurately.

Question 1

Question 1 of 6:
How much cannabis oil should I take?

1
If you’ve been prescribed cannabis by a doctor, talk to them about dosage. Doctors will sometimes prescribe CBD oil as a treatment for anxiety, pain, or even epilepsy. Your doctor can work with you to figure out the best treatment plan and tell you exactly how much to take and when to take it. If you aren’t sure, call your doctor or make an appointment to talk about your treatment plan.^{[1]
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2
If you’ve purchased cannabis from a pharmacist, talk to them about dosage. If your state allows it, you may have been able to purchase CBD or THC oil over the counter from a pharmacist. If that’s the case, you can talk to the pharmacist to figure out how much to take at once and when to increase your dosage. Head to the pharmacy you purchased from or make an appointment with them to talk about your treatment plan.^{[2]
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3
If you are using recreational marijuana, start with 1 drop. Living in a state where marijuana is legal means you don’t have a treatment plan or a doctor to talk to. If you purchased CBD or THC oil on your own, start by using 1 drop, waiting 4 hours, and seeing how you feel. If you don’t feel the effects that you’d like to, increase your dosage by another drop every day.^{[3]
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- It’s important to go slowly and work your way up rather than taking too much at once.
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Question 2

Question 2 of 6:
How many mg are in a dropper?

1
A full dropper is roughly 20 mg of oil. That’s about 1 mL (0.068 US tbsp) of oil in a full dropper. This is an easy way to measure out your dosage, as you can take a full dropper, half a dropper, or more than one dropper, depending on your preference.^{[4]
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- There are about 20 drops in a full dropper. Therefore, 1 drop is equal to 0.05 mL of oil.

Question 3

Question 3 of 6:
How do you take cannabis oil?

1
Drop it under your tongue for the fastest effect. If you want to get the cannabis oil in your bloodstream right away, use an eyedropper and place the oil directly under your tongue. Hold it there for about 30 seconds to allow it to soak into your bloodstream, then swallow.^{[5]
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- Most cannabis oil has an earthy, green taste that is fairly mild.
2
Drop the oil into food or drinks to absorb it more slowly. If you add cannabis oil to your food or drinks, it will be absorbed through your stomach, which could take up to 30 minutes. Some people prefer it this way because adding cannabis oil to food can help mask the taste.^{[6]
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Question 4

Question 4 of 6:
How do you use an oil syringe?

1
Push the syringe into the oil, then pull out your dosage. If you have an oil syringe and not an eyedropper, uncap the syringe and push it into the top of the oil bottle. Flip the bottle over, then gently pull the top of the syringe back to pull oil into it. When you’ve pulled enough oil into the syringe, gently pull the tip out of the bottle.^{[7]
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- Oil syringes usually have dosage markings on the side so you can accurately measure out the amount of oil you need.
- Once you have the oil in the syringe, you can either drop it under your tongue or add it to food or a drink.

Question 5

Question 5 of 6:
Can cannabis oil cause bowel problems?

1
Yes, cannabis oil can sometimes cause nausea. Both CBD and THC oil can cause side effects, like nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. If you experience any side effects, consider lowering your dosage to reduce your symptoms until they go away.^{[8]
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- If you are taking blood thinners, talk with your doctor before taking CBD oil. CBD oil can sometimes interact with this medication and make it less effective.
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Question 6

Question 6 of 6:
Will cannabis oil show up on a drug test?

1
CBD oil won’t show up, but THC oil will. If you are taking pure, 100% CBD oil, then you will be able to pass a drug test. If, however, your CBD oil has even trace amounts of THC in it, you will be able to see that on a drug test. In general, CBD oils that claim to be 100% CBD are still allowed to contain up to 0.3% THC in them. Experts also warn that trace amounts of THC may build up in your system over time, leading to THC showing up on your drug test.^{[9]
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- To lower the chance of getting trace amounts of THC in your CBD oil, look for a product with a Certificate of Analysis, or COA. That document will show the testing results for CBD and THC percentage in the product so you can double check what you’re taking before you buy it.