CBN dosing for first-time users
You’re probably excited—and maybe even a little nervous—to start taking CBN.
Let’s make sure you get off to a great start by reviewing the basics every beginner should know before taking their first dose.
How much CBN should I take?
The amount of CBN you take in a dose determines how it affects you.
Finding your best CBN dose depends on four key factors:
- How much you weigh
- Your cannabinoid tolerance
- The form of CBN you use (vape, sublingual, oral, or topical)
- Your primary wellness goals (everyday relief, anti-inflammatory support, deep relaxation, sleep balance)
All four shape your dosage needs, but body weight is the number one factor to consider when choosing your starting dose.
Find your perfect dose with the CBN dosage chart
Our CBN dosage chart uses your body weight to establish a recommended dosage range, whether you’re just starting out, taking CBN daily, or exploring maximum-strength dosing.
These weight-based dosing ranges lay the groundwork for a balanced CBN wellness plan that’s all your own:
Now, let’s find out how to personalize your CBN dose.
Starting CBN for the first time
First things first: Always start low and go slow when beginning CBN. But don’t be afraid to explore along the way!
CBN is surprisingly forgiving, and there’s plenty of wiggle room to safely experiment with your dosage as you learn what works best for you.
Try the CBN Dosage Calculator: See Your Recommended Product Matches
As a new CBN user, you’ll begin with a simple technique called titration to find the perfect balance between dosage strength and comfort. Titration means slowly adjusting how much CBN you take until you find what works best for you.
Most people find their optimal CBN dose within a few days, but results vary from person to person. Only you know how much CBN is helping you to feel better.
How to take CBN for best results
CBN research is still evolving, and scientists continue to discover new insights that refine our understanding of safe and effective dosage ranges.
Inside the cannabis community, two primary approaches have emerged. They are weight-based dosing and microdosing.
Here we’ll explore the benefits of each CBN dosing method.
Weight-based CBN dosing for nighttime
Weight-based CBN dosing involves taking your entire recommended daily dose in the evening or at bedtime. The single large dose produces stronger sedative effects, promoting deeper relaxation and sleepiness. If a second CBN dose is needed, wait at least four hours.
Use the dosage chart above or try our CBN Dosage Calculator to get your personalized dose recommendations.
CBN microdosing for daytime
Microdosing is an approach where you split your daily dose into multiple smaller doses taken throughout the day. CBN microdoses relieve everyday aches and pains, reduce inflammation, and support healthy immune system function without causing drowsiness like big single doses can.
It’s easy to calculate your microdose if you already know your recommended daily CBN dose. Just divide it into five, ten, or more equal portions, and take every one or two hours or as needed.
How do I calculate my own CBN dose?
Since there are two unique approaches to CBN dosing, let’s break down both methods, starting with calculating your full weight-based dose.
First, we’ll review the recommended CBN dose per pound and kilogram of body weight. This will help us determine how strong the dose will be:
Chart: CBN Dosage By Pound or Kilogram |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Unit Weight Metric | Mild Strength Dose | Average Stength Dose | Maximum Stength Dose |
| 1 lbs U.S. Imperial Pound |
0.03 mg / lbs | 0.08 mg / lbs | 0.3 mg / lbs |
| 1 kg Metric Kilogram |
0.066 mg / kg | 0.18 mg / kg | 0.66 mg / kg |
You will use the simple formula below to calculate exactly how much CBN you need per dose according to your specific body weight and preferred strength:
[TOTAL CURRENT BODY WEIGHT] x [PREFERRED STRENGTH OF CBN IN MG] = RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF MG CBN PER DOSE
Let’s calculate a mild strength dose for someone who weighs 123 lbs first. Here’s how that looks using the formula:
Example #1:
Total Weight: 123 lbs
Ideal Dosage Strength: Starter Dose
[123 lbs] x [0.03 mg] = 3.69 mg of CBN recommended per dose
Next, we will calculate a maximum strength dose for someone who weighs 217 lbs:
Example #2:
Total Weight: 217 lbs
Ideal Dosage Strength: Maximum Dose
[217 lbs] x [0.30 mg] = 65.1 mg of CBN recommended per dose
Now you know how to calculate the precise dose of CBN recommended for exact body weight. All that’s left is using the chart above to pick the ideal dosage strength for you and plugging in your weight to get your recommended CBN starting dose.
There will be one more step to go if you are a CBN microdoser.
How do I calculate a CBN microdose?
You’ll need to divide your total body weight-based dose by either five doses or ten doses depending on how many microdoses you plan to take during the day.
Use this simple calculation to find the amount of each microdose:
[TOTAL BODY WEIGHT-BASED DOSE] / [EITHER 5 DOSES OR 10 DOSES] = RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF MG CBN PER MICRODOSE
Smaller microdoses are best when first starting out. You can always titrate more or less CBN for subsequent doses once you see how you respond.
Let’s use the CBN microdosing formula to calculate the recommended microdose for each of our example users.
Example #1:
[3.69 mg] / [10 DOSES] = 0.37 mg recommended per microdose
Example #2:
[65.1 mg] / [5 DOSES] = 13.02 mg recommended per microdose
How many milligrams of CBN are in my dropper?
Some bottles of CBN are more powerful than others.
How can you tell? Look for the total amount of CBN printed on the front of your bottle label to determine how much is inside. Zero High® CBN Oil Isolate has this number printed directly on the front of each bottle to make it easy to distinguish between product strengths. CBN concentrations range from 100 mg to 2,500 mg per bottle with Zero High CBN. The higher the number, the more CBN is contained in it.
The next important number to take note of is the number of fluid ounces per bottle. All Zero High CBN oils come in 30 mL bottle sizes. Thus, you get 30 individual 1 mL dropper doses in each bottle of Zero High CBN.
Let’s find out how much CBN is in each 1 mL dropperful using a 500 mg Bottle of Zero High CBN Oil as an example.
Here’s the formula we’ll use to do that:
[TOTAL CBN IN THE BOTTLE] / [TOTAL MILLILITERS IN THE BOTTLE] = AMOUNT OF CBN PER DOSE
Example CBN bottle:
500 mg Zero High CBN Oil Isolate (30 mL bottle)
[500] / [30] = 8.33 mg of CBN per 1 mL dose
Zero High CBN products include graduated droppers that have 1 mL, ¾ mL, ½ mL, and ¼ mL markings printed directly onto the glass pipette. This helps take all the guesswork out of measuring your CBN dose precisely.
Here’s a breakdown of Zero High CBN Oil doses in ¼ mL increments according to individual product strengths:
Common CBN Oil Product Potency and Dosage Amounts |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total CBN In Bottle (30 mL / 1 oz) |
CBN Per Dropperful (1.0 mL) |
Per ¾ Dropper (0.75 mL) |
Per ½ Dropper (0.50 mL) |
Per ¼ Dropper (0.25 mL) |
CBN Per Drop (30 drops per mL) |
| 100MG | 3.33 mg | 2.49 mg | 1.66 mg | 0.83 mg | 0.11 mg |
| 250MG | 8.33 mg | 6.24 mg | 4.16 mg | 2.08 mg | 0.28 mg |
| 500MG | 16.67 mg | 12.51 mg | 8.33 mg | 4.17 mg | 0.56 mg |
| 1000MG | 33.33 mg | 24.99 mg | 16.67 mg | 8.33 mg | 1.11 mg |
| 2500MG | 83.33 mg | 62.49 mg | 41.66 mg | 20.83 mg | 2.78 mg |
Note the chart above estimates 30 single drops per average dropper. The actual number of drops in your dropper may vary.
Refining CBN dosage strength using the single drop method
Use the single drop method if you need to increase your CBN dose by only the tiniest of fractions. Single drops work especially well for CBN microdosers who take frequent small doses throughout the day.
The CBN potency chart above lists the amounts of CBN from 1 mL, ¾ mL, ½ mL, ¼ mL all the way down to single drop dosage strenths. Bear in mind the chart estimates 30 drops per 1 mL dropperful. The opening on your dropper may be slightly larger or smaller because of manufacturing differences. For accuracy, make sure you check the actual number of drops in your dropper by counting them like this:
- Use the graduated measurements marked onto your dropper to fill it exactly to the 1 mL line
- Gently squeeze the dropper bulb to release one uniform drop at a time back into your bottle
- Count each drop until your dropper is empty
Voila! Now you know precisely how many drops are contained in your dropper.
We’ll use the following formula to recalculate the CBN dose per drop:
[TOTAL AMOUNT OF CBN PER 1 ML DROPPERFUL] / [TOTAL DROPS IN DROPPER] = AMOUNT OF CBN PER DROP
Next let’s look at a couple of examples using Zero High CBN Oil products to see this simple formula in action:
Example #1:
Product Strength: 100 mg Zero High Pure Isolate CBN Oil
Total CBN Per 1 mL Dropperful: 3.33 mg
Drop Count: You count 22 drops per 1 mL dropperful
[3.33 mg] / [22 drops] = 0.15 mg CBN per drop
Example #2:
Product Strength: 500 mg Zero High Pure Isolate CBN Oil
Total CBN Per 1 mL Dropperful: 16.67 mg
Drop Count: You count 34 drops per 1 mL dropperful
[16.67 mg] / [34 drops] = 0.49 mg of CBN per drop
How Long Does CBN Stay In Your System?
There are a number of factors that determine how long CBN will stay in your system and how long its effects will last. Some of these factors include:
- Dosage amount
- How you take it
- How often you take CBN
- Your metabolism
Clinical studies for CBN and other cannabinoids are ongoing. Research suggests that the effects of CBN will be similar to how long CBD stays in your system. Peak effects are likely felt within minutes or hours and may last for up to 24 hours. CBN may be detectable in your body for up to 30 days following last use.
The dosage amount of CBN you take may play a role in how long its effects are felt. A 3 mg dose, for example, will likely yield effects for a shorter period of time than taking an 83 mg dose.
Taking CBN sublingually (placed under the tongue for 1 – 2 minutes) may lead to faster absorption by the body within a matter of minutes, as compared to ingesting it (swallowing) which may take 1 – 3 hours for peak effects. Because of sublingual dosing’s rapid absorption, CBN’s effects may dissipate faster, while ingesting CBN oil may provide longer-duration peak effects for 3 – 8 hours.
Your metabolism may also play a significant part in how quickly CBN is absorbed by your body, how long it takes to be used, and the effects you experience.
Experimenting with different dosing delivery methods (sublingual vs ingestion) and varying dosage amounts will help you to identify which works best for you.
What Is Pure Isolate CBN?
The cannabinoid CBN is naturally present in hemp along with other compounds like CBD, THC, terpenes, flavonoids, fats, waxes, and chlorophyll.
These compounds are extracted from the cannabis plant and yield an oily base material. This oil extract then goes through a process called winterization where it’s chilled to sub-zero temperatures in order to filter and purify target compounds.
During this step CBN is separated, or isolated, from the other hemp compounds resulting in a highly potent concentrate.
The concentrate is referred to as pure isolate CBN because it contains a 99% concentration of cannabinol and all other hemp compounds have been removed.
This highly concentrated CBN powder can be blended with oils, creams, salves, and food products to create unique CBN infused items.
Zero High blends this highly concentrated CBN powder with organic certified MCT oil to create high potency pure CBN isolate oil products.
Can I Combine CBN With Other Cannabinoids Like CBG?
CBN and CBG are found together in the raw cannabis plant, so it’s perfectly safe to take them at the same time. In fact, clinical research shows that combining cannabinoids together can amplify their benefits through a natural phenomenon called the entourage effect.
Combine CBN with the benefits of CBG when you need to focus your wellness plan on pain relief and inflammatory conditions, including healthy gut and bowel support.
SHOP: Maximum strength CBG oil isolate
Remember to start low and go slow when you combine CBN with CBG for the very first time. Review the CBG dosing chart to see the recommended dosage ranges for your body weight.
CBN Dosage Summary
CBN is a safe, non-toxic cannabinoid. It can be taken as a stand-alone supplement or combined with other cannabinoids or natural medicines.
- First time CBN users should follow the process of titration to help determine the optimal dose and to moderate dosage for the first several days to one week of use.
- The recommended starting dose for CBN for first time users is 3 mg to 8 mg, regardless of body weight.
- Use the CBN Dosage Chart to help find the specific amount of CBN that’s right for you.
- Daily CBN dosage can range from 3 mg to 90 mg depending on factors that include body weight, how you take your dose (sublingual or ingestion), and your body’s metabolism.
- Once you have determined your target dose using the CBN Dosage Chart, you can use the Common CBN Oil Potency and Dosage Amounts Chart to help you find the specific CBN product concentration that matches your preferred dose
- It is best to take CBN in the evening about 1 – 2 hours before bedtime
- Discontinue use or reduce your dosage if you experience unwanted side effects when taking CBN
Do you have questions about CBN oil? Contact a Cannabiva team member for further assistance.
