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CBD:THC Ratios

CBD and THC can be combined to increase the effects of CBD while reducing the high associated with THC. Here’s everything you need to know about CBD:THC ratios.

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Daily CBD , last updated on April 5, 2022

CBD and THC can be combined to lessen the psychoactive effects of THC and enhance the effects of CBD through the entourage effect.

Some marijuana products include a CBD:THC ratio on the packaging, which reflects the relative amount of CBD to THC in the product. Ratio products can provide more effective relief from pain, anxiety, inflammation, and more by harnessing the therapeutic properties of both CBD and THC.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to choose a CBD:THC ratio product.

What Are CBD:THC Ratios?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, can be taken in conjunction with tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, to elevate the positive impacts of CBD and THC while reducing the psychoactive effects of THC.

Whether you take CBD for pain and would like to enhance its effects, or you have negative side effects from THC alone, products with CBD:THC ratios can help. More on that later in the article.

CBD:THC ratios are present only on products with a high ratio of CBD to THC. CBD is always left of the colon, and THC is always right of the colon. For example, a product that reads “4:1” means there are 4 parts CBD for every 1 part THC.

You won’t often see CBD:THC ratios on CBD-only products, which contain less than 0.3% THC. However, you might see 1:0 on a THC-free CBD product or vice versa.

Common CBD:THC Ratios

Although you can create your own CBD:THC ratio at home by taking measured doses of CBD and THC together, you can also buy products that have already done this for you. Here are some of the most common ratios you’ll encounter when shopping for CBD:THC products.

1:1

This ratio means there is 1 part CBD for every 1 part THC. You can think of a 1:1 product as “half CBD, half THC.” Depending on the strength of the product, it’s likely that a 1:1 ratio will result in mild psychoactive effects — sort of like a light edible. If you like getting mildly high from THC but experience anxiety as a result, this might be a good ratio for you.

2+:1

Products with two, three, and four parts CBD to THC are ideal for anyone who wants a very mild high or wants to benefit from the entourage effect without getting too stoned. These products contain more CBD than THC, so you’re not likely to feel super high from them — but you’ll still feel a bit of psychoactivity, minus the anxiety.

1:9+

Products with nine or more parts of THC to one part of CBD are essentially marijuana products with a bit of CBD. With these products, you’ll definitely experience a high — and you probably won’t notice the CBD. If you use THC regularly for pain relief or nausea but want to experience the health benefits of CBD as well, this ratio is ideal for you. You’ll also get the most out of the CBD through the entourage effect.

9+:1

This ratio means there are nine or more parts CBD to every one part THC. That means you’re getting mostly CBD, with a bit of THC — much more THC than the average CBD-only product, but usually not enough to induce much of a high. If you’re more interested in the entourage effect than a psychoactive high, this ratio is ideal for you.

Is It Safe To Take CBD & THC Together?

Yes, it is safe to take CBD and THC together. While some experience a more intense high in high-THC products and others experience mild euphoria with high-CBD products, it’s totally safe.

Part of the reason we know this is because CBD and THC both naturally occur together in the same plant. If you’ve ever taken a full-spectrum CBD product or nearly any THC product, including flower, you’ve probably ingested CBD and THC at the same time.

CBD and THC are both cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. Hemp plants contain less than 0.3% THC, while marijuana plants contain 0.3% or higher THC.

Benefits of Taking CBD & THC Together

CBD has numerous medical benefits, like reducing inflammation, hypertension, anxiety, and so many more, and it doesn’t produce a high. This makes it a desirable treatment for children or anyone who doesn’t want to experience psychoactive effects.

THC also has medical benefits, including lowering anxiety, reducing seizure activity, improving glaucoma symptoms, and others — but it has psychoactive effects that can induce laughter, euphoria, munchies, elevated mood, and other side effects.

So what are the benefits of taking CBD and THC at the same time?

Psychoactivity

One answer is simply that some users prefer to experience more or less psychoactivity. If you’re a regular CBD user who also enjoys smoking weed, a CBD:THC ratio product can help you kill two birds with one stone. If you’re a regular THC user who feels anxious when you’re high, adding some CBD into the mix can help lessen those uncomfortable effects [1].

If you struggle with mental health issues like anxiety or psychosis, but you take CBD or THC for other reasons, a ratio product can help. CBD has shown to reduce the psychiatric side-effects of THC like paranoia, addictive behaviors, and anxiety, although doctors recommend taking a high-CBD ratio product if you suffer from these side effects [2].

Entourage Effect

Another benefit to CBD and THC products is the entourage effect. This refers to the idea that CBD is more effective when it’s combined with the other cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant.

There are more than 100 cannabinoids in the plant that can be kept or extracted from your CBD and THC products before you buy them. Keeping those other cannabinoids in, or adding more of certain cannabinoids like THC, can help increase the effects of your CBD.

Many medical marijuana doctors swear by high-THC ratio products for intense pain management because of the pain-relieving effects of THC and the muscle-relaxing effects of CBD.

Chronic pain patients who were given a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC experienced less pain overall, but it’s generally accepted by cannabis scientists that more studies on the benefits of CBD-THC interactivity must be done [3].

How To Find The Right CBD:THC Ratio For You

Choosing the right CBD:THC ratio depends on your experience with THC, your purpose, and your willingness to experience a high. If you don’t want to get high at all, consider products with very low THC concentrations or CBD-only products, which contain less than 0.3% THC.

If you’re treating intense pain from conditions like migraines, headache, multiple sclerosis, or cancer, try a ratio with higher THC than CBD. This allows you to get the pain-relieving benefits of THC while also treating the source of pain — often inflammation and muscle tension — with CBD.

There’s a CBD:THC ratio for nearly every condition. It’s shown promising results for sufferers of neuropathy, fibromyalgia, arthritis, anxiety, and more.

If you choose a high-THC ratio, understand that you’ll likely experience a high. If you have anxiety when smoking weed, a high-CBD ratio could help reduce those effects.

To figure out how much CBD to take, try our simple dosage calculator. Keep in mind that CBD:THC ratios are relative — they won’t tell you how much CBD or THC is in a product, just the amount relative to the other component.

Make sure to always cross-reference your dosage with the product you buy to ensure you’re getting the right amount of each compound.

Best CBD:THC Ratios By Use Case

Certain CBD:THC ratios are better for certain use cases.

For example, you might not want to use CBD and THC for anxiety at the same ratio you’d use them for sleep. That’s because THC can cause anxiety-inducing paranoia, which isn’t ideal for anxiety sufferers.

On the other hand, CBD has the potential to wake you up instead of help you sleep, so adding more THC might make more sense.

Here are the best CBD:THC ratios by use case.

CBD & THC for Relaxation

The best CBD:THC ratio for relaxation is 1:1, but you can alter this depending on your experience with cannabis and how you like to relax.

CBD and THC work for relaxation by reducing stress response, lessening inflammation, and lowering anxiety levels. We recommend a 1:1 ratio so that you don’t get too tired from too much THC, while also not being awakened by too much CBD.

When paired together, you can enjoy the relaxing effects of each compound without worrying as much about the psychological side effects of THC.

CBD and THC can also be administered topically for relaxation, which can help in getting a full-body relaxation experience.

CBD & THC for Pain

The best CBD:THC ratio for pain is 1:9. The best CBD:THC ratio for chronic pain is 1:1.

CBD and THC help with pain by reducing inflammation, which can be both a cause of and a reaction to pain, and relaxing tension in the body.

For chronic pain sufferers, CBD and THC may help when taken on a daily basis. Because many pain relievers for chronic sufferers are addictive or come with tons of negative side effects, CBD and THC are an exciting alternative.

Most chronic pain studies have used 1:1 ratio products. However, studies also show that products with high THC ratios exceeding 1:9 are extremely potent pain relievers for sufferers of even the most painful disorders.

CBD & THC for Energy

The best CBD:THC ratio for energy is 1+:1, with one or more parts CBD to each part THC. This should also be taken in low concentrations.

CBD can promote wakefulness when taken in doses of around 15 mg. However, there aren’t enough clinical studies to prove this just yet.

That said, CBD and THC together can provide tons of benefits that can help your energy levels, such as improving sleep, reducing pain, and lowering anxiety — all things that suck your energy when they aren’t addressed.

CBD & THC for Multiple Sclerosis

The best CBD:THC ratio for multiple sclerosis is 1:1.

Both CBD and THC are important when you’re treating multiple sclerosis symptoms using cannabinoids. MS causes vision loss and fatigue, let alone the host of side effects from common treatments like chemotherapy, steroids, and immunosuppressive drugs.

While CBD and THC aren’t treatments for MS, they can help greatly with the uncomfortable side effects of common treatments, including nausea, loss of appetite, and pain.

THC is also an incredibly effective treatment for intraocular eye pain, while CBD is not, making it a uniquely helpful remedy. However, some MS patients don’t want the psychological effects of THC, so CBD is added in a ratio to lessen those effects.

CBD & THC for Arthritis

The best CBD:THC ratio for arthritis is 1:1.

CBD and THC are not cures or remedies for arthritis, but they do offer relief for the many painful and disruptive side effects of arthritis and its most common treatments. A 1:1 ratio lets arthritis patients have the pain relief of THC and anti-inflammation of CBD.

You can take CBD and THC for arthritis orally or transdermally through a topical ointment or lotion.

The combination of these compounds can greatly reduce the pain associated with arthritis inflammation while also helping to improve sleep and lower stress levels.

CBD & THC for Fibromyalgia

The best CBD:THC ratio for fibromyalgia is 1+:1, with one or more parts CBD to each part THC.

Because the cause of fibromyalgia is often unknown, it’s tough to understand whether CBD and THC can treat fibromyalgia itself. However, they are definitely effective in treating the many symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as anxiety, poor sleep, widespread pain, and depression.

People with fibromyalgia might get pain relief and anxiety reduction from the combination of CBD and THC. The two compounds also provide similar effects as some anti-depressants, making them a potential alternative for treating depressive symptoms.

CBD & THC for Anxiety

The best CBD:THC ratio for anxiety is 1+:1, with one or more parts CBD to every one part THC.

THC causes anxiety and paranoia in some users. However, the antipsychotic effects of CBD may reduce this side effect of THC.

CBD and THC are effective in treating anxiety and its symptoms because they can reduce inflammation in the brain, improve sleep, stimulate appetite, and relax tense muscles.

Some anxiety sufferers take a CBD:THC ratio product on a daily basis as an alternative to an anti-anxiety medication. You can take as much CBD as you like, but too much THC might make you feel more anxious.

Make sure to always check with your doctor before combining CBD and THC with your other anxiety medications.

CBD & THC for Neuropathy

The best CBD:THC ratio for neuropathy is 1:1.

Neuropathic pain is a result of nerve damage and can cause intense pain, numbness throughout the body, and even paralysis.

CBD is a known remedy for peripheral neuropathy because it interacts with GABA receptors, which are responsible for our experience of pain. CBD even shows promise as a way to promote nerve regeneration in patients with lasting nerve damage.

THC also improves mood, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain in neuropathy patients.

CBD & THC for Migraines

The best CBD:THC ratio for migraines is 1:3+, with one part CBD to three or more parts THC.

CBD and THC interact with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, respectively. These receptors are activated when a painful event takes place, sending messages of pain throughout the body and to the brain. That fires up protective inflammation in the brain.

When CBD and THC interact with these receptors, they’re prevented from activating at the onset of a migraine. That means lower chance of inflammation and lower pain overall.

CBD and THC can also be used as pain management for migraines and other types of headaches.

Key Takeaways: CBD:THC Ratios

Taking CBD and THC together can have incredible effects, including enhancing the medical benefits of both compounds and reducing the psychoactive effects of THC. If you suffer from anxiety when using THC or simply want to get the most out of your CBD product using the entourage effect, try a product with CBD and THC.

While all CBD-only products contain less than 0.3% THC, ratio products often have more THC and might induce a high. Make sure to approach high-THC ratios with caution, and always keep track of how much CBD and THC you’re taking.

References

Lafaye, G., Karila, L., Blecha, L., & Benyamina, A. (2017). Cannabis, cannabinoids, and health. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 19(3), 309.
University of Western Ontario. (2019, September 30). Cannabis study reveals how CBD offsets the psychiatric side-effects of THC. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 22, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190930131115.htm
Argueta, D. A., Ventura, C. M., Kiven, S., Sagi, V., & Gupta, K. (2020). A balanced approach for cannabidiol use in chronic pain. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 561.