Price Per Milligram (mg): How to determine if you are paying a good price.
When purchasing an oil, whether it is CBD or THC or any other cannabinoid, understanding the price per milligram (mg) is key. Consider the following example:
- Bottle A – 1 ounce of CBD oil, costs $30.
- Bottle B – 1 ounce of CBD oil, costs $150.
Looking at that info only, everyone would think purchasing Bottle A is the better deal. Compared to Bottle B, it’s much more affordable. But is it? Let’s look at it again. Upon closer inspection..
- Bottle A has 100 mgs of CBD.
- Bottle B has 1500 mgs of CBD.
So looking at that, Bottle A may be cheaper, but it won’t last very long, or may not even be effective. If you need a 50 mg dose of CBD, Bottle A has 2 doses (100 mgs/50 mgs per dose = 2 X 50 mg doses in the entire bottle!). With that same 50 mg dose, Bottle B has 30 doses (1500 mgs/50 mgs per dose = 30 X 50 mg doses).
So Bottle B now seems like the better deal. To verify that, let’s also calculate the price per mg and compare that as well.
Comparing price per mg is the only way to accurately tell if you are getting a good deal, or if you are being charged too much. To do this, you take the price of the oil/mg of the cannabinoid of interest. So for Bottle A, $30/100 mgs of CBD= $0.30 per mg of CBD. Not bad, but let’s do Bottle B too. For Bottle B, $150/1500 mgs of CBD = $0.10 per mg of CBD.
Conclusion: Bottle B is actually cheaper than Bottle A when looking at the amount of CBD you are actually getting! Bottle B turns out to be a much better deal. It will not only last longer, it is cheaper per mg.
So, for those of you just starting out on this journey, looking at the sticker price is often not a great way to compare oils. You have to do a little math to determine what the best deals are. And in my experience, the oils that are priced between $0.05 and $0.10 per mg are actually some of the best quality oils. These manufacturers set the prices low because they also understand that for medicinal purposes, patients often need larger doses. Oils that cost more ($0.15 per mg and higher) make long term medicinal use unaffordable for most.
There is one exception and that is when you are looking at a hard to find cannabinoid, like THCa or CBG. In this case, you are often left to compare the few available options that you can access.
You still need help? Well check out the form right below! A calculator for you!
26 Comments
Lisa Wilson · November 2, 2018 at 12:51 AM
Nice share to know about the price calculations. Thanks a lot.
wholeplantaccess · November 3, 2018 at 7:25 PM
absolutely!
Boots · January 6, 2019 at 12:36 AM
Best price I’ve found so far is Lazarus Naturals @ approximately 3c per mg
wholeplantaccess · January 11, 2019 at 6:08 PM
Actually they have a new 60% discount and its less than $0.02/mg now! Great company. We love them.
Jenny V · January 17, 2019 at 11:50 AM
When ordering CBD capsules – I purchased the 25 mg and now just received the 50 mg. The capsules are the same size? Is it how it is processed or should the capsules be larger for 50mg?
wholeplantaccess · January 21, 2019 at 1:03 PM
you would need to reach out to the company you purchased them from to ask that question. They should have lab reports. If its an oil inside the capsule it could be more of the carrier oil that they added.
RUBIN · January 25, 2019 at 10:38 AM
No its like pills 5 mg pill looks the same as a 30 mg pills its the concentration inside
Courtney · February 13, 2019 at 11:12 AM
The brand Lazarus Naturals was flagged by Evio Labs because it’s sample contained dangerous amounts of lead according to FDA standards.
“It had four times the amount of lead than is approved. If a child gets their hands on these products, it could be life threatening,” Martinez told the I-Team.
NBC 4 New York purchased the Lazarus Naturals sample from an independent seller off Groupon. However, Lazarus Naturals said they couldn’t verify that the sample is of their product since they have experienced a problem with counterfeit products sold
wholeplantaccess · February 13, 2019 at 6:51 PM
Pease review. We don’t work for them but we do appreciate them. Thank you! https://www.lazarusnaturals.com/official-statement-re-nbc-lead-results-report/?fbclid=IwAR1mmE5aBGuNk87MyvUxFwDsUFCsmxo6wnJxw5fc1OWSSyOtINRPcIFe1Ow
judy · January 15, 2019 at 5:59 AM
1500mg ÷50mg=30 doses
Richard Jones · January 15, 2019 at 7:57 PM
Many estimates of potency useing cannabis flower, l can’t find good info on making gummies out of wax distillate..made two batches of gummies, useing 5 grams of wax, and glycerol as binding agent..made 30 gummies, approx two packs of jello and seven pacs of gelatin, plain..how can l figure potency of wax to start with, used silicon lce cub trays..for the molds..
wholeplantaccess · January 16, 2019 at 11:53 AM
Wax you would need to have a lab report unfortunately. I don’t think you can estimate the concentration on that.
Richard Jones · January 15, 2019 at 8:04 PM
Recipe for gummies was two cups of water, 7 paks of unflavored gelatin, and two packs of jolly ranchers green apple jello..and 3 teaspoons of glycerin, as a binding agent, mixed in 5 grams of decarboxilized wax concentrates..how can l figure that potency, molds are silicon lce cube trays..30 gummies…help me figure that one out
Kelley · January 16, 2019 at 3:51 PM
Nano sized CBD is 8 x as effective as the oil. So when looking at cost per dose this needs to be taken into account. 1oz oral oil at $30 would be the cost equivalent of $240 of one ounce of nano sized oil.
wholeplantaccess · January 21, 2019 at 1:05 PM
I have yet to see research done on liposomal or nano CBD showing increased bioavailability. When attending science heavy cannabis conferences, the lack of nano/liposomal/water soluble discussions also seems to point to this being more of a fad than a reality. If you have research, please provide the link. I would love to review it.
Jimmy Santos · February 6, 2019 at 4:37 PM
Agreed.
Ron Ellington · January 22, 2019 at 10:58 PM
I would like to see that citation as well. I have a company that continues to try to sell on a “hydrophilic” cbd tinctures at about .20 per mg claiming that it is much higher absorbtion rate than my Lazuraus Naturals which as noted above costs me .02 per mg with my vet discount (which is very much loved and appreciated by the way! LOVE those guys!)
Sonja · January 24, 2019 at 9:05 AM
Can I use this in baking cookies 🍪
wholeplantaccess · January 25, 2019 at 8:56 AM
sure.
Crystal · February 10, 2019 at 2:27 PM
I just purchased Full spectrum hemp extract
1600 Total Cannabinoid & 1400mg total CBD
Paid $125.00. Abt $0.09mg Is this a good price?
wholeplantaccess · February 10, 2019 at 2:46 PM
Yes, its not bad. There are companies now that offer disability/vet/low income discounts that take it below $0.02/mg, just a FYI.
Kurt Emmerling · February 17, 2019 at 2:52 AM
Just bought a 1 oz bottle with 1500 mg of CBD in hemp oil for $90. Would like to get it analyzed by a lab for potency. Any suggestions?
(I live in WV)
Farah Soliman · February 26, 2019 at 5:09 PM
I have a 8 yr ild non verbal autistic son. He has aggressive tendencies. We live in italy. Which oil you recomend me starting him with ? Thank you
wholeplantaccess · March 3, 2019 at 11:34 AM
Hi Farah, please join us in our facebook support group if you haven’t already. Go to members area and there is a link to join. We do have some European distributors we work with.
john · March 14, 2019 at 3:00 AM
My wife has very aggressive deadly braintumour. .surgery was 22nd feb….90%removed but sadly she is not responding to steroid treatment designed to make her strong enough for radiotherapy or chemotherapy follow up..she has lost short term memory, has absolutely no energy and is unable to get out of hospital bed. ..has anyone experienced a similar ikar situation with a loved one and would any sort of cannabis oil treatment help please
wholeplantaccess · March 16, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Please contact Radicle Health or Aunt Zeldas for help with cancer and cannabis. I wish you luck.