Most of the world uses the metric system to compare weights, measurements and the capacity of objects and substances. It’s a measuring system based on decimals and uses the units meter for length, liter for liquid measurement and gram for weight. It was developed by a French mathematician, Gabriel Mouton (1618-1694), and adopted as the official measurement system in France. In the 1790s, when the Founding Fathers were establishing a national standard of weights and measurements dictated by the constitution in Section 8 of Article 1, Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, rejected the metric system and adopted the British Imperial System which is still used today.
   

Every major industrial country around the world uses the metric system—except for the U.S. and several other small countries. There have been numerous opportunities for America to transition to the metric system, which is more logical, simpler and is recognized around the world. Money and time have been the roadblocks stopping the change-over. Because of this, Americans who are in the process of switching to alternative medicines are finding it difficult to navigate through the different weights and measurements where dosing is required.
   

In the U.S., unless someone works in the medical, automotive or industrial industry, most people are unable to decipher the differences between an ounce and a milliliter or a gram and a pound. When dealing with prescription medications, the medical community doses the drug using the metric system. Unfortunately, many Americans can’t grasp what the metric measurement is and simply trust the prescription being prescribed with standard doses. In alternative medicines, where dosing is left up to the patient, it can be difficult to determine where to begin.
   

It’s hard enough to sort through the numerous products and treatments which encompass alternative medicine, but deciding on which treatment and what doses just adds another layer of complexity. When deciding to use alternative medicine, it’s best to acknowledge up front that there will be some work that must be done before jumping into plant medicine in particular. Becoming an advocate for one’s own treatment can be tricky because products must be tailored to the individual. CBD is a prime example.
   

There are many CBD products flooding the market today because of its legalization. Should CBD be taken under the tongue sublingually, topically applied to the skin, smoked or eaten in candy or brownie form? Not only is this a common question for people who are transitioning from pharmaceutical drugs to natural plant medicine, but the confusion can get even worse because the dosages and amounts all use the metric system.
   

A CBD tincture that comes in a 1-fluid-ounce bottle may contain 200mg, 500mg or even 2,000mg. What does that mean? The tincture is oil, a liquid, but is not using the metric measurement for a liquid which is the liter, or milliliter in this case. Instead, the product uses a measurement for weight, the gram, or milligram in this instance. It may seem convoluted but can be explained. The cannabinoid is a particulate which is infused into the oil. The amount of the cannabinoid that is added to a product is measured by the milligram, its weight. The amount of oil used to make the product is measured in milliliters.
   

Two bottles that each contain 1 fluid ounce, or 30ml, can contain different amounts of the cannabinoid isolate, or particulate. This determines the milligram dose of CBD. Thankfully, most tinctures come with a metric measured dropper for use. However, it can still be difficult to navigate the doses. One of those two bottles contains 1,000mg and the other contains 2,000mg. This is where trial-and-error comes into play. Doctors sometimes have to go through this trial-and-error process as well. If a medication is not working for a patient, the doctor may change the dose of the medication until the optimum amount is reached. The same goes for CBD and how much should be taken. Although there are similarities in this trial-and-error phase with prescription drugs and plant medicine, the risk of a serious overdose is non-existent when using CBD.
   

Even after reading this lesson on weights and measures, it may still seem confusing. It is! Do not fret. Like most difficult educational topics, the more something is studied, the easier it gets. There are also individuals that are there to help. Like a pharmacist who discusses the drug with the patient when it’s picked up, there are employees at dispensaries who can counsel new and returning patients. With dosing being measured using the metric system, and having to experiment with the dosage to find the most effective amount, it’s a daunting task when getting started.

At Earth’s Healing, the budtenders all go through extensive training that can
help ease the difficulty in understanding the “how to” and “how much” when
looking for the natural way to heal. Earth’s Healing Dispensary is conveniently located at 2075 E. Benson Hwy. and 78 W. River Rd., in Tucson. Visit their website at EarthsHealing.org. See ad, page 33.