Accurately converting percentage to milligrams per milliliter can be confusing, and it’s easy to get it wrong if you don’t factor in the density of the liquid suspension.
You know how oils typically float to the top when mixed in water, while other substances like honey sink to the bottom? That’s because their density and molecular weight are different. One is lighter and less dense, while the other is heavier and more dense.
In order to accurately calculate milligrams per milliliter, you’ll need the following information: Potency percentage, Density of the suspension, and Volume of the liquid.
Let’s say you want to know how many mg are in a 50 ml bottle of ethanol tincture at 2% potency:
Potency Percentage = 2%
Density of ethanol* = 0.789 g/ml
Volume of liquid = 50 ml
Step One: Convert Density from g/ml to mg/ml:
0.789 x 1000 = 789 mg
Step Two: Multiply Density in mg/ml by Potency Percentage:
789 x 2% = 15.78 mg/ml
Step Three: Multiply mg/ml by Volume of liquid:
15.78 x 50 = 789 mg in 50 ml
For this example, let’s assume you’re putting .5 ml of infused MCT (liquid coconut oil) into capsules:
Potency Percentage = 3%
Density of MCT* = 0.955 g/ml
Volume of liquid = 0.5 ml
Step One: Convert density from g/ml to mg/ml:
0.955 x 1000 = 955 mg
Step Two: Multiply Density in mg/ml by Potency Percentage:
955 x 3% = 28.65 mg/ml
Step Three: Multiply mg/ml by Volume of liquid:
28.65 x 0.5 = 14.33 mg in 0.50 ml
Let’s say you’re planning to bake some edibles and want to know how many milligrams are in a tablespoon of butter with a potency of 0.5%.
Potency Percentage = .5%
Density of butter* = 0.911 g/ml
Volume of liquid = 15 ml (approximately 1 tablespoon) Step One: Convert density from g/ml to mg/ml:
0.911 x 1000 = 911 mg
Step Two: Multiply Density in mg/ml by Potency Percentage:
911 x 0.5% = 4.56 mg/ml
Step Three: Multiply mg/ml by Volume of liquid:
4.56 x 15 = 68.4 mg in 15 ml (1 tbsp)
*Each suspension will have a different density. Here are some common ones.
Ethanol: .789 g/mL
Vegetable glycerin = 1.26 g/mL
Coconut oil = .926 g/mL
Olive oil = .915 g/mL
Safflower oil = .921 g/mL
Butter = .911 g/mL
MCT Oil = .955 g/mL
Honey = 1.43 g/mL
(Most oils have a density between 0.90 to 0.95)
Bring your infused oils to CannaLab for a Cannabinoid Potency Profile. We can help you figure out the milligrams per milliliter. Sign-up to a service, let us collect your sample.
Not Just For Getting High
Cannabis has over 400 chemical compounds that will affect your body, but of them all, THC is most associated with altering the mind. However, you may be surprised that there are many other medical benefits to this compound as it works with the body to provide relief for a variety of medical ailments and issues.
How THC works as medicine
There are two known cannabinoid receptors in the body, and they’re referred to as CB-1 and
CB-2. Out of the hundreds of chemical compounds, THC is the most abundant and binds with
CB-1 receptors, which are mostly connected to the nervous system and the brain. However, THC also binds with CB-2 receptors that work with the immune and gastrointestinal areas. In this way, THC can also reduce inflammation and fight disease.
Therapeutic benefits of cannabis
THC – especially when used as it naturally occurs in the cannabis plant – has been used to treat a variety of ailments since ancient times and shows promising results for patients today as well— more is being understood about it every day.
- Cancer treatment
- Crohn’s
- Sleep apnea
- Glaucoma
- Asthma
- Anxiety
- Anorexia
- Nerve disorders
- Migraines
- PTSD
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Bipolar
- Fatigue
- Muscular dystrophy
- Heart health and much more
Why the whole plant offers the most benefit
While THC does provide benefits when it is isolated by extraction and used in medicine, there’s growing evidence that it offers the most benefit when it’s left work in the plant’s natural state.
According to a study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, patients suffering from MS (multiple sclerosis) who tried the synthetic derivative Nabilone (synthetic THC) for neurogenic pain actually preferred treatment with the entire cannabis herb.
They reported that when they were treated with the herb in its natural form, they not only felt pain relief, but also felt relief for the accompanying depression and anxiety — that’s a huge benefit from just one source!
For those who understand marijuana’s medicinal properties, that doesn’t come as a surprise. Cannabinoids tend to work with other aspects of the plant to complement and increase overall benefits. Nature truly knows best.
Finding cannabis that’s right for you…
There are a few variables that are going to affect how you respond to medical marijuana during treatment. Not everyone responds to the same cannabis plant the same way, and depending on the strain you’re using, your response will also be different.
Tracking how you respond to treatment
At CannaLab our full Cannabis Profile analysis will allow you to test a sample and detect the compounds present in cannabis and gives you a Total Cannabis Profile (TCP).
The best for you won’t be the same as the best for someone else, but as you track your response to specific strains of cannabis, we help you pinpoint exactly what’s going to improve your symptoms and make you feel better.
Sources:
U.S. National Library of Medicine
The Journal of the American Medical Association
Citrus Flavours?
Explore More about the Benefits of L-Limonene in Cannabis
There’s something about citrus that can brighten the mood and lift the spirits. Have you ever wondered what gives certain strains of cannabis a bright, unmistakable citrus scent? Terpenes give plants like pine trees, berries, and lemons specific aromas as well as flavor profiles. But they aren’t only for taste and scent — terpenes also give us clues about a plant’s nutritional or medicinal properties, and that goes for medical marijuana strains as well.
L-Limonene is the terpene responsible for a crisp citrus scent. It’s a beautifully fragrant oil that is produced in the plant along with certain cannabinoids. Believe it or not, the smell created by these oils can also produce specific effects that can benefit your treatment.
The more you learn about cannabis, the more you can appreciate the truly versatile therapy it can provide. By understanding more about the variances in strains, you can begin to profile what works best for your needs.
For instance, L-limonene has some fantastic benefits that have great potential for:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Fights cancer
- Supports natural defense in body
- Detox properties
- Supports lymphatic system
- Anti-anxiety
- Can calm allergic reactions
If you’re interested in learning more about these benefits, Byron Richards, a board certified clinical nutritionist, has written a fantastic article her e that explains in greater detail how this amazing terpene can benefit your health.
Because no two strains of cannabis are alike, you’ll want to keep track of how strains high in L-Limonene affect you and improve your symptoms. That’s where the CannaLab can really offer you more control over your treatment. Learn what terpenes are in your strain and track exactly how you responded.
CannaLab allows you to find the strain with the right levels of terpenes and cannabinoids that provide the most benefits. Working alongside the cannabinoids, terpenes provide even more benefit to your treatment.
Come visit our blog — we’re delving in and learning more about the entourage effect of L-limonene and the cannabinoid THC.
Sources:
- D-limonene help for digestion metabolism detoxification anxiety breast cancer
- Limonene suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 macrophages.
- Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Properties of the Essential Oil of Myrtus communis L. against Clinical Strains of Mycobacterium spp.
- Dietary Supplements for Lymph Nodes