If you’re using CBD for your health, you can ingest it in a few ways. You can use an oil or edible, but those methods deliver the dose very slowly. You could also smoke a high-CBD strain of cannabis. This method will deliver the dose quickly, but it involves smoking. And, don’t kid yourself, inhaling any kind of smoke is not a good thing for your lung health.
Another option is to simply vape your CBD. This combines the health benefits of edibles with the quick delivery of smoking. But vape technology is relatively new, and it’s a bit more complicated than simply smoking cannabis. Here are five key points to keep in mind when choosing and using your CBD vape.
Most CBD Vape Options Are Safe
Last year, there were a lot of news stories about people getting sick – even dying – from CBD oil that was contaminated with Vitamin E Acetate.
Here’s the thing. These products came from sketchy, underground manufacturers that performed no quality testing. Universally, these products were produced illegally and sold on the black market. At the time of this writing, there has not been a single case of someone getting sick from a CBD cartridge that was sold on the legal market. We’re not saying it’s impossible, but the fact that it hasn’t happened tells us that reputable labs are a safe source.
The upshot of all this is that you should buy your CBD cartridges over the counter from a reputable retailer. Ignore the media hype and clickbait headlines, but stay safe and avoid the black market.
What Type of CBD Do You Need?
There are three different classes of CBD oil: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate. Here’s a quick breakdown on how they differ.
Full-spectrum CBD contains all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other chemicals that are produced by the cannabis plant. In a full-spectrum formula, the most prevalent cannabinoid will be CBD. However, the formula will also contain a small quantity of THC. These levels will be relatively low (0.3 percent or less), so your vape won’t get you “high”. That said, if you’re subject to drug testing or have other reasons to completely avoid THC, you should avoid full-spectrum CBD.
On the other hand, cannabinoids have a reinforcing effect on each other. In other words, many people find that the small amount of THC enhances the effectiveness of the CBD. This is called the “entourage effect”. It’s not 100 percent medically proven, and research is still ongoing. Nevertheless, many CBD users will tell you that a full-spectrum formula is more effective.
Broad-spectrum CBD contains all of the cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, with the exception of THC, which has been totally removed. These products are derived from industrial hemp, rather than psychoactive cannabis, since industrial hemp contains less THC to begin with. Broad-spectrum CBD still contains other cannabinoids and terpenes, so you still get the entourage effect, albeit somewhat weaker than you’ll get from a full-spectrum formula.
CBD isolate, as the name implies, contains only CBD, without any other cannabinoids or terpenes. As a result, they don’t provide the entourage effect. However, they’re still effective. You just might need to vape a little bit more to get the dose you need. You also won’t smell any odor, since CBD itself is odorless and tasteless.
CBD Flower vs. CBD Oil – What’s the Difference?
While CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis plant, CBD flower is simply a cannabis bud that contains very low THC. It’s derived from low-THC industrial hemp. Depending on the type of hemp used, CBD flower may contain only trace amounts of THC that produces no high, or slightly larger amounts that produce a gentle, low level high. Charlotte’s Web, Cherry Wine, and ACDC are great examples of this second type of flower.
CBD flower generally contains between 7 and 15 percent CBD. It provides a less concentrated dose of CBD than a CBD oil, but it also provides a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. To vape it, you’ll need a specialized flower vaporizer, rather than a more traditional liquid vaporizer. Your local medical dispensary or head shop should have several options available.
On the other hand, CBD oil generally has a much higher concentration of CBD. This is due to the fact that it’s been extracted and isolated. Some manufacturers even add extra terpenes to the mix, which produces more flavor and provides an entourage effect. Most CBD oils contain between 60 and 80 percent CBD, although this can vary depending on the exact formulation. To vape CBD, you can use a standard vaporizer, just like you’d use for a standard nicotine vape juice.
CBD flower and CBD oil both provide the therapeutic effects of CBD. Ultimately, which one is “better” is just a matter of personal preference.
All About CBD Potency
You’ll get the highest CBD concentration from CBD isolates or broad-spectrum oils. They deliver the most powerful therapeutic effects, without providing any sort of high or intoxication.
CBD flower, on the other hand, offers a lower potency, but generally provides an intoxicating effect. Because of the THC content of these CBD products, they’re only available in medical dispensaries and cannabis stores in states where cannabis is legal.
When reading the label, you’ll notice a difference between CBD flower and CBD oil. Flower labels from a reputable shop will display the percentage of CBD and THC. However, only some manufacturers provide the percentage of terpenes in the mix. CBD oil cartridges generally follow the same pattern. That said, they will also tell you what type of oil (full-spectrum, etc.) is being used in the cartridge.
Where Can You Buy CBD Vape Products?
So, now that you understand the difference between different types of CBD vape products, it’s time to buy some. Where should you shop?
It depends on what you’re buying and where you live. Full-spectrum CBD and CBD flower are derived from cannabis. As a result, they’re only available in states where cannabis is legal. In this case, you can buy them at a medical dispensary or cannabis shop. As we already mentioned, steer clear of black market products. By shopping at a reputable store, you’ll know you’re getting a safe, lab-tested product.
We should point out that there are some “full-spectrum” CBD oils that are available in states where cannabis is illegal. These products are still derived from industrial hemp, not cannabis. As a result, while they contain low levels of THC, the percentage is much lower than you’ll get from a cannabis-derived full-spectrum CBD.
Full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate derived from industrial hemp is available in every state. By law, industrial hemp must contain less than 0.3 percent THC, so you won’t get any psychoactive effects whatsoever. That said, these products are not regulated by the FDA. Make sure you’re buying from a reputable shop, to ensure that you’re getting a good, clean vape product.
