Despite numerous attacks and bad press in recent years, vaping is becoming increasingly popular. Its ease and convenience have made it possible for hundreds of thousands of people to quit smoking regular cigarettes and, in the last couple of years, the CBD and THC users have figured out that it also beats smoking a blunt.
That said, there are still some misconceptions about vaping CBD and using CBD vapes that need to be cleared up.
We regularly get questions about the difference between vaping CBD and vaping THC.To make sure that you have all the information that you need to get to the right decision about vaping CBD oil, we decided to create this short post answering all of those questions.
CBD Oil is Not the Same as THC Oil
Surprise, surprise – CBD is not the same as THC!
While both are phytocannabinoids (meaning plant-derived cannabinoids) and both are made up of the same atoms, their effects on the body are completely different.
The most important difference between CBD and THC is that CBD is not psychoactive. This means that it doesn’t produce a noticeable high, it doesn’t trigger the feeling of euphoria, and it won’t make you anxious or paranoid.
·Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – binds with and alters mostly CB1 receptors. Since those receptors are located in the central nervous system, THC can affect them to cause a psychoactive experience (a noticeable high).
·Cannabidiol (CBD) – can bind with both CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors. When it binds with CB1, it mellows the feeling of a high produced by THC. When binding with the CB2 receptor, it reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, and triggers pain reduction but doesn’t produce a high.
Both CBD and THC have health benefits and they work in tandem through something called the entourage effect. This means that one enhances and regulates the effects of the other. A treatment with pure CBD oil is also very beneficial, but if you add a bit of THC to the mix, you might get a better effect.
Which brings us to…
Different Types of CBD Oil – Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum & CBD Isolate
Not all CBD oil is created equal.
Due to law restrictions in the US, CBD manufacturers have devised a way to create CBD oils with different potencies and composition. Right now, you can get three different kinds of CBD oil on the US market – full spectrum CBD oil, broad spectrum CBD oil, and CBD isolate.
·Full spectrum CBD oil – an extract that contains all the plant material, including all the cannabinoids, terpenes, essential oils, and waxes. As such, it’s much more beneficial than CBD isolate since the user benefits from something called the entourage effect. Full spectrum CBD does contain small amounts of THC, which is why you need to be careful when using it, especially if THC is illegal in your state (and you’re buying from unvetted sources).
·Broad spectrum CBD oil – these CBD products contain all of the cannabinoids but with THC removed. Since all other cannabinoids and terpenes are included, the entourage effect is still present – the only difference is that there’s no THC in the mix to work its magic.
·CBD isolate – oils that are made from CBD isolate have been enriched with powdered CBD extracted from the hemp plant. Since all the other cannabinoids and terpenes are removed, the benefit of the entourage effect is lost. However, isolate CBD oils still have the same beneficial health effects attributed to CBD itself.
Vaping CBD Oil vs. Vaping CBD Flower
If you want to vape CBD, you can take two different routes – you can vape CBD oil, or you can vape CBD-rich flower.
Vaping CBD flower has its benefits – the aroma of the flower is much more intensive, and all the terpenes and cannabinoids are present in it so the entourage effect is in full swing.
However, with the flower, your dosage might be off. Even the best CBD strains rarely have more than 15% of CBD in the flower. Also, you will need a dry herb vaporizer to vape it – depending on the quality of your vaporizer, your flower might burn which would mean that you’re potentially inhaling carcinogenic compounds.
On the other hand, when vaping CBD oil, you know where you stand – oils are much richer in CBD (up to 80 or even 90 percent) so it’s much easier to dose. Many manufacturers add cannabinoids and terpenes so the difference in flavor between oil and flower is minimal.
In the end, both flower and oil deliver the therapeutic properties associated with CBD, so the choice ultimately comes down to consumer preference. If you opt for vaping CBD oil, you’ll get a more consistent effect (and a mellower high even with full spectrum oils since some THC percentage will be lower). Vaping CBD oil is also more practical – you will be able to dose it more easily, carry it with you everywhere, and vape it without anyone noticing.
A Word About CBD Oil Labels – Potency & Lab Tests
When buying CBD oil, you want to make sure that you’re getting value for money.
That’s why you should always take a close look at the label – the information that’s on there (or missing) will let you know if you’re dealing with a reputable manufacturer.
One of the most important pieces of label information is the total amount of CBD in the product. For CBD vape cartridges, a good amount is anywhere between 50 and 200 mg (milligram being the 1000th piece of a gram). Since vape cartridges are small in size, it’s unrealistic to expect one to have 300 mg +.
Other important information that you should look for on a CBD oil cartridge label is:
·CBD servings – this is a dosage estimate (and the manufacturer’s best guess). Although most manufacturers try to get this right, it will ultimately depend on what you’re using your CBD for – if it’s for anxiety, you will need a higher dose so your cartridge will last just a couple of days, at best.
·Batch and lot number – this number is a sign of accountability – in case there’s something wrong with the product, the manufacturer knows exactly what CBD oil cartridges are affected and can recall them. When CBD labels have no batch or lot number, it’s impossible to tell when or where that product was made, and whether it is part of the lot experiencing a problem.
·Type of CBD oil – every CBD vape oil label should be clear on the type of CBD that’s inside – full spectrum, broad spectrum, or CBD isolate.
·Other ingredients – if any other cannabinoids or terpenes have been added to the oil, they should be listed on the label. Additionally, carriers and diluents should also be listed – this lets you check if there’s an ingredient in the mix that you’re allergic to.
·QR code (lab tests) – QR codes on a CBD product label can be another sign of accountability for a CBD company and its products. These special square barcodes can be scanned by your smartphone, and in most cases will bring up the laboratory quality and safety test results for that particular product.
What Type of CBD is Legal in Your State
One of the most frequently asked questions about CBD is whether or not it’s legal in the United States.
The answer is yes, it’s legal – if it was derived from the hemp plant.
All hemp products are legal in the United States. Marijuana, and therefore THC, is not legal. CBD derived from marijuana can contain more than 0.3% THC, which puts you on the wrong side of the law. To stay safe, make sure that all your CBD is derived exclusively from hemp.
Keep in mind that there are some CBD restrictions in a handful of states (Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska). If you’re in any of them, you might have to dig a bit deeper to find out what type of CBD you can legally use, and where you can buy/order it from.
Where to Get CBD Oil Safely?
Regardless of what you have read in the media, most reputable CBD oil manufacturers sell wholesome, quality CBD oil.
The recent vaping scare had nothing to do with either vaping in itself or vaping CBD – the spate of lung illnesses that were reported in the US (and that claimed up to 70 lives) is down to people vaping black market THC that was bought on street corners.
If you do your research, check online reviews, and talk to vape shop and weed dispensary owners, you will easily find a CBD oil manufacturer whose products will not only be safe to use but accessible and priced fairly.
Are You Ready to Start Vaping CBD Oil?
CBD brings with it numerous health benefits, and vaping is by far the fastest and the most efficient way of getting it into your system.
Now that you know what it’s all about, are you ready to give it a try?
Before you do, make sure that you have a smashing oil vape pen with you so that you don’t end up wasting your CBD.