It seems these days that there are almost as many ways to consume CBD as there are uses for it. You’ve got CBD capsules, a variety of CBD edibles, CBD topical creams, CBD roll-ons, even CBD bath bombs infused with the helpful cannabinoid. Today, however, we are going to focus on CBD vaping products, including CBD e liquid and vape juice.
First, a Brief Look at What CBD Is
Chances are, you’re already aware that the wellness market is saturated with products containing something called CBD. But what exactly is CBD, and why should you be interested? CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol, which is a cannabinoid produced by hemp plants. In fact, CBD is present at higher concentrations in natural hemp than any other compound, except for THC.
Now, as soon as THC is mentioned, the first thing many people think of is the psychoactive effect from consuming cannabis. You may be concerned that CBD produces a similar reaction, but not to worry: CBD has no psychoactive effect on its own. It can modify the psychoactive effects of other compounds when used together, but pure CBD will never get you high.
And in the case of the hemp-derived CBD products we’re talking about today (hemp being the low-THC form of cannabis), none of these CBD e-liquids can get you high.
So, What Does CBD Do?
Research into CBD’s properties and potential uses began fairly recently, so the list of its benefits is broad, but incomplete. But even with just a few decades of studies behind us, the number of potential uses for CBD is pretty impressive. People have reported encouraging results trying CBD to treat issues from eczema to insomnia.
The Endocannabinoid System
To understand the benefits of CBD, one must start with a short biology lesson. The human body (like that of all vertebrate animals) has a cell-signalling system known as the endocannabinoid system. In the ECS, neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids send messages through receptors in various organs and systems of the body (most notably, the brain and nervous system) to help them to maintain homeostasis, or balance. This allows the body to properly regulate such important functions as sleep, memory, appetite, mood, motor control, pain and stress management, and much more.
When a person consumes CBD and other cannabinoids, they interact with the ECS in much the same way as the body’s own endocannabinoids, ultimately supporting the body’s ability to regulate all those aforementioned crucial functions. This creates many health and wellness benefits, and is the reason that CBD has exploded in popularity as a health supplement. You can now find CBD products as diverse as CBD gummies for pain and other CBD gummies, CBD capsules, delta-9 THC gummies, CBD vape oil, THC pen and THC oil vape products, CBD for dogs, and much more.
For starters, CBD acts as an all-natural pain reliever with applications for joint and muscle aches. In addition to its pain-relieving qualities, CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory and can be particularly helpful when one is suffering both pain and swelling.
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD are complimented by its function as an antioxidant when used in skin-care products. CBD soothes irritated skin and reduces redness, while its antioxidant qualities fight damage-causing free radicals and may even delay the appearance of aging. Clinical trials show promise in using CBD as a treatment for skin conditions, such as acne and psoriasis.
CBD’s calming effect, meanwhile, is frequently sought by those looking to relieve stress, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. CBD alone is an effective, all-natural, non-habit-forming sleep aid, however it can be even more useful when combined with other natural ingredients, like passion flower or chamomile.
Why Vape CBD Oil
Now that you’re acquainted with what CBD is, and what some of its uses are, let’s take a look at why you may want to choose a CBD e-liquid for vaping. As with all methods of consuming CBD, vaping an e-liquid or juice has specific benefits that might make it more suitable to your needs.
CBD Vape Liquid Products & Bioavailability
In short, bioavailability refers to how readily something is absorbed into the body’s bloodstream. Bioavailability is affected not only by the properties of the compound itself, but also the way in which it is consumed and even other things that may be consumed with it. Bioavailability can also vary based on the physiology of the person in question.
Effectively ingesting CBD does present some challenges due to CBD’s relatively low bioavailability. CBD is not water soluble, instead being lipophilic, or fat soluble. One way to make edible forms of CBD more easily absorbed by the body is to combine them with fats, which will significantly increase the speed of delivery.
But not everybody wants to consume more fats, or eliminate other fats to compensate for those contained in their CBD products. Fortunately, there are other methods of increasing CBD’s bioavailability, and one of those is to inhale CBD as a vapour. That’s where CBD e-liquids and vape products come in.
Vaping a CBD-infused e-liquid allows the CBD to be efficiently absorbed through the lungs, for a bioavailability rate similar to smoking high-CBD strains of cannabis. However, when you vape CBD oil, you don’t take in all of the harmful byproducts of smoking, and many people who try vaping find it far less irritating than smoking.
The higher bioavailability of vaping CBD e-liquid means that the user will feel the CBD effects very quickly relative to CBD edibles. Peak CBD levels in the bloodstream are usually reached within three minutes of vaping, compared to at least 30 minutes with an edible. This is great when you don’t want to wait for your CBD to start working.
Another potential benefit to vaping CBD e-liquid as it relates to bioavailability is the duration of the CBD effects. The CBD is metabolised more rapidly with vaping, meaning a dose of CBD is also eliminated sooner. This can be welcome for those who do not want a prolonged effect from their CBD. And those who do want more prolonged CBD effects can simply take another puff of their CBD vape e-liquid as needed. The higher bioavailability of vaping CBD allows a smaller dose to produce a result, so overall CBD consumption does not necessarily increase in comparison to a slower delivery system.
Some Other Benefits of CBD e-Liquid & CBD Vape Juice
Vaping CBD e-liquid can be a very convenient way to consume your CBD. Most CBD disposable vapes and vape kits are small and easily portable, fitting in a garment pocket or a purse without issue. It’s a bit easier than carrying around a bottle of CBD oil tincture for users who want to keep their CBD with them during the course of a normal day, and there’s much less potential for oil leaks and messes.
The user experience of vaping CBD can be fun, too. While many find the taste of smoking nasty, the same isn’t true of vaping CBD e-liquid products. CBD vape juice products are frequently sold in bright, fruity flavours that make them a treat to consume. And unlike CBD edibles, such as CBD gummies, you can enjoy these vape flavours without worrying about fat or calories.
Not All CBD Oil Is the Same
Something to consider when shopping for CBD vape products is what kind of CBD you’re getting in that vape. While CBD in nature is only found in one form (full spectrum CBD oil), CBD products differ chiefly by the other compounds that may be included or excluded alongside the CBD. That is to say, not every CBD oil product contains full spectrum CBD. Sometimes, filtering the CBD oil streamlines the CBD to a product that better suits the user’s needs.
That said, there are more than 100 different cannabinoids present in hemp plants (as well as healthful terpenes and flavonoids), and many of them can be used to enhance or moderate specific effects.
CBD Isolate
Users who want pure CBD with no other active compounds should look for a CBD vape juice made with CBD isolate. This is CBD in its unadulterated form (99% pure CBD). There are no other cannabinoids present, which makes isolate CBD great for those who don’t want to complicate things with multiple active ingredients and their potential interactions. CBD vape oil made with CBD isolate is an excellent way to try CBD and its effects alone.
And because isolate CBD has no scent or flavour, it provides a wonderful base for building flavourful CBD vape juice and e-liquid products, as the added natural flavours become the star of the show.
Full Spectrum CBD
E-liquids made with full spectrum CBD contain CBD combined with the full range of other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids from the hemp plant. This can be beneficial due to the properties of the other compounds present, as well as their interactive effects. Full spectrum CBD is notable for containing small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. This is the psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, though the concentrations found in full spectrum CBD are so low that full spectrum CBD products do not result in feeling “high.”
Broad Spectrum CBD
E-liquids made with broad spectrum CBD are similar to those containing full spectrum CBD, but with the significant omission of tetrahydrocannabinol. This allows for other compounds and cannabinoids to contribute their own beneficial properties without the added worry of ingesting THC. For those who want to enjoy a robust cannabinoid experience when they use CBD and, at the same time, avoid having THC in their system, broad spectrum CBD e-liquid may be an attractive choice.
Organically Grown Hemp & Clean Oil Extraction Processes
Something else you should be aware of when shopping for CBD vape juice and e-liquid is how your product was made. It is extremely important to look for vape juice made with organically grown hemp and a safe, clean oil extraction process.
Hemp plants are known to be efficient bioaccumulators, meaning they pull in all kinds of stuff from the soil in which they’re growing. And not all of that stuff is something you want to put into your body. Hemp grown with chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides are going to have those chemicals in relatively high concentrations in the plant matter. And CBD products made with that hemp will likely still have those chemicals, as well. (Anyone want to vape fertiliser? Didn’t think so.)
The very best companies producing CBD vape oil not only use organically grown hemp, they also grow it themselves. This seed-to-shelf approach ensures control over every aspect of production, allowing for a safe and high-quality CBD product.
But starting with safe, organic hemp is only the first step. The process of extracting the CBD oil from the plant matter can also introduce toxic contaminants to the finished product. Low-quality CBD oil is often made using harsh chemical solvents that leave behind trace residues in the finished CBD product.
What you want is a CBD vape containing CBD oil derived by a carbon dioxide oil extraction process. CO2 oil extraction uses carbon dioxide heated to a supercritical state, where it efficiently permeates the plant matter and removes all of the CBD and other beneficial compounds. CO2 oil extraction uses no chemical solvents, and is completely safe. In addition, it effectively extracts the full range of organic compounds from the hemp plant without damaging them or reducing their potency, making it the perfect process for extracting CBD oil.
Insist on Lab-tested CBD Vape Oil
So, how can you verify that your vape oil contains organic CBD, extracted with clean CO2? Look for a third-party lab report. Every reputable CBD brand will have its CBD oil tested by an independent laboratory, and those tests are made easily available for consumers. These lab tests will tell you if any impurities have crept into your oil, and they’ll also tell you how much CBD and other cannabinoids you’re getting in your product. Make sure your vaping juice or liquid comes with a third-party lab report.
Buying CBD Vape Liquid Products
There are several variables that should inform your decision when looking to purchase a CBD vape oil (or any CBD oil product, for that matter). First, think about what your wellness goals are, and how you want to employ CBD e liquids to address them. Do you want an e liquid or juice that is enhanced with other active ingredients, or do you want an e liquid that’s just pure CBD? Which type of CBD oil (full spectrum CBD, etc.) is most likely to produce the desired results? All of these things factor into finding the best vape for your needs.
Once you know what wellness issue you want to address with CBD, and which kind of CBD product you want to try, it’s time to start looking at individual items. Please keep in mind the points we’ve made here about shopping for safe CBD oil. Remember the importance of hemp that is grown free of chemicals, and avoid items made with toxic solvents in the oil extraction process.
Most of all, enjoy shopping for your CBD oil vape. Here’s to a healthful and happy 2022!
This article was written in cooperation with CBDfx