Many users of CBD will agree that the best option for smoking CBD is actually vaping. Vaping requires a vape pen or device and some CBD vape juice or CBD oil vape. There are many reasons why users prefer CBD oil vape over premium CBD flowers, but the most prevalent one is because it is most effective.
Vaping refers to the vaporization that occurs when the CBD liquid is heated enough to produce a vapor. That vapor is then cooled creating a cloud that carries the active ingredients of CBD with the added flavoring, which can be inhaled.
CBD flowers, on the other hand, are limited to four smoking devices that do not burn as cleanly or smoothly as vape. That is not to say that CBD flowers are not effectively smoked. Each method has its known pros and cons that we will discuss in this article.
What is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis (marijuana) or hemp plants. Cannabis, or marijuana, comes from the Cannabis sativa plant and is composed of two main, natural compounds: Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Even though CBD is a component of cannabis, it is extracted directly from the cannabis or hemp plant (a relative of the marijuana plant) and does not create feelings of “high,” but does obtain all of the medicinal properties associated with the plant. CBD can be used to help with inflammation, pain, psychosis or mental disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, nausea, migraines, depression and anxiety.
The main reason why CBD is a great natural drug is that, unlike its counterpart THC, it has little to no side effects if overused. According to the World Health Organization, CBD “exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” It is for these reasons that CBD is mostly used as a medicinal remedy.
CBD Flowers
CBD herb, sometimes referred to as CBD flower, is the bud of the hemp plant. It looks, smells, and tastes like the cannabis (marijuana) plant, but contains very little THC content and has no psychoactive effects.
Since CBD herb is just like marijuana, it can be consumed in the same ways. It can be used to cook with, it can be infused with oils or alcohol for topical application and it can even be smoked in any way you like.
CBD Oil Vape
CBD oil vape, or CBD vape juice, does not actually contain any oil. CBD vape juice is actually CBD distillate. CBD distillates are generally made with food grade ingredients, and can be taken orally as well, but are very different from oil-based tinctures.
CBD distillate uses the process of distillation as a means of purifying a liquid by heating and/or cooling. Distillation creates concentrates that are “cleaner” than other concentrates as they are more pure on a molecular level. This means that CBD distillates are one of the most potent types of concentrates.
This process creates a clean, highly concentrated liquid that is solvent-free. This liquid can then be put into everything from foods to hand creams and lotions, very similar to CBD oil. In most cases, CBD distillate is used for vaping and is often labeled as vape juice, e-liquid or e-juice.
Pros and Cons of Smoking CBD Flower
CBD flowers can be smoked using one of four methods: CBD flower can be rolled in a joint, it can be burned in a pipe or bong, or it can be burned in a bubbler.
One of the biggest pros of smoking CBD flowers is the method. Inhalation itself, is the most effective way of getting CBD into the body quickly. This can also be applied to vaping as well as it is also inhaled. Another pro of smoking CBD is that it does not get you “high.”
Unlike cannabis, CBD contains no THC. This means you will get all of the medicinal benefits of the cannabis plant without the psychoactive effects.
Some of the cons of smoking CBD flowers include the experience. Since the plant is derived from the cannabis and hemp plant, it smells, looks and tastes just like regular cannabis (marijuana). This can be a huge negative if you are trying to be discrete.
Another con of smoking CBD flowers is the dosage. Since smoking using any of the four mentioned methods requires fire, getting an even and smooth burn requires practice. Unlike CBD oil vape that will burn evenly in a vape pen.
Pros and Cons of Vaping
Vaping creates a cleaner burn altogether. It is the purest form of CBD that any person can get into their system. There are many reasons why you should vape your CBD, instead of smoking it, and the biggest pro is because it burns clean and smooth, giving you the biggest hit of CBD.
The cons of vaping CBD come in the form of costs. Although not drastically expensive, the added costs will increase over time. While smoking CBD flowers allows you to reuse devices, some vape pens do not. Those that do still require a specific oil to be refilled.
In our investigations, we personally prefer vaping for a cleaner, smoother burn without the learning curve of fire lighters.