Can You Smoke CBD Oil?
Posted by Lewis Olden on
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The last few years have seen a huge surge in popularity around the usage of cannabidiol as a wellness supplement. The benefits of CBD oil are now very well known.
This increase in popularity has led to rampant innovation and a proliferation of delivery methods. There is an ever-shrinking pool of products that have not been paired with CBD, from CBD balm to CBD chocolate and even CBD lube!
There is no doubt that ingesting CBD oil sublingually, in the form of tinctures is the most popular delivery format. This is because it was the first to become commercially available and is the most common entry product.
That said, one of the lesser explored questions around CBD is whether or not you can smoke CBD oil.
Can you smoke CBD oil?
In short, yes, you can smoke CBD oil. There are a number of different ways in which you can smoke CBD oil, depending on personal preference and situational factors. These include dabbing, smoking CBD flower and vaping CBD e liquid. Many people prefer to smoke CBD in order to avoid the earthy, often unpleasant taste that accompanies ingestion and sublingual use.
Dabbing CBD
Dabbing has become an increasingly popular method to consume traditional, recreational cannabis and this is now making its way into the domain of CBD.
By using a dab rig or portable dab pen, you can heat CBD concentrate via convective heating. This products more of a vapour than actual smoke, hence many feel it is safer than actually smoking CBD.
Smoking CBD Flower
While smoking is typically associated with recreational cannabis use, there is actually a growing demand for smokable CBD flower. This looks and smells very similar to typical recreational cannabis, but crucially is removed of THC (the cannabinoid responsible for getting you high).
CBD flower is typically rolled into a joint, or cigarette and smoked in the usual fashion. The upside of this is the lack of additional material such as a dab rig, batteries, or a vape.
Vaping CBD E Liquid
CBD E liquid is typically made from CBD extract and combined with a solute such as MCT oil or propylene glycol. This is because CBD is not water soluble.
The added benefit of CBD e liquid is that you can find a variety of flavours that make consumption a far more appealing process.
Once you have the kit for this, the experience of vaping CBD oil is an incredibly straightforward one, particularly with Cannacares’ medically certified CBD vape pen.
What are the benefits of smoking CBD oil?
With CBD available in so many different forms, many become confused as to the benefits of each type. While delivery methods each have their own pros and cons, CBD delivers the same therapeutic benefits regardless of its format.
However, we will now briefly cover the main benefits of smoking CBD oil over ingesting.
Higher bioavailability
Bioavailability may seem like a complex concept, but it’s actually fairly straightforward. It simply refers to the effectiveness of a substance once it is ingested. The bioavailability, denoted in percentage, is the portion of the substance that is actually used by the body.
One of the main benefits of smoking CBD is that the rate of absorption is far higher than almost all other delivery methods. Once the CBD is inhaled, it passes through the lungs and into the bloodstream within just 3 minutes.
Furthermore, in terms of bioavailability itself, the body can use 30% of smoked or vaped CBD. On the other hand, only 4-12% of CBD can be utilised by the body when ingested orally.
So, not only does smoking CBD deliver its benefits far quicker, but the body can also use a much higher proportion of it.
Vaping CBD can aid smoking cessation
A 2015 study published in Substance Abuse and carried out by Prud’homme, Cata and Jutras-Aswad found that regular CBD inhaler usage (near-identical to CBD vaping) dramatically decreased the number of cigarettes smoked per day, as well as reducing nicotine cravings.
This was backed up in a more recent study by University College of London, who found that the number of cigarettes smoked by participants dropped by 40% with regular CBD oil usage.
Avoiding the taste of CBD
The taste of CBD, particularly when ingested, is often cited as a reason for CBD cessation. It can often be earthy and somewhat unpleasant. Thankfully, when smoking or vaping CBD you avoid this.
What are the risks of smoking CBD oil?
There are two main concerns to keep in mind when it comes to making a decision on smoking or vaping CBD oil. One lies in health and the other in personal safety.
Lung Damage
Naturally, when discussing smoking, lung damage is the first concern that comes to mind. Of course, the damage caused by smoking has been well-documented for decades, despite the best efforts of the tobacco industry.
Although there is no evidence to definitively state whether or not smoking CBD oil is bad for the lungs, we can look into studies that investigate the smoking of cannabis and hemp.
One notable study has stated that cannabis smoking is associated with large airway inflammation, increased airway resistance and lung hyperinflation.
However, it is important to note that these respiratory issues are related to smoke itself, rather than the substance being smoked.
Furthermore, clinical research from 2018 suggests that not only does CBD help prevent the invasion of lung cancer cells, but it also inhibits metastasis.
Suspicious Smells
Smoking CBD flower can often attract unwanted attention from law enforcement. Both the appearance and smell of CBD flower is very similar to that of recreational cannabis.
Cannabis is still illegal across much of the world, so this could well attract the attention of any suspicious law enforcement nearby and lead to confusion, despite the widespread legality of CBD.
A possible alternative to avoid such situations is to vape CBD e liquid instead.
Is vaping CBD a viable alternative to smoking?
For those who are keen on the benefits of smoking CBD, such as its increased rate of absorption and impressive bioavailability but are reasonably concerned about the potential long term health effects, vaping CBD is a viable alternative.
While there is a lack of evidence surrounding the long-term impact of regular vaping, due to its novel nature, early signs suggest that it is far less harmful than smoking.
Vaping is also a far more discreet method of consumption, as the smell is far less potent than that which accompanies the smoking of CBD.
As a result, it is always best to err on the side of caution and avoid cheap, low-quality products. Cannacares offer the world’s first medically-certified vaporisation device for cannabis derivatives. This is the highest quality product available on the market and is expertly crafted for life-long use.
Will vaping CBD make me high?
As long as you are purchasing a professional product with high-quality ingredients that is THC-free, then there is no way that vaping CBD can get you high.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol to use its full name, is responsible for the high typically associated with cannabis use in popular culture.
Even with broad-spectrum CBD products, the legal THC limit in the UK is 0.2% which is not high enough to intoxicate the user.
Conclusion
In short, yes you can smoke CBD oil! Although many believe this reduces its therapeutic potential, the user will still derive the medicinal benefits of the cannabinoid.
Vaping is almost certainly a safer option than smoking, as initial research suggests. If you are going to opt for a CBD vape product, then we strongly recommend opting for a high-quality version.
There are of course a multitude of CBD delivery methods as outlined at the start of the article, so the choice is very much down to the individual and their personal preference.
