Cannabis has come a long way since its early days. States have begun legalizing the plant for both recreational and medicinal use. These medicinal properties are thanks to certain compounds found in the plant, most notably tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). While THC has beneficial properties like reducing nausea and increasing appetite, CBD is the one that’s getting a lot of attention. This is because CBD has many applications, but does not get you high like its partner, THC.
What Are the Medical Benefits of CBD Oil?
There are both medical studies and anecdotal evidence for the use of CBD oil to treat several ailments.
- Chronic Pain – CBD gives relief for those suffering from chronic pain. Fibromyalgia and cancer patients can also benefit along with relieving inflammation.
- Reduces Depression and Anxiety – CBD reduces anxiety and depression. It has also been shown to help those suffering from PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress, and social anxiety disorder.
- Fights Cancer – CBD treatments for cancer are still being researched, but CBD oil can actually slow tumor growth and inhibit the spreading of certain kinds of cancers in animals, according to the American Cancer Society.
These are just a few reasons people choose to vape CBD oil. Vaping doesn’t have to be the only way that you ingest CBD oil. You can eat it in CBD edibles or even drink it in tinctures, drops placed under the tongue, or in foods and drinks.
The only problem with eating it is the bioavailability of CBD. You would have to consume much more of it in order to get the same effects that vaping would provide. Vaping CBD delivers it directly to your bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. Not only does this mean it takes effect faster, but it also uses less product for a more intense effect.
Smoking vs Vaping
CBD can be ingested by smoking a high-CBD strain of dried cannabis flower, but vaping provides many benefits over smoking. 95% of carcinogens are eliminated when you vape. Vaping also quickly introduces the highest amount of CBD into your system, allowing for faster relief. Plus, vaping gives you the freedom to try a lot of different flavors and since it’s more discreet, you leave behind less of a smell. Controlling the dosage is also much easier when you’re vaping versus smoking CBD, making it a more comfortable experience.
If you’ve decided to start vaping CBD oil, but are new to the vaping scene, you should know the four different options for hardware. Each of these pieces has some upsides and downsides.
- Pre-filled CBD Pen – These can have different names like CBD vape shot kit or CBD vape starter kit but are all essentially the same. There are two components: a battery and a pre-filled CBD oil cartridge. They are super easy to use and the pre-filled cartridges are disposable. When you’re done, just unscrew the cartridge from the battery and replace.
- Disposable CBD Vape Pen – These are similar to the disposable e-cigarettes found in smoke shops and convenience stores. These disposable vape pens are cheap, small, convenient, and discreet. However, the quality of these disposable pens are not always as good as those found in cartridge pens
- Refillable “Tank” Style Vapes – This style closely resembles smoking, making it popular amongst former cigarette or cannabis smokers. Though not as popular as pre-filled cartridges, they still have a loyal following. Using a refillable tank like this one allows you to experiment with different flavor combinations.
- Desktop Vaporizers – Primarily used just in homes, users draw in the vapor either through a tube or from a bag. These vaporizers are cumbersome, need a power source, and can be expensive, making them the least popular choice in this list.
Choosing a CBD Oil
Due to its youth, the CBD oil industry is not that well-regulated. Considered as a supplement by the FDA, claims made on labels, such as the amount and purity of CBD, may or may not be accurate. Because of this, you need to be sure you’re choosing a quality CBD oil. Here are some things to consider:
- Where are the materials grown? Many companies use hemp grown overseas, while oils made from local hemp are typically much safer. If the company’s website doesn’t say where the hemp they extract the CBD from is grown, skip it.
- The manufacturing process is important. Some companies use cheap methods of extracting the CBD oil, which can result in possibly toxic materials getting in. Make sure the company details its manufacturing process on its website or is willing to have a representative take you through the process. The use of pharmaceutical-grade ethanol is the safest method of extracting CBD oil.
- Look at the label to see if it makes claims of being full-spectrum or whole-plant. This means that the whole plant was used during manufacturing, meaning that you’ll be getting the beneficial terpenes and cannabinoids, which help the oil to be even more beneficial.
- Check the THC amount. Because the hemp plant does have minute amounts of THC, your CBD oil will contain trace amounts, but should never be more than 0.3%.
- Check the additional ingredients, especially if you’re using a refillable tank vaporizer. Pure CBD oil isn’t meant to be vaporized, so many manufacturers will add either PG or VG oils. Check to make sure the oil used in your juice is compatible with your coils.
With all of the advantages of CBD oil and vaporizing, it’s a great choice for those seeking the relief that CBD can provide. Not only is it discreet, but it also provides fast relief for less product than other methods like smoking or cooking edibles infused with CBD. If you are using CBD oil for your health, consider vaping it and see if it works better for you.