Vape pens are everywhere. And as CBD continues to grow in popularity, all kinds of CBD vapes are hitting the market.
Vapes are particularly popular with younger consumers. But vape pens are new and still pose serious health risks to those trying them.
CBD is well-tolerated with few risks, but vaping may be another story. Keep reading to get all the details surrounding CBD oil vapes.
Why Try CBD?
Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid that comes from cannabis plants. It is present in all types of cannabis plants, but it is present in the highest concentrations in hemp plants. CBD derived from hemp is legal in all 50 states.
CBD is much different from THC, which causes intoxicating effects. CBD will not cause any intoxicating effects. It has a range of other potential therapeutic benefits.
Many studies have shown CBD may be effective in helping people manage things like anxiety, insomnia, and inflammation. Its effects are calming, but it is dose-dependent. In smaller doses, CBD may be relaxing yet with a boost of energy. And in larger doses, it seems to help calm and relax.
CBD Extract Types
There are three different types of CBD extract that people take to achieve their desired effects.
After CBD extraction separates it from the plant material it is further processed until it is ready for packaging as one of the following finished extract types.
Full Spectrum CBD
Full spectrum CBD is the most dynamic type of extract since it maintains the whole plant profile. It offers the most well-rounded benefits as there are many other compounds present in the extract.
Along with CBD, there are other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds present in hemp plants. Each of these has its own unique benefits. Their therapeutic potential ranges from calming effects to herbal flavors, and more.
Broad Spectrum CBD
Broad spectrum CBD is still full of these additional compounds but it is free of THC. This is a middle-of-the-road option for those who wish to experience the most therapeutic properties of CBD products without consuming any THC.
It is important to note that although full spectrum hemp does contain trace amounts of THC it is not enough to cause any psychoactive effects. CBD products sold in the United States must contain no more than .3% of THC to meet regulatory requirements. Both full-spectrum and broad spectrum CBD extracts are legal in the U.S. as long as they follow industry regulations.
CBD Isolate
CBD isolate is completely refined to remove all of the other cannabinoids and compounds. What is left is pure CBD. CBD isolate is often used to make CBD oil vapes because its powdery form is easy to mix with a vape liquid.
What Is a CBD Oil Vape?
A CBD oil vape pen is a device that converts CBD oil into vapor. That vapor is inhaled into the lungs for a fast onset of effects.
A vape pen consists of three parts. There is a mouthpiece for inhaling the vapor. A chamber where oil comes into contact with a heating element. And the battery.
There are reusable pens that come with a rechargeable battery. You can open the chamber that holds the vape liquid and insert the amount of oil, or vape juice, you want to vape.
In most cases, these types of devices need to be charged for a couple of hours to be used for one day.
The equipment can be costly. But the investment can be well worth the price for those who regularly vape and go through a lot of products. Plus, it is better for the environment than throwing away tons of disposable pens.
Disposable pens usually come precharged for one-time use.
These pens have a battery and a vape tank connected to the same device. You can’t replace the battery or add new juice. Although some of the more high-end options allow the battery to be rechargeable. This way you can keep the pen working at full power until all of the vape juice is gone.
They have a predetermined amount of inhales and when they are gone they are gone. You simply have to buy a new pen.
Disposables are popular due to their convenience and discreetness. But they are burdensome on the environment. And they can become expensive for the regular vaper.
Right now, the average price of a disposable vape pen is about $9.99. Seeing as most come with about 2ml of liquid, this can last anywhere from one to a couple of days for most vapers. This becomes an expensive habit for anyone vaping on a daily basis.
The middle ground is to buy CBD vape cartridges that can be attached to a reusable battery. Most cartridges are made for the standard 501-thread vape battery.
This option may be more convenient than the completely reusable and refillable vape device option. Compared to the large size of most fully reusable vape devices, cartridges and their batteries are much smaller, usually resembling a pen.
These may be less wasteful than buying purely disposable pens, but cartridges still get thrown in the trash when all the liquid inside is gone.
One benefit to trying cartridges is that you can switch between different CBD vape liquids easily. You can switch the cartridges on your battery without needing to finish all of the product inside first.
Trying CBD cartridges can be much more affordable than buying an entirely reusable device. It doesn’t come with a large upfront investment, and it can save you money if you go through a lot of disposable pens, too.
How To Use a CBD Vape Pen?
When someone vapes, they push a power button on the pen and usually hold it down for a couple of seconds while the internal equipment heats up. Then, they can inhale the vapor.
Many vape pens have a coil inside. This coil heats quickly to vaporize CBD oil soaked into a cotton wick.
Newer types of vaping devices have atomizers instead of traditional coils. They don’t use cotton wicks. Instead, there is a donut-shaped bowl where the CBD oil sits and gets evenly warmed up. This creates a smooth inhale with a high-quality flavor.
Depending on the vaping device used, it can be refilled or thrown away and replaced when all the vaping liquid is gone.
What Is the Difference Between Smoking and Vaping?
Smoking involves igniting plant material with a flame and breathing the smoke directly into the lungs. Doing this is known to cause negative health effects.
Vaping is only different in the sense that instead of smoke people are inhaling the vapor into the lungs.
Many consumers consider vaping to be a safe alternative to smoking as you avoid combusting potentially harmful ingredients with a lighter. However, this is a dangerous assumption, as vaping does come with some substantial risks.
Evidence is beginning to suggest that although it may be less harmful, vaping is still causing similar lung damage and decreased ability to fight infections in people who vape instead of smoke.
And they are a particular risk for young people. Vape pens, like CBD, are largely unregulated by the FDA. Because of this, there is no guarantee that vape pens and CBD oil cartridges do not contain nicotine.
Young people are at the most risk when it comes to nicotine exposure as their brains are extremely sensitive to the compound. Unfortunately, there are many products being sold that claim they have no nicotine when in fact they do.
How to Find the Best CBD Oil Vapes
There is an element of risk involved when finding new CBD oil vapes to try. It is important to make an educated decision about the CBD products you buy.
Before you make a purchase think about the following:
- The ingredients – There are 3 main ingredients needed to make CBD vape juice. Flavorings may also be added. Stay away from products with an excessively long ingredients list. The fewer the better.
- The brand reputation – It’s always great to support new businesses. But when trying a vaping product it is important to purchase from a well-known and trusted source.
- Customer reviews – Customer reviews are one of the best ways to judge whether or not you will be happy with a particular product. Many customers leave detailed reviews so you can assess how the product might be for you.
- Third-Party Lab Tests – Transparent brands with quality products are usually willing to prove their worth with third-party lab tests. The tests verify the purity and potency of their products. The test results, known as certificates of analysis (CoA), are usually available on a lab results page on the company website. Or, there may be a link directly on the product page. If there is no CoA available for a product that is a red flag that it may not meet certain standards. It is best to look elsewhere.
Can You Vape Any Kind of CBD Oil?
CBD vape liquid might look the same as CBD oil, but they are not identical. Products might even be advertised directly as CBD vape oil. But that should not be taken as a literal translation as CBD vape is not actually oil-based and should not be used interchangeably with CBD oils.
CBD oil is a mixture of CBD extract with an oil like coconut oil or olive oil. This kind of oil is usually taken orally.
Some CBD vape liquids can be used as an oil, but CBD oils are not meant to be vaped.
What Is CBD Vape Oil?
CBD vape oil is the loose term used to describe any vape juice that has CBD in it. CBD vapes don’t actually contain oil in them.
A more appropriate term might be CBD vape juice, which is a liquid like an oil but designed for vaping. A key aspect of CBD vape liquid is that it is miscible in water.
There are premade juices and there are CBD vape additives that you can add to your own vape liquid.
CBD vape juice should be free of nicotine or contaminants, but this is not a guarantee as many brands don’t actually test for these things. That is why reading a CoA before purchasing any CBD vape products is a must.
Ingredients In CBD Oil Vapes
The ingredients in a basic CBD vape juice are vegetable glycerine, propylene glycol, CBD, and flavorings.
These ingredients are also edible, which means that you may take some CBD vape juice orally. But remember, this does not work the other way around! Never try to vape topical or oral CBD oil.
Does CBD Vape Oil Cause Intoxication?
No, a pure CBD oil vape will not get you high. Most CBD vape juices are made with CBD isolate, which doesn’t contain THC. THC is the cannabinoid in cannabis responsible for any intoxicating effects.
Labels should state clearly what compounds are in the products. Hemp-derived CBD products must contain less than .3% THC which is not enough to cause intoxication.
What Does a CBD Oil Vape Feel Like?
A CBD oil vape may cause mild to strong feelings of calmness and peace.
CBD helps to balance out the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for keeping our body’s natural rhythms in sync. Since the ECS is responsible for managing so many of our body’s important functions, CBD may offer support in many different areas. Therefore the associated effects are different for everyone.
Vaping CBD oil produces a fast onset of effects.
Depending on the size of the dose taken it can help give clarity to the mind and energy. And it can also help with quieting the mind and bringing on feelings of restfulness.