Smoking CBD, Is It Possible?

You can use CBD in many ways, but is smoking CBD also possible? This article asserts if it possible or not to smoke CBD and whether if it is an action worth engaging. But, first, let’s understand a couple of basic concepts.

What Is CBD?

In general, CBD is a naturally existing compound belonging to a family of compounds called ‘cannabinoids’ which exists in the cannabis plant. Recently, much research is going towards finding therapeutic applications based on CBD.

CBD and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two of the most common cannabinoids in marijuana. Nonetheless, these compounds cause different effects.

THC has always been the trendiest compound in cannabis, and it’s the psychoactive ingredient capable of getting you ‘high.’

On the other hand, CBD isn’t psychoactive despite being closely associated with THC. It won’t alter your state of mind once you take it. However, what it might do is trigger a series of therapeutic effects somewhat comparable to marijuana’s most positive ones.

Where Does CBD Come From?

CBD’s a cannabinoid, and, as the name implies, it comes from the cannabis plant. However, there are several varieties of the cannabis plant; two important ones are hemp and marijuana. The overall distinction between these two is, as far as the law concerns, their THC content. For example, marijuana has very high THC content, thus, why it gets you high. On the other hand, hemp has high CBD content but almost no THC. Legally speaking, the law may consider any hemp plant with over 0.3% THC to be the same as marijuana. Thus, manufacturers have a vested interest in using hemp, rather than marijuana, to extract CBD.

Marijuana growers keenly bred their plants to contain high THC levels. Hemp cultivators seldom have to do likewise for CBD.

How Do They Extract CBD Oil?

Generally speaking, extracting cannabinoids from hemp or cannabis is somewhat straightforward. However, when it comes to large-scale manufacturing projects scaling becomes a concern. Typically, for commercial manufacturers, there are two common methods for efficient CBD extraction. All methods have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Carbon Dioxide Extraction Method

Generally, carbon dioxide is considered a versatile gas with a wide range of commercial applications, like extracting CBD. This method typically utilizes gas in its normal state and supercritical liquid form. And through the application of a pressurized chamber called a closed-loop extractor, carbon dioxide compresses until it forms a liquid. Then, the liquid passes over the plant material, from which it will strip away compounds like CBD. The whole solution is brought back to pressures and temperatures at which the carbon dioxide becomes gas again and evaporates. Thus, leaving behind solely the CBD extract it took from the plant material.

Apart from extracting cannabinoids on a large scale, you can also extract certain compounds like terpenes using this CO2 extraction. Terpenes are naturally-existing compounds that usually infuse cannabis with its well-known flavors and aromas. Scientists theorize that keeping the terpenes in the final CBD products, rather than completely removing them, boosts its potency. Typically, full-spectrum CBD products depend on extraction methods that can maintain these compounds.

Solvent Extraction Method

Although this process is quite similar to using CO2, it’s significantly cheaper and quicker. Although butane tends to be the main solvent to use, propane and ethanol are also common. This method also applies a closed-loop system. The ethanol, propane, or liquid butane washes over the cannabis, extracting CBD, terpenes, and other cannabinoids. Afterward, the solvent undergoes cooling or heating to isolate the solvent from the extracted cannabinoids. One major con of this method is that some solvents might extract impurities from the plant material. Thus, there are high chances the final product features an unpleasant taste.

These extraction methods utilize extremely combustible chemicals and, thus, could be dangerous. Because of this, only trained chemists in fully equipped labs should try any form of chemical extraction.

Smoking CBD, Is It Possible?

Yes. You can smoke the hemp flower as you would smoke another cannabis plant like marijuana. With that in mind, there are huge differences between the smoke quality provided by different forms of hemp flower.

Most users describe experiencing a “non-intoxicating body high” after smoking CBD, which isn’t like the “pleasurable high” smoking marijuana. Smoking CBD gave them a similar psychological satisfaction comparable to smoking a joint – minus the high.

Therefore, although the marijuana flower will get you stoned, the hemp flower instead offers you a soothing and relaxing feeling. It can also make you feel more energized or even sleepy – mostly based on the strain and the time you’re taking it. With hemp flower, you’ll avoid the physical impairment that comes from smoking marijuana.

CBD’s Administration Methods

In today’s market, there are four popular ways of consuming CBD oil to pick from inhalation, topical, sublingual, and ingestion. Each has its own unique advantages; choose the one that best fits your goals and preferences.

– Inhalation

You can inhale CBD through vaping via a vaporizer. A vaporizer essentially heats CBD oil until it releases its active compounds. The vaporization process involves CBD entering your lungs and diffusing into the bloodstream. The CBD usually enters the circulatory system quicker since it won’t need to make its way through the liver or digestive system. In comparison to the ingestion method, vaporizing let a much higher amount of CBD enter your bloodstream.

CBD e-liquid is one of the CBD oil products made for vaporization. It consists of CBD oil infused with high-CBD concentrate or vegetable glycerin (VG). Vaporizers often vary in size from small and battery-powered portable pens to tabletop, plug-in powered units. Vaping CBD liquid, according to the enthusiast, delivers much more potent therapeutic effects than smoking CBD from the hemp flower.

– Topical

The market also has CBD oil products that are specifically made for applying directly onto your skin. These topical CBD products contain active ingredients quickly absorbable through the skin. That means that they can work with cells that are close to the skin’s surface without being absorbed into the bloodstream. Typically, topical CBD oil products are the best option for patients seeking isolated pain relief. They can also aid with skin conditions since you can apply them directly to the area affected.

Primarily, the CBD oil topical products available on the market include salves and CBD lotions. These products are more beneficial when it comes to potentially addressing pain or skin problems. For daily skin health care purposes, several companies also manufacture a variety of CBD oil body care and bath products.

– Sublingual

Consuming CBD oil sublingually means placing a few drops under the tongue and keeping it there for up to 90 seconds. Ultimately, this enables the mouth’s mucus membranes to absorb the CBD oil. This way, the absorption process doesn’t go through the digestive system and liver metabolization. That enables the compounds to get to your bloodstream and work with the endocannabinoid system faster. If you’re searching for quick effects, sublingual CBD oil products are a very good choice.

Pure CBD oil, concentrates, and tinctures are examples of CBD products specifically made for this way of application. You may easily hold them in your mouth and wait until you absorb the active ingredients before swallowing whatever may remain.

– Ingestion

When orally ingesting CBD oil, it will pass through your digestive system. Once the liver metabolizes it, it sends whatever active compounds remain to the bloodstream. Generally, this method is precisely how people take their daily supplements and vitamins.

There are many ingestible CBD oil products like beverages, capsules, and edibles. You can easily swish down CBD capsules using a mouthful of water. Furthermore, it possible to infuse CBD oil in certain meals and beverages. However, since it goes through liver metabolization, a significant part of the CBD does not make it into your body. Thus, the effects are less potent through ingestion.

Benefits of Vaping CBD vs. Smoking CBD

Vaping CBD offers both rapid absorption rate and potent effects. Once you vape CBD, it might immediately lower your stress levels. Vaping expands the chest and might alleviate pain up to some extent, makes your mind calm, make you feel relaxed.

No one first begins vaping directly. People who vape are mostly (actually) smokers or people who are looking to quit smoking. It’s worth noting that if you are starting vaping because you want to quit your smoking habit, you better watch out you don’t pick a vaping addiction.

On the other hand, smoking CBD via smoking the hemp flower might seem similar, but it’s not that much. First of all, the effect you might get will be significantly less potent. This is due to vaping enjoying the advantage of vaporizing processed CBD e-liquid.

The e-liquid already went through a refining process in which only the most desirable compound remained in it. When smoking CBD, you are smoking the whole flower, undesirable compounds, and all. While you might enjoy a flurry assortment of different cannabinoids besides CBD, the undesirable compounds harm the experience somewhat. Thus, if you are looking into smoking CBD through the hemp flower alone, beware; it’s going to be a weaker experience than vaping it or taking it any other way.