Although ingesting cannabidiol (CBD) oil — whether on its own or mixed into foods or beverages — is a popular way to take CBD, vaping is a delivery method that offers its own advantages. CBD vape oil is fast-acting, so it’s great for quick relief and it’s possible to configure your specific dosage by taking into account body weight, the ratio of CBD to liquid in the bottle, and what condition you are aiming to treat. And the fact that vaping CBD doesn’t create unwanted smoke or intoxication are additional benefits.
Like all CBD products, it’s important to find high-quality, reliable CBD vape oil without unnecessary additives. It’s also important to use well-made vape pens, since studies have indicated that some vape pens may put people at risk of exposure to unhealthy metals. [1]
With the right tools and awareness, however, vaping can be a remarkably effective, convenient, and discrete way to treat yourself with CBD.
Vaping CBD Is Efficient
When you vape CBD oil, you take the cannabinoid into your lungs, which quickly distribute it into the bloodstream, allowing you to experience its effects almost immediately. [2] If you have health conditions that benefit from rapid CBD dosing such as anxiety attacks, seizures, or bouts of severe pain, vaping is a great way to get treatment quickly and conveniently. [3-5]
Orally-ingested CBD products, like edibles or capsules, are absorbed more slowly by the body, since they traverse through the digestive tract. In some cases this delayed absorption is preferred, but not always.
Vaping CBD also allows the body to absorb more of the cannabinoid, since CBD consumed orally can be broken down in the stomach before it enters the bloodstream. CBD vape oil has a higher bioavailability. That means more of the CBD you consume will reach your bloodstream.
Vaping Doesn’t Produce Smoke (when vaporizers are properly used)
When medical professionals consider recommending cannabis to their patients, one of their big concerns is smoking, since inhaling smoke has inherent risks, due to the carcinogenic chemicals produced through combustion. [6] Physicians are generally careful to suggest other methods.
For people who prefer methods like smoking, vaping is a great alternative. That’s because, although people do blow clouds when they vape, the substance they’re exhaling isn’t as hard on your throat or lungs. [7]
When used at appropriate temperatures, vaporizers only produce enough heat to trigger evaporation, and not ignition. This is why it’s important to know what temperatures the settings on your vaporizer actually heat to. It’s good news for everyone, especially people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
You Won’t Get High from Vaping CBD
One main reason people seek CBD is because it won’t make them feel “high.” [8] So if you want the health benefits of CBD, without the mind-bending effects of THC, vaping CBD is a great choice.
CBD concentrates are sold in “full-spectrum” and more purified varieties. “Full-spectrum” refers to the inclusion of more beneficial molecules extracted from the plant, but at lower potencies than a pure product like CBD isolate. Some users may want trace amounts of THC in full-spectrum CBD products, because it has the potential to enhance the therapeutic effects of CBD through an interaction known as the “entourage effect”.
It’s Easy to Adjust Your Dose
Because of its high bioavailability, CBD vape oil quickly takes effect after using it. This makes it easy to tell whether or not the CBD is working for you, which can also help you figure out your correct dosage. Increasing your dosage is as easy as taking another hit from your vape pen. And if you need to take different amounts at different times of the day, you can just vape more or less. Some manufacturers are designing metered dose vaporizers to put some actual numbers on the amount of inhaled CBD.
When you take CBD in oils or capsules, you may have to wait a while before being able to tell if
the CBD is providing the desired effects. If you think you need a higher dose, you may take more and wait again, which can be a frustrating process.
Vaping CBD Is Customizable
Not everyone wants to swallow CBD capsules or add strong-tasting CBD oil to their food or drink. Because you can choose from dozens of delicious flavors for your CBD vape oil, you can be sure to get one you’ll actually enjoy taking. You just need to make sure you are only using the best CBD vape oil, with generally recognized as safe (GRAS) flavoring agents, as there are many companies selling less reputable products, some with little to no CBD.
Vaping can also be a comfortable way to make CBD part of your daily routine. CBD vape oil doesn’t smell like cannabis. So if you’re concerned with being noticed when taking CBD, vaping can be more discrete.
References
[1] Olmedo, P. et al. “Metal Concentrations in e-Cigarette Liquid and Aerosol Samples: The Contribution of Metallic Coils”, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2018, Volume 126(2): 027010. [journal impact factor = 9.78; cited by 32]
[2] Solowij, N. et al. “A protocol for the delivery of cannabidiol (CBD) and combined CBD and ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by vaporisation”, BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2014, Volume 15(1): 58. [journal impact factor = 1.865; cited by 26]
[3] Blessing, E. et al. “Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders”, The Journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 2015, Volume 12(4): Pages 825–836. [journal impact factor = 5.552; cited by 87]
[4] Perucca E. “Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Hard Evidence at Last?”, Journal of Epilepsy Research, 2017, Volume 7(2): 61–76. [journal impact factor = N/A; cited by 32]
[5] Bruni, N. et al. “Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment”, Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2018, Volume 23(10): 2478. [journal impact factor = 3.268; cited by 3]
[6] Budney, A. et al. “Vaping cannabis (marijuana): Parallel concerns to e-cigs?”, Addiction, 2015, Volume 110(11): 1699-1704. [journal impact factor = 5.789; cited by 65]
[7] Polosa, R. et al. “Health impact of E-cigarettes: a prospective 3.5-year study of regular daily users who have never smoked”, Scientific Reports, 2017, Volume 7(1): 13825. [journal impact factor = 4.122; cited by 22]
[8] Shannon, S. et al. “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series”, The Permanente Journal, Volume 23: 18–041. [journal impact factor = 0.49; cited by 2]
