It seems like there are new and innovative CBD products being introduced to the market every day. Some people still prefer using cannabis the traditional way, even if they don’t want to deal with the legal hurdles and psychoactive effects associated with smoking actual marijuana.
What Is Smokable CBD?
Smokable CBD is just what it sounds like. It’s a form of CBD-rich hemp flower that has not been turned into oil, tinctures, edibles, or topicals. Instead, the unadulterated flower can be placed in any smoking device, vaporizer or CBD joints and inhaled. Some people like to buy pure hemp flowers, while others prefer using hemp pre-rolls. Either way, the results will be the same.
Benefits of Smoking CBD
Smoking CBD is the fastest way to get results. This mode of delivery bypasses the digestive system and allows the cannabinoid to cross the blood-brain barrier to produce almost immediate effects. It also improves bioavailability. Those who plan to use CBD to manage mental health problems like acute anxiety and panic attacks may find that smoking is the best ingestion method for them.
Unlike other forms of cannabis such as marijuana, smokable CBD doesn’t produce psychoactive effects. No matter how it’s ingested, it’s a strictly therapeutic agent. After smoking CBD-rich hemp flowers, users may feel calmer and more relaxed, but they won’t feel “high.”
This method of ingestion can also be uniquely beneficial for cigarette smokers who want to quit. One study shows that even orally ingested CBD can make abstaining from tobacco use easier. Anecdotal evidence points to smokable CBD as a potential replacement for the habit-forming aspects of nicotine dependence, as well.
Some Americans prefer to smoke CBD because it’s a more natural process. CBD oils are often made using harsh chemical extraction processes, and traces of these solvents may be left behind. Reputable manufacturers always check their products for contaminants before bottling and selling them, but purchasing pure hemp flowers instead of extracts can still give buyers some extra peace of mind.
Risks of Smoking CBD
Smoking any kind of plant matter comes with the risk of developing lung problems. The jury is still out on whether smoking cannabis of any kind poses a comparable elevation in users’ risks of developing lung cancer. For those who already smoke nicotine cigarettes or marijuana, CBD use can actually help to cut back on other forms of smoking. Purchasing 100% pure hemp flowers can also help to control damage by allowing users to avoid potentially harmful additives.
The second risk of smoking CBD is social rather than physical. Hemp flowers look and sometimes smell a lot like marijuana buds. While few people would confuse the experience, smoking CBD can create a negative social image among those who are opposed to marijuana use.
Some also argue that the two products can be confused, leading to unpleasant surprises. Avoiding this potential problem is a simple matter of buying smokable hemp flowers only from reputable vendors that lab test their products to ensure suitably low THC concentrations.
What About Vaping?
Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking in many social circles. With a specialized vaporizer, it is possible to consume pure hemp flowers in this way. Some manufacturers also make CBD oils designed for use in vape pens, but they can’t be used in normal e-cigarette devices.
CBD vape oils are more viscous than other e-liquids. They must be heated slowly and steadily to ensure that all the cannabinoids and terpenes are released without inducing combustion. Those who want to vape CBD should purchase specialized vape pens or mods made for that purpose. They should also avoid black-market products like those that caused the outbreak of supposedly vape-related lung injuries in 2019.
Where to Buy Smokable CBD
Since CBD-rich hemp flowers look a lot like marijuana, buyers should exercise caution. They should purchase hemp cigarettes, pre-rolls, or loose flowers only from reputable CBD vendors that specialize in producing high-quality full-spectrum products.
The best way to tell if a product contains more than trace amounts of THC is to check its certificate of analysis (COA). Most serious CBD vendors lab test their products and make the results available to customers. The COA should contain information, not just about CBD and THC concentrations but also terpene profiles, other cannabinoids, and the results of purity tests.
Legal Concerns
As long as they contain less than 0.3% THC, hemp flowers are legal to buy, possess, and smoke in most places. Some states have stricter regulations about CBD sales and consumption, so it’s always wise to check local laws. Federally, though, smokable CBD is legal. Consumers just need to make sure they use the products in approved places such as private residences, especially in municipalities with strict smoking laws.
Smokable CBD and Drug Tests
Some Americans worry that smoking CBD or using other FDA-approved cannabis products will cause them trouble with drug tests. This is very rarely the case. Common drug tests look for THC and its byproducts, not CBD, and legal smokable hemp flower contains only minute amounts of this phytochemical.
Users would have to be consuming incredible amounts of full-spectrum CBD for the THC to show up even on sensitive drug tests. Those who want to be extra cautious can also purchase broad-spectrum products or isolates that are guaranteed to contain 0% THC. However, there’s no way to extract THC from the hemp flowers themselves, which puts smokable CBD off the table.
Final Thoughts
While there is still some negative social stigma surrounding cannabis use, that’s changing very fast. As more evidence emerges about CBD’s potential therapeutic benefits, many formerly staunch opponents to cannabis in all its forms are coming around. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to smoke hemp flowers only on private property.
Smoking CBD is not the most popular ingestion method, but it is an effective one. The high rates of bioavailability and fast action associated with smoking or vaping CBD versus ingesting it orally pose unique benefits for consumers who need quick results. Just make sure to buy high-quality products that are guaranteed to have less than 0.3% THC.
Interesting related article: “What is Cannabidiol?“