Vaping is among the common ways people consume CBD.
Most vaping proponents laud the practice for being safer than smoking. That’s mainly because no combustion takes place as you vape. Therefore, there are no risks of inhaling the toxins in cigarette smoke.
But if you’re new to CBD and vaping, it’s natural to wonder how vaping makes you feel. That’s especially considering that CBD comes from a plant known for its psychoactive properties.
Read on to learn more about the effects of vaping CBD.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical in cannabis widely marketed for its many health benefits. The compound is believed to contain analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. That makes it a potential alternative treatment for pain and inflammation, respectively.
CBD may also help relieve anxiety, insomnia, nausea, erectile dysfunction (ED), and a host of other common ailments.
One way to enjoy cannabidiol’s health benefits is by vaping the compound.
What Is Vaping?
Vaping is a common method of administering herbal extracts, which involves the inhalation of vapor produced after heating certain plant compounds in a device called a vaporizer.
Vaporizers are popularly known as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs). However, the term e-cigs is also a blanket word for any electronic device that simulates traditional cigarette smoking.
What Types Of Vaporizers Are There?
Vaporizers differ considerably in design and functionality. The simplest vape devices are known as cigalikes. These gadgets resemble the traditional cigarette, hence the name. They’re noted for their rather simplistic design and short lifespan.
In addition to cigalikes, there are various more advanced vaporizers, including vape pens, vape mods, and box mods.
Vape pens are the most popular of the lot. These e-cigs look like regular marker pen, which explains their name. They’re more sophisticated than cigalikes but less advanced than vape mods and box mods.
Vape pens may fall into certain groups depending on the specific herbal extracts they’re designed to be used with. CBD vape pens from established brands like CBDFX let you enjoy the healing benefits of cannabidiol more safely compared to smoking cannabis flowers.
CBD vape pens may further be classified as disposable or reusable.
Disposable CBD pens come pre-filled with cannabidiol-infused e-liquid (also called e-juice, vape juice, or vape oil). They also include a pre-charged battery. You discard them as soon as they run out of the pre-filled vape oil or the pre-charged battery, whichever comes first.
Reusable CBD vape pens, on the other hand, can serve you for several weeks before you have to dispose of them. All you need to do is recharge them if the battery runs empty or refill them if the e-juice cartridge runs dry.
How Do You Use CBD Vape Pens?
Before using a CBD vape pen, you’d need to establish whether it’s a disposable or reusable type.
As already indicated, most disposable CBD vape pens come ready to use. These electronic cigarettes also do not normally include a power button. You power them by taking a deep draw through the mouthpiece.
In the case of reusable CBD vape pens, you’d need to ensure the device has enough charge and e-juice before turning it on. If all looks good, press the power button to activate the battery. Wait a few minutes for vapor to form inside the e-cig’s heating chamber, then vape away by taking a draw through the mouthpiece.
How Does Vaping CBD Make You Feel?
The effects of cannabidiol (and any other cannabis-derived compound) are usually viewed in terms of its potential mind-altering abilities. Therefore, we can rephrase this question to ‘will vaping CBD get you high?’ And the answer would be a resounding NO.
Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. In other words, pure CBD has no effects on the psyche. The cannabis compound most noted for the herb’s psychotropic properties is known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The reason CBD doesn’t trigger the famous marijuana high has a lot to do with how the compound affects your body.
All cannabinoids exert their effects via the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The endocannabinoid system is a sophisticated neuro-modulatory system in all mammals, responsible for a range of biological functions. The ECS plays a crucial role in pain signaling, regulating sleep-wake cycles, restoring hormonal imbalance, aiding metabolic processes, and enhancing immune responses, among other essential functions.
Now, the endocannabinoid system contains a complex network of receptors and neurotransmitters.
Research has shown that non-psychoactive cannabinoids like cannabidiol typically affect a group of endocannabinoid receptors spread further from the brain and central nervous system (CNS). These receptors are known as CB2 receptors. The expression of CB2 receptors away from the brain explains why you won’t get high vaping CBD.
For comparison, psychoactive compounds like tetrahydrocannabinol bind to receptors spread in and around the brain. And that’s precisely why such substances can induce significant mind-altering effects.
Are All CBD Vape Juices Made Equal?
Absolutely not. While vaping pure CBD has no effect on the psyche, we cannot say the same about CBD vape juices containing substantial amounts of psychoactive compounds.
Note that there’s no such thing as 100% pure cannabidiol products. Despite the extraction method used, trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol will be found in CBD goods. The difference usually lies in the actual percentage.
Vaping CBD e-liquids formulated with a significant THC concentration will surely get you high. Such products usually bear the label ‘full-spectrum.’ Research has shown that cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol may produce compounded health benefits if used together than separately. However, full-spectrum products are also noted for their psychedelic effects. That explains why they’re usually recommended for seasoned cannabis users as opposed to beginners.
If you’re averse to THC’s mind-altering effects, insist on e-juices labeled ‘broad-spectrum CBD’ or ‘CBD isolates.’
Broad-spectrum CBD products contain the healing benefits of cannabidiol and other non-psychoactive cannabis compounds, such as cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabichromene (CBC). CBD isolates, on the other hand, contain cannabidiol as the sole cannabinoid.
The mind-altering potential of CBD vape oils may also depend on the presence of nicotine. Nicotine is a staple ingredient in many vape juices, including CBD-based e-liquids. Therefore, checking for nicotine levels before purchasing CBD vape juice is imperative.
Nicotine doesn’t produce a high similar to that associated with tetrahydrocannabinol. But when inhaled, the chemical triggers the release of adrenaline, a hormone noted for its stimulating properties. One of the effects of adrenaline is an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Note that these are signature symptoms of anxiety, a mental condition.
Final Word
Cannabidiol boasts numerous health benefits. Besides, the compound has no psychoactive properties. Therefore, you can vape CBD products without the nagging fears of becoming too stoned.
