If you want to try CBD because you’ve heard it has several health benefits, you might be wondering about the best way to take it. Smoking and vaping CBD is one of the more popular ways that people consume it, since there is no faster way to feel the effects. That can be a major benefit for someone taking CBD for medical reasons, or if they want to get quick relief for a flare-up in their condition.
If you want to know more about what CBD is and how it works, you’ve come to the right place. In simple terms, CBD is a compound found in the cannabis plant. It stands for cannabidiol and is one of over 100 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids that are found in this versatile plant.
People also use both of these methods to take CBD recreationally, where they don’t have a health condition but want the general relaxation and calming effects. It can be a good way to relax and de-stress, and safer than the chemical mix in nicotine-base cigarettes.
Smoking and vaping are similar in nature, but do have some important differences you should know. If you’re thinking of trying either, here is a beginner’s guide to smoking vs vaping CBD.
Smoking CBD: Pros and Cons
You can smoke CBD just like you can marijuana. It comes from hemp, which is from the same cannabis family of plants like marijuana but does not have any THC. Hemp flower can be used to make joints or CBD cigarettes in the exact same manner. People who are familiar with making and smoking marijuana joints or cigarettes will have an easy time using hemp-based versions.
The pro of smoking CBD is that it is less expensive to get started, and you do not require any special device. There is some minor equipment you can get to make your own joints, such as rolling papers and grinders for the hemp flower, but you can also get pre-rolled joints and cigarettes that are premade and ready to use.
The con of smoking CBD is that it does take some skill to make your own joints. The grinding process, using the right amount to roll in one joint, and sealing it properly so it won’t fall apart as you smoke it requires some practice to do it quickly. You can get around that by buying them premade from a shop.
Vaping CBD: Pros and Cons
Vaping CBD is arguably more popular than smoking it. To vape CBD, you heat it up with a special device and it turns CBD oil or hemp flower into vapor. You then inhale the vapor the same way you would with smoke.
The pro of vaping CBD is that it is easier to do, but the biggest advantage is that it is relatively safer. There are no carcinogens or ash that can be bad for your lungs, meaning there is less risk to vape CBD long term compared to smoking it. Though smoking CBD joints are far less dangerous than smoking regular nicotine cigarettes, since it doesn’t have any dangerous or addictive chemicals.
The con of vaping CBD is that it can be more expensive to get started. In order to vape, you need a vaping device. You can get small and discreet pens, or larger and more sophisticated devices that can hold more CBD. You will typically vape CBD oil, but you can also use hemp flower or concentrated isolate. The bigger and more sophisticated the device, the more expensive they become.
In the end, you will get the same general benefit from smoking or vaping CBD. Neither method is more effective than the other in terms of feeling the effects. However, there may be reasons why you prefer one or the other. It could be a matter of cost, health risk, or ease of use. In the end, you may find that you wind up doing both from time to time.