How CBD is Being Used in the Vaping Industry

CBD has taken the world by storm in the last few years and is now available in several different forms that may aid in stress relief, restful sleep, and even anxiety. It’s becoming more prevalent in the vaping industry as studies continue to show the efficacy of vaping over edibles and smoking. While more research is needed to fully understand the science behind CBD, there is a lot of information already available for those interested in the properties and benefits.

How CBD is Made into a Vapable Substance

The cannabis plant has been a subject of interest in the recent past due to its ability to produce substances that may be of medical benefit. CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical compound that is part of the many extracts from the cannabis plant.

CBD oil can be made from either hemp or marijuana. These two plants are from the same species, and the end result will ultimately be the same when vaping. However, hemp contains less than 0.3% THC, making it legal to sell anywhere in the United States. In either case, vegetable glycerine (VG) or propylene glycol (PG) will be used to dissolve the CBD into an oil that is able to be vaporized. These substances have slightly different properties; VG is thicker, but PG has a more intense feeling. You will often find both used in vape oil to balance out the CBD experience.

How CBD is Different From THC

Both CBD and THC are found in the cannabis plant, and they interact with the body through the endocannabinoid system. However, the two have varying effects. THC is the short form for tetrahydrocannabinol. While one can easily obtain or use the THC compound by smoking, for CBD, the combination has to be extracted from the plant.

CBD may be used in large doses, unlike THC, without experiencing a lot of side effects. Research alludes to the fact that any side effects that do come with CBD use may be as a result of interactions between CBD and other medication. THC, on the other hand, may cause some side effects such as anxiety, memory loss, increased heart rate, coordination problems, and slow reaction rate. Excessive use of THC could also be a trigger for negative psychiatric effects.

The THC compound is an active ingredient in marijuana and is well known for its high sensitivity. This compound results in getting a high effect, which is a psychoactive response by the body. CBD, however, is a non-psychoactive compound. While it may contain up to 0.3% of THC, this composition is not enough to make a person feel high or experience a psychoactive response.

Lastly, THC is only legalized in some parts of the world for medicinal use, and even fewer areas for recreational use. In the United States, all states allow the use of CBD. However, there are varying degrees of restrictions.

Flower vs. Oil

Flowers or CBD buds are therapeutic without psychoactive effects. Usually, flowers contain high levels of CBD and very little THC. CBD oils are cannabis extracts with no THC, but potency levels depend on the plant and extraction process.

Advantages of Vaping

CBD can be taken in many forms, but vaping in particular comes with several advantages that are missing in other methods. Such include:

1. Faster Absorption Rate

Edibles and oils have a slower rate of absorption compared to CBD vape oil. Using vape as a method to ingest the CBD reaches the bloodstream through the lungs as it does not go through the digestive system.

Through this method, users can feel the effects in a few minutes, and sometimes the result is immediate. A fast absorption rate makes it easier to relieve sudden pain attacks, anxiety, and short term stress. It is important to note that the quicker the CBD gets into your body, the faster it gets depleted.

2. Pure Form of CBD

Vaping allows a user to experience the purest form of CBD. The vape oil contains very few ingredients hence a lower probability of finding impurities. The premium CBD vape oil is made of 100% pure extract. In some cases, there is an addition of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin.

These two ingredients are common additives in making the CBD vape as they bind the oil to produce vaping clouds. Some options allow the user to have a flavor added to the CBD. However, vaping is a sure way to have very few ingredients and additives in this compound; hence purity and quality are assured.

3. Customized Dosage

Most CBD products, including capsules and gummies, have a pre-measured dose of the compound. Vaping offers an alternative method to customize dosage. Vaping allows the consumer to determine the amount of vape oil to consume. With a few calculations, it is easy to add and inhale the amount of CBD oil you prefer.

Vape oil is packaged in different potency levels. Some packages are 25mg, while others hold up to 4000mg. The variety allows different users to purchase according to their needs.

4. Discreet Usage

Vaping CBD does not emit a strong odor and looks the same as vaping nicotine, which makes it perfect for those who wish to partake discreetly.

Ways CBD Can Help

1. Anxiety

Anxiety is a form of mental illness characterized by intense fear or nervousness about outcomes of future events. Several studies have shown how CBD may be used in the treatment of anxiety. There is also evidence indicating CBD may help in regulating the levels of serotonin, a chemical that aids in digestion, mood, sleep, and behaviors of our bodies.

CBD has shown consistent effects in a number of medical conditions, such as anxiolytic, neuroprotective, hypoxia-ischemia. It also contains anti-asthmatic, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties, and scientists believe that CBD may even be efficient in treating OCD and PTSD. 

2. Pain Relief

According to a study by the Journal of Experimental Medicine, rats injected with a spinal or oral dose of CBD experienced lower inflammation and neuropathic pain after exposure to inflammatory chemicals - suggesting that the effects could be similar in humans.

More studies are needed to show how CBD can be used as a pain reliever, but research so far proves it to be hydrophobic and lipophilic, meaning it dissolves in fats. The dissolution has positive effects on the central nervous system on pain. CBD stimulates the levels of adenosine neurotransmitters in the brain which inhibits pain sensations. It can also block pain signals to the TRPV1, which is responsible for inflammation and pain.

Scientists believe that CBD may reduce pain through regulating speeds of nerve signals between nerve cells. For this reason, many people try to use cannabidiol as a natural alternative to chronic pains, joint pains, and arthritis.

3. Insomnia

Several studies have had promising conclusions for the effects of CBD on insomnia. One study found that a dosage of 160 milligrams of CBD helped improve the sleep of the research participants. According to other research, cortisol, a hormone associated with alertness, was significantly reduced whenever CBD oil is introduced by 300 or 600 mg. A third study  even showed participants with predominant sleep complaints had 66% sleep improvement scores after taking only 25 mg of CBD in capsule form in the evening.

Some research has shown controlled amounts of CBD may help ease chronic pains, which results in better sleep. Researchers think that CBD may help treat grogginess, excessive daytime sleepiness, and causes of tiredness.

Despite considerable evidence that indicates the positive effects of CBD in improving sleep, the research is still in the infancy stage, and the results are not entirely conclusive.

4. Anti-Inflammation

Research shows that CBD can help to reduce cytokines, a class of molecules associated with inflammation. CBD may also inhibit the production of COX2, an eicosanoid enzyme that causes inflammation.

According to a 2018 neurology study, CBD binds and desensitizes inflammation, sensory perception, and body temperature receptors. CBD can act as an anti-oxidative for fighting oxidative stress, a common symptom associated with lupus.

Treatment results indicate that CBD may also be used in treating patients with epilepsy. In 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, a drug that uses CBD in the treatment of Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes associated with epilepsy.

While studies show consistently positive reactions from CBD, researchers are continuing research to determine whether CBD can be used in the future treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex and neurodegenerative diseases.

Types of CBD

The discussion is still ongoing on how CBD may help in treatments, pain reductions, or related symptoms. Arguments on whether to use CBD as a single component or the whole plant continues among scientists across the board.

Let us check the various types of CBD:

1. Full Spectrum: Refers to CBD products that maintain the entire profile of the marijuana plant. Besides CBD, these products contain THC, CBN, CNG, and CBDa. It also compromises other compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, sterols, esters, and proteins.

2. Broad Spectrum: Consists of most compounds found in the cannabis plant without THC.

3. CBD Isolate: Refers to crystalized or powder form CBD products that contain pure CBD compounds only.

The Legality of CBD in the United States

In the Farm Bill of 2018, CBD was withdrawn from the Controlled Substances Act, which means that CBD is technically legal in all 50 states - although not every state necessarily allows it. However, its legality is contingent on the CBD having less than 0.3% THC, and each state has their own regulations.

As research continues and the benefits are more widely known, states are likely to ease restrictions and the vaping industry can expand their CBD use. In fact, the CBD market itself is projected to grow to nearly $2 billion by 2022 as more and more people discover how it might help with issues such as insomnia, anxiety, and inflammation.