What are the Pros & Cons of Vaping and Smoking CBD Flower?
Here at Nam Wellness, we supply some of the most awesome CBD Hemp Flower around. Grown by top-rated organic hemp farmers, and cured to perfection, our CBD flower comes in a variety of strains that each offer desirable properties thanks to exceptional blends of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Now, the two most common ways to experience our CBD flower are by either smoking it or vaping it. While each method is similar in terms of their ultimate effects, since they both absorb quickly and feel particularly potent in the body, these ways are unique enough that you should carefully consider which option you wish to go with.
How Beneficial is CBD in General?
Before diving into the pros and cons of each method, keep in mind that cannabidiol overall has some interesting potential benefits:
- Pain Relief: CBD is known for its analgesic properties. Smoking CBD flower can provide quick pain relief, especially for chronic pain, due to its fast absorption into the bloodstream.
- Anxiety and Stress Reduction: Many users report that CBD helps in reducing anxiety and stress. It may have a calming effect on the mind, which can be beneficial for those with anxiety disorders or high-stress levels.
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties: CBD has anti-inflammatory effects, which can be beneficial for conditions like arthritis, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and other inflammatory diseases.
- Sleep Aid: CBD can help in improving sleep quality. It may aid in falling asleep faster and also in achieving a more restful sleep, which is particularly helpful for individuals with insomnia.
- Non-Psychoactive: Unlike THC, CBD does not produce a high. This makes CBD flower a good option for those who want the benefits of cannabis without the psychoactive effects.
- Natural Alternative: Some people prefer natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals, and smoking CBD flower is seen as a more natural form of consumption.
- Entourage Effect: Whole CBD flower contains a variety of other cannabinoids and terpenes which can work together to enhance CBD’s therapeutic effects – a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect”.
What are the Key Characteristics of CBD Flower?
CBD flower refers to the dried and cured flower of the hemp plant, a variety of Cannabis sativa. Unlike marijuana, hemp contains high levels of cannabidiol (CBD) and very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects commonly associated with cannabis.
Here are some main points about CBD flower:
- Source of CBD: CBD flower is a natural source of cannabidiol, often used for making various CBD products like oils, tinctures, edibles, and topical applications.
- Legal Status: Here in the United States, CBD is legal on a federal level (2018 Farm Bill), and so, can be sold in all 50 states, as long as the THC level does not surpass 0.3% by dry weight.
- Consumption Methods: CBD flower can be smoked, vaporized, or used to make DIY CBD infusions like oils and edibles. The method of consumption can affect the onset and duration of effects, as specifically, both smoking and vaping CBD flower allows for rapid absorption of CBD into the bloodstream, meaning the effects can be felt almost immediately.
- Differences from Marijuana: Although CBD flower and marijuana come from the same plant species, they are different in their chemical composition. CBD flower has high CBD and low THC levels, while marijuana has higher THC levels.
- Safety and Side Effects: Generally considered safe, CBD can still cause minor side effects like dry mouth, drowsiness, and changes in appetite. So, it’s still recommended to speak with your doctor first before trying any CBD-infused product.
Smoking CBD vs. Vaping CBD: How Do They Match Up Against One Another?
Now, we can get to comparing both options, weighing their pros & cons so that you can figure out which method is right for you.
Smoking CBD Flower
Smoking CBD flower is the oldest method of taking hemp that there is, and pipes used for cannabis date back to thousands of years ago. Of course, today’s devices have come a long way, and most users prefer blown-glass pipes, although silicone pipes exist as well, while others enjoy rolling the ground up flower into rolling papers.
Pros:
#1: Might be More Bioavailable
It’s possible that smoking the flower rather than vaporizing it offers a more bioavailable option, although this has yet to be proven. Anecdotally, many avid hemp enthusiasts say that when they smoke the flower, they feel the effects more potently. This could be due to the way in which smoke carries the compounds compared to vapor.
#2: It Doesn’t Rely on Technology
Smoking hemp is the “analog” way to experience CBD, as it doesn’t depend on technology. This can be appealing to some people, including those who are intimidated by high-tech vaporizer devices, and those who don’t want to count on an electronic device which may falter from time to time, while requiring a certain level of maintenance to keep it functioning properly.
#3: Produces More Clouds
Smoking hemp does give you bigger, thicker clouds than a vaporizer can provide, because smoke, by nature, is thicker. Therefore, you can likely take larger hits per session, and enjoy the vision of fluffy plumes leaving your mouth.
Cons:
#1: It’s Harder to Conceal
Smoking hemp flower is less discreet than vaping it, because the smoke is thicker and more abundant, and lingers longer than vapor does due to being denser. Therefore, if you’re trying to get your daily dose of CBD flower as discreetly as possible, this may not be the best option for you.
#2: It Might Be Harsher
Smoke is stronger than vapor, and so it may be more likely to irritate your throat and cause you to cough.
Vaping CBD Flower
Vaping CBD flower is a relatively new way to experience hemp’s flower buds, and it requires the use of an electronic vaporizer device. What this does is heat the flower using a heating element inside the device, which gets its heating abilities from the power of a battery. Then, the vapor is released through the mouthpiece and inhaled.
There are all kinds of vaporizer devices out there, ranging from very simple and user-friendly models to ones that are highly advanced, with lots of moving parts and adjustable features. If opting to vape CBD flower, you will need to carefully choose a model based on your ability to work with the technology and maintain the overall system.
Pros:
#1: More Discreet
Vaping CBD flower offers a more discreet way to experience the effects of CBD, as it produces vapor rather than smoke, which dissipates into the air in minutes without leaving behind a lingering odor. Therefore, it’s a great choice for someone who wishes to use hemp flower when they’re away from home, or who lives with someone who doesn’t enjoy the smell of hemp smoke.
#2: It May Be More Consistent
With some of the more advanced vaporizers on the market, you can expect a more consistent experience as self-regulating features within the device ensure that each hit is just like the last. Therefore, you won’t have to be conscious of burning the flower or not getting a big enough hit.
#3: May Offer Adjustable Settings
Many of today’s vaporizer devices come with adjustable settings that let you have more control over how you experience CBD flower. You can explore the temperature and wattage settings, as well as airflow adjustments, which all work together to give you customizable options when it comes to the strength of each hit, the potency, the flavor and the amount of vapor that it produces.
#4: More Portable
Typically, vaping CBD flower offers a more portable option, as vaporizes can fit into your pocket without the worry of precious flower buds spilling out as you go about your day. Most vaping devices on the market are designed to be travel-friendly.
#5: It’s Smoother
Vapor is naturally smoother than smoke, thanks to its higher water content and lower density. Therefore, you’re less likely to cough or feel throat irritation when vaping the flower of the hemp plant.
Cons:
#1: Might Require More Maintenance
Vaping devices do require more maintenance than pipes or rolling papers. The batteries must be charged regularly, and the devices usually need to be taken apart and cleaned on a regular basis to ensure that they continue working. Some may require that you replace the heating element regularly as well.
#2: It Relies on Technology
Of course, not everyone wants to depend on technology to experience their hemp flower. Some people are intimidated by the electronic components, and even wish to stick to something more analog.
#3: Doesn’t Give You as Strong of a Flavor or Cloud Output
Because vapor is thinner than smoke, you’ll likely not get as strong of a flavor when vaping CBD flower compared to smoking it. Similarly, your clouds will likely be smaller.
Bottom Line: Smoking and Vaping CBD Flower Both Have Something to Offer!
No doubt, CBD flower is part of the growing interest in hemp-derived products. Both smoking and vaping CBD flower can give you the ideal hemp experience, but many people favor one over the other. And, as you can see, each option offers its own pros and cons, with neither being objectively better. So, choose the setup that suits your needs and preferences, as the choice is totally your call.