Complete guide to vaping CBD

The vaping market has come a long way in recent years, moving far past simple, single-use vape pens. With dozens of options available and vaporizers for virtually every budget, it's never been easier to break into the world of dense, CBD-laden vape clouds.

How To Vape CBD

Whether it's a vape pen, a desktop vaporizer, cartridges, or vape pods, each has unique pros and cons. Getting the most out of vaping CBD is a case of matching the vape type to your specific needs. You'll also need to consider what you want to achieve with CBD, but we'll cover more on that shortly. For now, let's dive into the different ways to vape CBD.

Vaping CBD Vape Juice

CBD vape juice is compatible with a range of devices. Most are straightforward, with vaping accessible at the push of a button. Vape pens and cartridges are some of the simplest options, and also widely available.

Many vape juices are premixed, using a combination of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG). The former improves vapor taste while the latter adds thickness and density to clouds. A good place to start with CBD vape juice is a 50/50 blend of PG and VG. It's also possible to formulate your own vape juices, altering the ratio to personal preference. However, to actually vape CBD vape juice, you'll need a suitable device.

CBD Vape Pens

Making up a significant portion of the vaping market, CBD vape pens are simple, straightforward to use, and, above all, convenient. There's even the choice between reusable and disposable vape pens.

A reusable vaporizer will be better value for money in the long run (simply refill with CBD vape juice and keep the battery charged), but if you're new to vaping and you want to get a feel for the experience before committing, a disposable option is usually good for a few hundred puffs.

CBD Cartridges

CBD cartridges go one step further than disposable vape pens by offering a predetermined dose of CBD. Contained inside a cylindrical vape tank, you load the cartridge into a vape pen, hit start, and away you go.

You'll need a vape pen that's compatible with cartridges (not all of them are), but meet that requirement and you'll have easy access to the benefits of CBD vaping. Cartridges typically hold between 0.5–1ml of CBD vape juice.

CBD Pods

Pod vaporizers allow for a little more customisation. Most CBD vape juices need to be the right viscosity (thickness) to work with vape pens, but pods give the user greater flexibility. Depending on the vaporizer you own, there are associated single-use pods or refillable chambers.

If you're interested in mixing or altering the CBD vape juice formula, pods are likely the best option. Although typically reserved for advanced users, some beginners might like the opportunity to expand into custom formulations later down the line. The initial investment in a pod-compatible vape pen is worth considering if you like the idea of flexibility.

Vaping CBD Buds

For the CBD purists out there, vaping buds is also a perfectly viable option. A potential downside is, of course, access to buds. You'll either need to grow a CBD strain yourself or pick some up from a coffeeshop or dispensary.

Vaping dried buds also requires a different type of vaporizer from the one you'd use for CBD vape juice, so it's a bigger commitment than a disposable vape pen. However, the advantage of CBD buds is that you'll get the benefit of CBD alongside a spectrum of other cannabinoids and terpenes. If you're interested in vaping CBD buds exclusively for the wellness benefit, focus on strains with a high CBD content.

Can You Vape CBD Oil?

Vaping CBD oil is a crucial topic to clarify. Why? Because vaping conventional CBD oil is incredibly dangerous, and you shouldn't do it. Not only is it damaging to your vaping device, but it has some severe health implications.

Conventional CBD oil (the bottles you'll find on the shelves of wellness stores) uses olive or hemp oil, both of which aren't suitable for vaping. Authentic CBD vape juices use different ingredients (PG and VG as mentioned above), and these are suitable for vaping. If you're ever in doubt, only vape CBD liquids from reputable sources that list their ingredients.

How Does Vaping CBD Make You Feel?

With the fundamentals of CBD vape juice and vaping devices covered, it's time to move on to the reason you'd consider vaping CBD in the first place—how it makes you feel.

There will be differences in how CBD makes you feel depending on the strength of the vape juice, your physiology, and how frequently you vape. That said, generalised effects include the following:

• Benefits to the sleep-wake cycle
• Balanced mood
• Alertness
• Comfort
• Potential physical relief

Research into the impact of CBD is ongoing, but interest grows daily, with studies increasing in kind. Given CBD's lack of high and low risk of side effects, it's strongly recommended you try the compound yourself to see what kind of influence it has on well-being. Vaping is an excellent way of getting to know CBD, thanks to its fast delivery. In fact, now's the perfect time to take a closer look at the benefits of vaping CBD.

Benefits of Vaping CBD

If CBD's potential benefits to well-being sound appealing, we have even more good news for you—vaping is an excellent way of reaping those benefits. Vaping is also a beneficial delivery method for several other reasons, each of which we've outlined below.

Better Taste

Vaping CBD means easily overcoming the compound's natural taste. Most vape juices will have some flavouring, meaning you can tailor the liquid to your preferences. And, if you've gone for CBD buds, there's a whole world of flavours and aromas to enjoy, thanks to a complex blend of terpenes.

No Combustion

When a material is combusted, you risk the involvement of dangerous elements. Carcinogens, ash, and other nasty substances can ruin your experience, and will ultimately mitigate some of the wellness benefits offered by CBD. Vaping circumvents many of these issues.

By heating vape juice or CBD buds to the point at which the active components become vapor (and therefore inhalable), but not burning them, you'll only intake desirable elements. Vaping is not only more enjoyable, but safer; and, according to early indications, healthier too.

Faster Onset and Longer-Lasting Effects

Another critical benefit of vaping is how long it takes to feel the effects. In most cases, you'll start to feel CBD's influence in minutes, rather than the 30–60 minutes it takes for edibles or CBD oil to kick in.

This rapid onset is excellent news if you're using CBD to address a particular condition. Even if you aren't, it's still highly convenient to have near-instant access to CBD, especially if you're having a tough day at work or trouble sleeping.

Health Benefits

We've touched on this already, but many perceive vaping as generally healthier than smoking. There's still a lack of long-term data (vaping is a relatively new phenomenon), but overall the signs are encouraging.

You'll need to ensure the vape juice doesn't contain any unwanted or dangerous chemicals, but, provided your CBD vape liquid meets these requirements, it appears to be a much healthier delivery method.

Risks of Vaping CBD

No delivery method is without cons, and vaping has a few you need to be aware of. There are also some potential downsides to CBD, although these are minor at best. That said, it's essential we cover all bases.

Potential risks of vaping CBD include:

• Can aggravate existing lung conditions
• Risk of contaminants
• CBD may interact with prescription medicines
• Poor-quality vape juices may contain THC

Overall, you can easily manage most of the risks highlighted above by selecting high-quality vape juices—a trusted CBD vape liquid provider is worth their weight in gold. If you're concerned about any side effects from CBD, then your doctor is the best person to ask for advice. Their guidance will help you make a case-specific decision about the compound's suitability.

Best Vaporizers for Vaping CBD

When deciding on how to vape CBD, there are a few crucial factors you need to keep in mind. We've previously covered the topic in depth, but, essentially, you need to find the right balance between the type of vaporizer, the substance you're vaping (CBD vape juice or CBD buds), and budget.

The type of vaporizer is the most significant consideration, so we'll outline the basics below.

Desktop Vaporizer

Desktop vaporizers offer more features than their portable counterparts, but at an increased cost and size. If you plan to mostly vape CBD at home, a desktop unit like the Volcano Classic is ideal. You'll get full control over temperatures, compatibility with a variety of concentrates, and you don't even need to worry about charging the battery.

The most significant downside to a decent desktop vaporizer is the price. A unit with all the above features can easily set you back hundreds of pounds. It's a tough pill to swallow if you don't plan on vaping regularly.

Portable Vaporizer

Portable vaporizers are a popular option for most vapers, as they let you enjoy CBD vapor whenever and wherever you need. Portable vaporizers like the Mighty fit easily in the palm of your hand, so taking them out and about is no problem. If you start with a low-budget option, you'll have to sacrifice some of the features you'd get with a desktop variant, but portability is a welcome trade-off.

If, however, you plan to use your portable vaporizer regularly, it's worth investing in some of the higher-priced models. You'll not only get more features (adjustable temp profiles, smart-pathing, bubbler compatibility), but the freedom to use a variety of CBD concentrates too.

Vape Pen

The smallest of the three options, vape pens sacrifice a rich feature list for sheer convenience. That's not to say they aren't worth investing in, but if you plan to consistently vape CBD, a dedicated vaporizer is usually a better option in the long run.

However, given their convenience and discreet size, vape pens remain a popular option, especially if you need to vape CBD while at work or regularly throughout the day. Even better, some vape pens are disposable; so, if you're interested in trying CBD vape juice for the first time, but don't want to commit financially, they serve as an excellent introduction.

Finding the Right CBD Dose for Vaping

With your vaporizer firmly in hand, the second most crucial issue to address is dose. There's no hard and fast rule as to the optimal dose of CBD. Much like picking the perfect vaporizer, choosing a CBD dose is about fine-tuning it to your needs.

The best approach to finding your ideal dose is starting low and slow. CBD vape juice is non-toxic and won't induce a high, so it's okay to experiment with different amounts and frequencies until you find what works for you.

The effects of vaping CBD start in minutes and are much more pronounced than traditional CBD capsules or CBD oils. Take a few hits, let the CBD take effect, and see how you feel. Repeat this process until you reach the desired state, and keep a note of vape juice concentration. From there, you can adjust the concentration and frequency to find your sweet spot.

Best Temperature To Vape CBD

Whichever device you choose, most vaporizers will offer some degree of temperature control. Customising temperature is an important feature to be aware of, as it allows you to alter CBD intensity and vapor density.

CBD, just like the other elements found in cannabis, evaporates at a specific temperature. Vape at temperatures under this threshold, and you'll miss out on CBD molecules entirely. However, vape above the optimal temperature, and you risk scorching CBD (and other elements), destroying them before you've had a chance to benefit.

• The optimal vaping temperature range for CBD is 200–220°C.

There will still be a small amount of activated CBD below the 200°C threshold, but don't go any lower than 170°C. Lower temperatures are beneficial for beginners as it makes the vapor smoother and less harsh. Again, it's important to adjust the temperature gradually until you find the right balance.

What To Consider When Vaping CBD

With a lot of vaping information to process, it's important we recap the basics. Whether you are entirely new to the world of CBD vape or a long-time user, the following tips will help you make the most of your vaping journey.

• Vaping presents several benefits over smoking, and appears a healthier delivery method overall. It's also a preferred option by many for capitalising on the benefits of CBD.
• Vape juices are compatible with vape pens, cartridges, and pods. CBD flower is only compatible with specific dry herb vaporizers (portable and desktop).
• CBD is non-toxic and won't get you high, but not all vape juices are safe. Always buy vape juice from a reputable company or supplier.
• Vaping has a much faster onset with more pronounced effects. If you're new to CBD, start low and slow—you'll feel the impact in minutes, not hours.
• It pays to invest in a decent vaping device. More expensive vaping units not only tend to last longer, but have more features. If your needs change, a more versatile vaporizer may save you money in the long run.
• Finally, the ideal CBD dose is specific to you. Start with low-concentration CBD vape juice (or buds) and gradually increase how often you vape.

And there you have it—a complete guide to vaping CBD. With interest in CBD at an all-time high, and the vaporizer market experiencing constant innovation, we fully expect these two sectors to have a long and prosperous future. Happy vaping!