Smoking CBD: Are There Benefits To This Method Of Consumption?
Human beings have had a very long and extremely complicated relationship with the humble cannabis plant. In fact, hemp was one of the earliest plants that we cultivated or food, textiles, medicinal and ritual uses.
Remnants of phytocannabinoid residue burned in wooden braziers at the Jirzankal Cemetery (ca. 500 BCE) suggesting that cannabis Sativa plants were smoked as part of ritual ceremonies in China over 2500 years ago.
There are many ways to use hemp flower products. You can process it to extract the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes as concentrates to create a variety of CBD products or you can smoke the hemp flower as-is. In fact, being aware of the type of CBD experience you want to have will help you choose the best medium to consume CBD, whether through smoking, ingesting, or applying it topically.
In this article, we're looking at smokable CBD and we'll share the benefits of smoking CBD, the risks of smoking CBD, and the wide variety of options available to you should you choose to smoke CBD.
CAN YOU SMOKE CBD?
Smoking cannabis is one of the oldest ways to enjoy CBD. Today, you can enjoy the benefits of CBD via CBD vapes, CBD cigarettes, CBD pre-rolls, and raw CBD flowers as long as it's hemp-derived because it contains less than 0.2% THC.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SMOKING CBD?
Smoking CBD is one of the most effective ways to deliver the benefits of CBD into our system. Cannabinoids and terpenes enter the bloodstream via the oxygen exchange in the lungs where it interacts with our endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is an extensive network made up of endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes that regulate some of the vital systems in our body to maintain homeostasis (balance). While smoking cannabis isn't ideal for everyone, it can provide some key benefits.
1. CBD Inhalation Has The Most Rapid Effect
Out of all of the ways you could possibly imagine using CBD, smoking (inhalation) offers the most effective route of delivery. This means that the benefits of smoking CBD can be felt almost immediately after use.
A route of delivery is the phrase used to identify the path that a substance takes when it enters our body. Inhalation is the fastest route of delivery and the most rapid way to experience the benefits of smoking CBD because the active compounds enter the bloodstream almost instantaneously. According to a 2017 Chemistry & Biodiversity study, about 50% of the CBD you smoke makes it into your bloodstream, as opposed to only 5% of the CBD you eat. Some studies suggest that after smoking CBD, concentrations in your bloodstream will reach their peak in just three minutes. That’s opposed to two or three hours when eaten. When you eat CBD, the digestive system breaks down most of the active compounds before it enters the bloodstream, meaning you're not getting the full concentration of CBD.
2. Non-Intoxicating And Won't Get You High
CBD-rich hemp flowers closely resemble the appearance and smell of marijuana, because of the terpenes present. Terpenes are aromatic botanical compounds that give plants their distinct smells. CBD is not a psychotropic compound. As long as you're purchasing hemp-derived CBD products, you will not experience any intoxicating effects. Hemp flowers are CBD-rich and low in THC (below 0.2%), offering a calming and relaxing sensation, without getting you "high.".
3. Offers A Natural Alternative To Vaping
When vaping first rose to popularity, many believed that it was a much healthier alternative to smoking. However, this thought has been debunked after a rise in vaping lead to a health epidemic of lung injuries and illness (e.g. in the USA). The vaping health crisis in the US caused scientists to take a closer look at common ingredients within vapes, and currently, the ingredient of concern that scientists believe may be the culprit is the vitamin E acetate present within vape solutions.
If smoking is your preferred route of delivery when it comes to your daily dose of CBD; CBD flowers, CBD pre-rolls, and CBD cigarettes allow you to smoke the raw hemp plant itself - no ingredients added.
4. Support Healthy Inflammatory Function
Inflammation is on everyone's mind these days because, for much of Western society, it's become a chronic issue. Chronic inflammation is known to lead to achy joints, stiffness, and pain, a long list of ailments.
CBD has been shown to help support healthy inflammatory function. In a study published by the Journal of Experimental Medicine, CBD was shown to reduce inflammation and aches in an animal-based study.
5. Supports A Calm Mood
Marijuana has been a go-to for those struggling with stress, recent literature shows that the high amount of THC within marijuana may enhance feelings of anxiousness or paranoia. CBD has been found to help calm the mind thanks to its interaction with GABA receptors in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps to increase the feeling of calm and relaxation. Therefore, the benefits of smoking CBD from a hemp plant might be the better option for those struggling to calm the mind.
6. Full-Spectrum Benefits From Smoking CBD Flower
You may notice that some CBD products are labeled “full-spectrum” or “broad-spectrum.” Those labels indicate whether or not that product contains cannabinoids other than CBD. Full-spectrum refers to CBD products that still contain trace amounts of THC in them. Broad-spectrum refers to CBD products that have had its trace amounts of THC removed. Broad-spectrum CBD products may or may not contain the other 100+ native cannabinoids native to the hemp plant.
When you smoke CBD flower, you’re consuming full-spectrum CBD. Many believe that this is the best way to consume CBD as it provides the users with the entourage effect - aptly named for the effect produced when all cannabinoids work together to provide feelings of calm and relief.
7. Smoking CBD Can Help Some Quit Tobacco
This benefit of smoking CBD didn’t make it into our list of five because it’s not a universally shared benefit, though it still deserves some attention. If you’re ready to quit cigarettes, but don’t want to do so cold turkey,smoking CBD might be the answer. Some studies have concluded that CBD may ease the anxiety common in folks quitting tobacco and help curb cravings.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SMOKING CBD?
There are two risks you should be aware of when smoking CBD:
1. Smoking a CBD cigarette or a CBD pre-roll may appear to others that you're smoking marijuana due to the similar smell and appearance. The company you buy your CBD smokables from cannot be held responsible in the occurrence of a misunderstanding of the product’s true nature. Buy and consume responsibly.
2. Smoking has been shown to cause potential long-term effects on the lungs. However, if smoking is the method you enjoy using to consume CBD, choose a CBD smokable with 100% pure CBD and no nasty additives for a pure smoking experience.
DOES SMOKING CBD HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Smoking anything involves risks. When you smoke dried plant material, tars and carcinogens will inevitably make contact with your throat and lungs. Smoking CBD flower does not present the same risks as smoking cigarettes does. While smoking excessive amounts of CBD flower may cause some respiratory issues, it’s not made with excessive cancer-causing chemical additives that cigarette tobacco is. Smoking CBD can also interact with some prescription drugs, so please do check with your doctor or pharmacist before trying CBD.